Abracadabra (Steve Miller Band album)

Last updated
Abracadabra
AbracadabraSM.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJune 15, 1982
Recorded1981
Studio Capitol, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length37:08
Label Capitol
Producer Steve Miller, Gary Mallaber
Steve Miller Band chronology
Circle of Love
(1981)
Abracadabra
(1982)
Steve Miller Band Live!
(1983)
Singles from Abracadabra
  1. "Abracadabra"
    Released: May 1982
  2. "Keeps Me Wondering Why"
    Released: 6 August 1982 (UK) [2]
  3. "Cool Magic"
    Released: October 1982 (US) [3]
  4. "Give It Up"
    Released: October 1982 (UK) [4]
  5. "Goodbye Love"
    Released: 11 February 1983 (Ger.) [5]

Abracadabra is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Steve Miller Band. The album was released on June 15, 1982, by Capitol Records.

Contents

Abracadabra charted in nine countries, including Germany where the record reached No. 1 for a week. [6] Four singles were released from the album in various countries: the title track, "Cool Magic" (#57 on the Billboard Hot 100), [7] "Keeps Me Wondering Why", and "Give It Up", with the title song charting the highest at #1 on the pop chart.

Unlike most of the band's previous efforts, most of the album was not composed by lead singer/guitarist Steve Miller. Drummer Gary Mallaber had brought in a handful of demos from another band he was in called Tracker (which other Steve Miller Band members John Massaro and Byron Allred were also a part of, along with ex-members Lonnie Turner and Greg Douglass) in hopes that one of them would be used for the album. Miller ultimately opted to use all of the demos, resulting in Mallaber receiving an impressive eight co-writing credits. [8] Miller, meanwhile, produced two of his own songs; the title track and the "Heart Like a Wheel"-soundalike "Give It Up".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [11]

Billboard said of "Cool Magic" that it's a "catchy midtempo pop tune that takes dead aim at car radios everywhere." [12] Billboard also described it as being "harder rocking" than the title track. [12] Cash Box called it "a light, straightahead pop/rocker that, in places, brings to mind the Beach Boys or the Beatles." [13]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Keeps Me Wondering Why" Gary Mallaber, Kenny Lee Lewis3:43
2."Abracadabra" Steve Miller 5:08
3."Something Special"Mallaber, Lonnie Turner, Greg Douglass 3:35
4."Give It Up"Miller3:35
5."Never Say No"Mallaber, John Massaro, Lewis3:37
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Things I Told You"Mallaber, Massaro3:15
7."Young Girl's Heart"Mallaber, Massaro3:33
8."Goodbye Love"Mallaber, Douglass, Turner2:53
9."Cool Magic"Mallaber, Lewis4:23
10."While I'm Waiting"Mallaber, Massaro3:26

Personnel

Additional personnel

Technical

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Abracadabra
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [26] Platinum50,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [27] Platinum100,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong) [28] Gold10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI) [29] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [30] Platinum1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Breathe</i> (Faith Hill album) 1999 studio album by Faith Hill

Breathe is the fourth studio album by American country music artist Faith Hill, released November 9, 1999, via Warner Bros. Nashville. The album is one of the most successful country pop albums of all time and Hill's best selling album to date, being certified certified 8× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Miller Band</span> American rock band

The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1966. The band is led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. The group had a string of mid- to late-1970s hit singles that are staples of classic rock radio, as well as several earlier psychedelic rock albums. Miller left his first band to move to San Francisco and form the Steve Miller Blues Band. Shortly after Harvey Kornspan negotiated the band's contract with Capitol Records in 1967, the band shortened its name to the Steve Miller Band. In February 1968, the band recorded its debut album, Children of the Future. It went on to produce the albums Sailor, Brave New World, Your Saving Grace, Number 5, The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle, and Book of Dreams, among others. The band's album Greatest Hits 1974–78, released in 1978, has sold over 13 million copies. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted as a solo artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<i>Fly Like an Eagle</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Steve Miller Band

Fly Like an Eagle is the ninth studio album by American rock band Steve Miller Band, released on May 14, 1976, by Capitol Records in the United States, Canada and Japan and Mercury Records in Europe. The album was a commercial success, spawning three hit singles: the title track, "Take the Money and Run" and "Rock'n Me", and eventually received a quadruple platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>Hi Infidelity</i> 1980 studio album by REO Speedwagon

Hi Infidelity is the ninth studio album by American rock band REO Speedwagon, released on November 21, 1980, by Epic Records. The album became a big hit in the United States, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200, spending 15 weeks at number one. It went on to become the biggest-selling album of 1981, eventually being certified 10 times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

<i>Eddie Money</i> (album) 1977 studio album by Eddie Money

Eddie Money is the debut studio album by American musician Eddie Money, released in December 1977 by Wolfgang Records, a subsidiary of major label Columbia. Money, a Brooklyn native, grew up interested in music. In 1968, he moved to Berkeley, California, where he became a staple of Bay Area nightclubs. Rock impresario Bill Graham subsequently discovered Money and signed him to his Wolfgang imprint.

<i>Playing for Keeps</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Eddie Money

Playing for Keeps is the third studio album by American rock musician Eddie Money, released in July 1980 by Wolfgang Records and Columbia Records. It continues the expansion to include pop oriented tracks that began with the previous album.

<i>Living in the 20th Century</i> Album by Steve Miller Band

Living in the 20th Century is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Steve Miller Band. The album was released in November 1986, by Capitol Records. The song "I Want to Make the World Turn Around" spent six consecutive weeks at the top of the Album Rock Tracks chart in the U.S. at the end of 1986.

<i>Italian X Rays</i> Album by Steve Miller Band

Italian X Rays is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Steve Miller Band. The album was released in November 1984, by Capitol Records. "Who Do You Love?" and "Out of the Night" were songs co-written by Steve Miller and Tim Davis. Tim Davis had been a co-founder of the Steve Miller Band and had been a drummer, singer and songwriter with the band during its first five albums, released between 1968 and 1970. As of 1984, Davis was suffering from the effects of diabetes, and died four years later.

<i>Circle of Love</i> (Steve Miller Band album) Album by Steve Miller Band

Circle of Love is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Steve Miller Band. Released 23 October 1981 by Capitol Records, Circle of Love was the Steve Miller Band's first album of new material since the May 1977 release Book of Dreams. In its original vinyl album format, Circle of Love featured a total of five tracks, Side 2 of the album comprising one extended track, "Macho City" (18:32). A much shorter edit of the track was later used for CD releases.

<i>Book of Dreams</i> 1977 studio album by Steve Miller Band

Book of Dreams is the tenth studio album by Steve Miller Band. The album was released in May 1977 on Capitol Records in the United States, Canada and Japan and by Mercury Records in Europe. Three singles were released from the album in 1977 with the first single, "Jet Airliner", being the most successful.

<i>Greatest Hits 1974–78</i> 1978 greatest hits album by Steve Miller Band

Greatest Hits 1974–78 is a compilation album by the Steve Miller Band released in November 1978, presenting the band's hits from 1973–1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abracadabra (Steve Miller Band song)</span> 1982 single by Steve Miller Band

"Abracadabra" is a song by American rock group the Steve Miller Band, written by Steve Miller. The song was released as the first single from the 1982 album of the same name that year. In the U.S., it spent two non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the biggest hit of Steve Miller's career to date, as well their last US top 10 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It Away (Paul McCartney song)</span> 1982 single by Paul McCartney

"Take It Away" is a single by the English musician Paul McCartney from his third solo studio album Tug of War (1982). The single spent sixteen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, reaching #10 and spending five consecutive weeks at that position. It reached #15 in the UK. The music video, directed by John Mackenzie, features former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr and long-time producer George Martin, both of whom played on the track, as well as actor John Hurt, Linda McCartney and Barbara Bach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly Like an Eagle (song)</span> 1976 single by Steve Miller Band

"Fly Like an Eagle" is a song written by American musician Steve Miller for the album of the same name. The song was released in the United Kingdom in August 1976 and in the United States in December 1976. It went to number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 for the week of March 12, 1977. The single edit can be found on Greatest Hits (1974–1978). It is often played in tandem with "Space Intro". On the album, the song segues into "Wild Mountain Honey".

<i>The Very Best of the Steve Miller Band</i> 1991 greatest hits album by Steve Miller Band

The Very Best of the Steve Miller Band is a 1991 German compilation by the Steve Miller Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take the Money and Run (Steve Miller Band song)</span> 1976 single by Steve Miller Band

"Take the Money and Run" is a song recorded in 1976 by the Steve Miller Band. A song about two young bandits and the detective pursuing them, it was one of the many hit singles produced by the Steve Miller Band in the 1970s and featured on the 1976 album Fly Like an Eagle. The song peaked at number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in July 1976 and also charted in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overkill (Men at Work song)</span> 1983 single by Men At Work

"Overkill" is a song by Australian pop rock band Men at Work. It was released in March 1983 as the second single from their second studio album Cargo. Written by lead singer Colin Hay, it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100; No. 5 on the Australian Kent Music Report Singles Chart; and top 10 in Canada, Ireland, and Norway. The song was a departure from the group's style of reggae-influenced pop rock, featuring a melancholic feel musically and lyrically.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock'n Me</span> 1976 single by Steve Miller Band

"Rock'n Me" is a song by American rock band Steve Miller Band, released in 1976 from the band's ninth studio album Fly Like an Eagle (1976). It was written by primary band leader and songwriter Steve Miller released as the second single from the album. Miller also produced the song and album. The North American release of the single was generally credited to Steve Miller as an individual, while the European release was generally credited to the Steve Miller Band as a whole group.

<i>Steve Miller Band Live!</i> 1983 live album by Steve Miller Band

Steve Miller Band Live! is a 1983 live album by the Steve Miller Band. It was recorded live at the Pine Knob Amphitheater, Clarkston, MI on September 25, 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Miller Band discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by Steve Miller Band

The discography of American rock group Steve Miller Band is composed of 18 studio albums, six live albums, 11 compilation albums, three video albums and 30 singles.

References

  1. "11 Classic Rockers Who Went New Wave For One Album". VH1.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022.
  2. "Steve Miller singles".
  3. "Great Rock Discography". p. 548.
  4. "Steve Miller singles".
  5. "Steve Miller singles".
  6. 1 2 "Album – Steve Miller Band, Abracadabra" (ASP). Media Control Charts (in German). Retrieved July 10, 2011.[ dead link ]
  7. "Billboard Hot 100 - Week of November 13, 1982". billboard.com. 13 Nov 1982. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  8. "When Steve Miller Found '80s Pop-Rock Success With 'Abracadabra'". ultimateclassicrock.com. Ultimate Classic Rock. 15 June 2022.
  9. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  10. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0195313734.
  11. Steve Pond (1982-07-22). "Steve Miller Band: Abracadabra". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  12. 1 2 "Top Single Picks". Billboard. October 2, 1982. p. 63. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  13. "News & Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 2, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  14. "Steve Miller Breaks Down His Most Iconic Songs". 23 September 2019.
  15. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 201. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  16. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Austrian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  17. "50 Albums". RPM . 37 (2). August 28, 1982. ISSN   0315-5994. Archived from the original (PHP) on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  18. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  19. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts . Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  20. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Norwegian Charts . Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  21. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts . Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  22. "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 17th July 1982". Official Charts Company . Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  23. "The Steve Miller Band Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  24. "The Steve Miller Band Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  25. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1982. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  26. "Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)" . Retrieved December 26, 2022 via Imgur.com.
  27. "Canadian album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra". Music Canada . Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  28. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1983". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  29. "British album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  30. "American album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved December 6, 2021.