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.

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