Steve Miller
Band members Related acts
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line up xx (1984) - Byron Allred -- keyboards - Norton Buffalo (RIP) -- harmonica - Kenny lee Lewis -- bass, guitar - Gary Mallaber -- drums, percussion - Steve Miller -- vocals, guitar, keyboards
line up x (1988) - Gordon Knutson -- drums, percussion - Billy Peterson -- bass - Ben Sidran -- keyboards
backing musicians (1988) - Steve Faison -- percussion - Milt Jackson -- vibraphone - Bobby Malach -- sax - Bruce Paulson -- trombone - Ricky Peterson -- synthesizers - Phil Woods -- sax
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- The Epics - Frimious Bandersnatch - The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band - Nicky Hopkins - Journey - Kid Dynamite - The McNeely Levin Skinner Band - Raven - Boz Scaggs (solo efforts) - The Storm - Terry & the Pirates - The VU
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Italian X Rays Company: Capitol Catalog: SJ
12339 Country/State: -- Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: includes original lyric inner sleeve Available: 2 Catalog ID: 316 Price: $9.00
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I'm not happy to say this, but 1984's "Italian X Rays" was simply dreadful. Miller's albums have always been hit-or-miss efforts (usually with more hits than misses), but this self-produced set sounded outright uninspired, unenthusiastic, rushed, and simply weird (not in a good way). The then-state-of-the-art digital production sounded flat and heartless, wiping out virtually any sense of fun. The Miller co-written originals were plodding and pedestrian, the overall effect made worse by the fact Miller frequently turned over the creative reigns to keyboardist Byron Allred who managed to consistently turn in some of the dullest, '80s new wave tinged numbers imaginable ('Radio 1') . I remember buying the LP when it came out and being less than impressed by the waves of syndrums and synthesizers. Let me tell you tracks like 'Radio 2', 'Bongo Bongo' and 'The Hollywood Dream' haven't aged any better over the years. Of the thirteen tracks, the only ones really worth hearing were the pretty Miller-penned 'One In a Million', the '70s-styled 'Golden Opportunity' (written by bassist Kenny Lee Lewis and drummer Gary Mallaber), 'Daydream' (which sounded unfinished), and the title track (which had to grow on you).
"Italian X
Rays" track listing: 1.) Radio 1 (instrumental) (Byron Allred) - 0:38 Even though keyboard Byron Allred wrote the lead off track, Steve Miller always had a penchant for electronic bleeps and blurbs and that's exactly what the instrumental 'Radio 1' provided - 38 seconds of synthesizer sound effects. It reminded me of something off of a third-rate television sound track such as a cop show episode where they're looking for a missing child. rating: ** stars 2.) Italian X Rays (Steve Miller - Gary Mallaber) - 4:47 Opening up with some heavy synthesizer moves, the title track sought to cobble together a distinctive '80s jittery new wave flavor with Miller's instantly recognizable voice and pop moves. I can't say it was one of his best offerings (the syndrums were a major irritation), but it actually grow on you if you gave it a chance. rating: *** stars 3.) Daybreak (instrumental) (Byron Allred) - 2:38 Another Allred-penned instrumental, the breezy 'Daybreak' sported one of the album's prettiest melodies, but sounded somewhat haphazard and incomplete. Shame Miller didn't add a vocal to the track. rating: *** stars 4.) Shangri-La (Steve Miller - Kenny Lee Lewis) - 5:04 To be honest, 'Shangri-La' was one of those songs that was so bad, it was actually enjoyable. Campy to the extreme ? Doesn't really matter since this was another one that attempted to meld Chic-styled dance moves with Miller's vision of pop perfection. He didn't get there, but did manage to make one of the funniest supporting videos I've ever seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZXq7h1dFH0 I have no idea why it was tapped as a single. rating: *** stars 5.) Who Do You Love (Steve Miller Tim Davis) - 2:56 Dropping much of the '80s sound effects, 'Who Do You Love' found Miller and company stepping back in the direction of their patented '70s sounds. The song would have been a major disappointment on one of those earlier classic albums, but here it sounded pretty good. rating: *** stars 6.) Harmony of the Spheres 1 (instrumental) (Byron Allred) - 1:46 Side one ended with another snippet of Allred penned sound effects. This time around 'Harmony of the Spheres 1' sounded like something written for a cheapo Atari video game. rating: ** stars
(side
2) There was no reason to like 'Radio 1', so take my word for it, 'radio 2' was no better. rating: * star 2.) Bongo Bongo (Steve Miller - Chris McCarty) - 3:12 'Bongo Bongo' is perhaps the worst single Miller ever release. A nearly unlistenable new wave edge slice of mindless pop, the track was shrill and abrasive with absolutely nothing to distinguished it from similar sounding mid-'80s aural crap clogging the airwaves. The only thing worse than the song was the accompanying video which is about as '80s as you can imagine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NrsRZdMI-A rating: ** stars 3.) Out of the Night (Steve Miller - Tim Davis) - 3:46 Maybe because the two previous songs were so bad, 'Out of the Night' came off as a mild reprieve. A slinky, mid-tempo rocker, the song really wasn't great, but at least had a memorable melody. rating: *** stars 4.) Golden Opportunity (Gary Mallaber - Kenny lee Lewis) - 3:32 Underscoring how bad this set was, the best track 'Golden Opportunity' wasn't even penned by Miller, rather was credited to bassist Kenny lee Lewis and drummer Gary Mallaber. This one at least recalled Miller's glory years with one of those instantly memorable melodies and what was perhaps the only enthusiastic performance on the set. rating; **** stars 5.) The Hollywood Dream (Steve Miller - Byron Allred) - 3:51 'The Hollywood Dream' was the album's weirdest performance, blending a synthesizer heavy arrangement with effects laden vocals, a bizarre lyric about the cost of fame, and a very deep and dark sound. rating: *** stars 6.) One In a Million (Steve Miler) - 3:43 The only Miller original, 'One In a Million' was also the stand out performance. Stripped of synthesizers and blessed with a beautiful acoustic guitar propelled melody and some of his sweetest (if goofiest) lyrics, this was easily the standout performance. Would have sounded great on one of the hit albums. rating: **** stars 7.) Harmony of the Spheres 2 (instrumental) (Byron Allred) - 0:53 Didn't like the 'Harmony of the Spheres 1' and this segment of the song was even longer. Yeti. rating: ** stars
As mentioned, the album spun off three singles:
- 1984's 'Shangri-La' b/w 'Circle of Love' (Capitol catalog number B 5407) - 1984's 'Bongo Bongo' b/w 'Get On Home' (Capitol catalog number B 5542)
12" single - 1984's 'Italian X Rays' b/w 'Italian X Rays / Who Do You Love' (Capitol catalog number V 8644)
Anything else nice I can say about it ? Well, I did like the Tim Clark artwork. Also worth mentioning, for hardcore Miller fans the album was mildly interesting for featuring a reunion with original Steve Miller band member Tim Davis. Miller and Davis collaborated on two songs - 'Who Do You Love' and 'Out of the Night'. Sadly Davis died of diabetes shortly after the album was released.
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Genre: pop Rating: 2 stars ** Title: Born To Be Blue Company: Capitol Catalog: C1-48303 Country/State: -- Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened) Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1354 Price: $10.00
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As a big Steve Miller fan, I can remember picking this album up at a Penguin Feather outlet (showing my age here), looking at the track listing, and hastily putting it back in the rack. Miller's first true solo album, 1988's "Born 2 B Blue" was a strange mixture of blues and jazz covers. Apparently reflecting material Miller had grown up on and long admired, you couldn't criticize his choice of songs, but you sure could take issue with the performances. As someone who grew up listening to prime radio-era Miller, the man had an instantly recognizable sound and he applied the entire toolbox to these ten tunes. The problem was that even with an all star cast of jazz musicians providing support, Miller effectively gutted these classic tunes, replacing them with an easy-going, adult contemporary sound that could just has easily served as music for television commercials. It really wasn't something to get excited about. Standing as a perfect example of these transformations was Ray Charles' 'Mary Ann'. The original simply oozed a combination of eroticism and sexual heat. Complete with adult contemporary sax, Miller's version was about as exciting as a chewing gum ad. Probably the most disappointing release in his long career.
"Born 2 B
Blue" track listing: 1.) Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah (Ray Gilbert - Allie Wrubel) - 4:13 Perhaps because my expectations were so low, Miller's cover of the chestnut 'Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah' wasn't half bad. Giving the tune that patented Miller pop-rock arrangement, was almost enough to save it from oblivion. Almost; not quite. rating: *** stars 2.) Ya Ya (Morris Levy - C. Lewis) - 3:37 The Lee Dorsey version was a classic so subjecting the tune to the Steve Miller sound served to surgically remove the song's heart and soul. What was left was a shell of a song; basically something that could have served as a used car commercial soundtrack. As the album's most commercial offering, Capitol tapped the track as a single:
- 1988's 'Ya Ya' b/w 'Filthy McNasty' (Capitol catalog number B-44422) The promotional video was actually better than the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzJfVhOEaNE rating: *** stars 3.) God Bless the Child (Billie Holiday - Arthur Herzog Jr.) - 5:00 The adjective criminal comes to mind. Miller reduces this classic tune to easy-going syrup. Holiday would have sued for abuse. Her estate should have taken action against Miller. YouTube has a clip of Miller performing the song at New York's Iridium club with the late Les Paul. 'God Bless the Child' didn't kick in until around the 5:30 mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q2w8AVOEnw rating: ** stars 4.) Fillthy McNasty (Horace Silver) - 2:50 Unless you felt an odd nned to hear Miller scat sing, then there wasn't much of a reason to subject your self to 'Filthy McNasty'. Once was enough for my ears. rating: ** stars 5.) Born To Be Blue (Mel Torme - Robert Wells) - 5:25 Whatever power the Mel Torme original had, Miller managed to lose. The result was completely forgettable. rating: ** stars
1.) Mary Ann (Ray Charles) - 4:49 As mentioned above, Miller's version of 'Mary Ann' managed to lose everything that made the original such a great tune. Here the tune was reduced to eights adult contemporary cocktail jazz status. Elevator music with no value whatsoever. rating: ** stars 2.) Just a Little Bit (John Thunston - Buster Brown - Ralph Bass - Fats Washington) - 4:04 Another great tune reduced to also-ran status. At least you got to hear a touch of Miller's frequently overlooked guitar chops. Interestingly, Capitol released as promotion video for the song, though I don't think the tune was ever released as a single: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbn10ylAMjA rating: *** stars 3.) When Sunny Gets Blue (Marvin Fisher - Jack Segal) - 4:36 Miller's cover of 'When Sunny Gets Blue' was clearly intended to capture that 'cool' factor, but it missed by a mile. In fact, with the exception of Phil Woods' sax work, this was forgettable. rating: ** stars 4.) Willow Weep for Me (Ann Ronell) - 5:12 Three words - bland background music. If you could make it to the three minute mark, there was at least a decent Miller guitar solo. If you really want to head how good this tune could sound, then check out the Etta James version ... rating: ** stars 5.) Red Top (Ben Kynard - Lionel Hampton) - 2:31 Miller doing swing jazz ... pass. rating: ** stars
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