Steve Miller Band Songs Ranked
The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California. The band is led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. The group is best known for a string of (mainly) 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, Rock Love, Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams, and more. The band’s Greatest Hits 1974–78, released in 1978, sold over 13 million copies. In 2016, Steve Miller was inducted as a solo artist in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Steve Miller Band has sold over 24 million albums in the US. Here are all Steve Miller Band songs ranked.
Relive the music of one of the most notable rock and roll band. Click below and listen to the songs of the Steve Miller Band.
20. Wide River (Wide River, 1993)
“I think this album is what people expected as a follow up to Book of Dreams. It has the fat guitar tones and mix of Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams. It is also the same songwriting style of those albums. The only thing different from Fly Like an Eagle is that the experimental synth intros are not there. If CDs held 150 minutes of music, I would have Book of Dreams, Fly Like an Eagle, and Wide River all on one CD.”
19. Wild Mountain Honey (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“Before there was such a thing as new age music,Steve Miller did this masterpiece!!! Note,he plays a 15 string guitar on this and STILL does at his concerts! Awesome tune!!!”
18. The Stake (Book of Dreams, 1977)
“Excellent old Steve Miller song. He e”The Stake” is a great rockin’ song and was a favorite track played on many FM album rock radio stations. My brother and I used to crank this one on the stereo when our parents were gone.”
17. My Dark Hour (Brave New World, 1969)
“This is another stadium rock number. It has a guitar riff that is similar to that in FLY LIKE AN EAGLE. The vocals take the form of blues screaming. The bass line is lively and catchy, and the bass and drum kit work well together. There is a descending guitar motif, accompanying the words, “My dark hour.” Also, there is an ascending guitar motif, accompanying the words, “I want to see the doctor.”
See more: Steve Miller Band Albums Ranked
16. Dance, Dance, Dance (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“This is a faux-naïf country tune so hokey, it puts its whole self in while the flip is similarly simplistic to a fault. Some of the time, Steve Miller could pull off this cool, unforced stuff, but some of the time he sounds as if he’s not trying at all and both these songs are just too child-like and insubstantial for my taste.”
15. Something to Believe In (The Joker 1973)
“Something to Believe In” sounds like it may have been written to be another big hit, it’s got the vocal and guitar hooks. Maybe it was just a little too laconic for that, but it makes a nice closer when listening to the CD straight through.”
14. Space Intro (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“This is the normal lead-in to Fly Like an Eagle. It should really be offered as part of FLaE rather than a separate track.”
13. Journey from Eden (Recall the Beginning…A Journey from Eden, 1972)
“Awesome song, best on the album would recommend to anyone who likes seventies music. Steve Miller band is a great band.”
12. Winter Time (Book of Dreams, 1977)
“Looking for a way to pass the time during a blizzard I found tunes having to do with the weather to put on a homemade CD> This was a surprisingly beautiful and haunting melody .”
11. The Window (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“Here is another great Steve Miller Band song that is often overlooked for commercial air-time. I heard SMB play this at a recent Nashville venue and it really got the crowd to dancing. There just aren’t enough peace and love songs anymore like this and perhaps that is why we have seem to have become a pig pen of materialism, militarism, and self indulgence. Hooray for music that reminds us of our real social connections and responsibilities.”
10. Serenade (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“In my humble opinion, this is one of the most beautiful songs ever written by any band, period. Its not just one of the best songs of him, it’s the best one..”
9. Swingtown (Book of Dreams, 1977)
“This song gets the blood flowing. It has a mellow tone and hearty beat that gets the party started. It’s the wind up and opening pitch that starts the night off right. The Steve Miller Band songs pop visuals of the stories being performed in my head like mini movies. This song gets me pumped up for the great time the night has to offer. The top ten here has the strength in lyrical story telling and musical talent at its finest from The Steve Miller Band. “So, come on baby let’s dance! “
8. Space Cowboy (Brave New World, 1969)
“This is a fast-paced rocker, with a bass line similar to that of LADY MADONNA by The Fab Four. The vocal is a group effort, where all the men chant the lyrics in unison. The middle section occurs in the time frame of 48 seconds to 85 seconds, and this includes all of the following things. We find an ascending motif, a syncopated motif, a little guitar riff, and a falsetto voice singing, “Doo-doo, doo-doo, doo-doo.” Then, the rousing bass line resumes, and this is followed by the ascending motif, the syncopated motif, and by electronic sounds resembling water bubbles. At 2 min, 40 seconds comes an excellent psychedelic guitar lead. Then the rousing bass line returns, along with the vocal chant.”
7. Take the Money and Run (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“So many worthy options top this list. However, there’s something about billy joe and bobby sue that pulls this song to number one in the ranks, for me at least. I feel that for many Steve miller fans, this one is the one you roll down the window and blast while shouting to the bewilderment of the surrounding traffic.”
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6. Rock’n Me (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“Rock N’ Me Baby” jumps out of the box so strongly that it nearly takes your breath away with a guitar that has a steady rolling beat, one that drives relentlessly on and on and on, moving the listener across the country in the vein of the Beach Boys’ “California Girls,” only with a harder edge. His voice is brilliant and lights here as if he knows just how fine this song is.”
5. Jungle Love (Book of Dreams, 1977)
“This is my other favorite Steve Miller song next to Abracadabra. It’s a song you can really get into and it’s got some kick ass tunes. I LOVE this song. It deserves more credit.”
4. Jet Airliner (Book of Dreams, 1977)
“The opening minute of this track rules with it’s spacey sounds and ambient feel and I wish the whole song was like this, well sorta. The rest of the song is pretty good and it falls under that classic rock genre for sure. A good road trip song indeed!”
3. Fly Like an Eagle (Fly Like an Eagle, 1976)
“Heard a lot of SMB’s stuff. The Joker, Abracadabra, Jet Airliner (Which sounds rather reminiscent of Cross Road Blues by Eric Clapton/Cream) are all great songs, but this one really is something that stands out as their best song. The syncopated groove is tight and fits the funky/bluesy feel of the song. However, being that the lyrics are simple, and have a somewhat vague story, it makes it easier for me to listen to the song, and enjoy the masterful musicianship that Steve Miller has shown us with this track.”
2. The Joker (The Joker, 1989)
“‘The Joker’ has a great beat, but relies on Steves past jokes regarding being a Space Cowboy or a Gangster Of Love, it leaves little to the imagination, an off the cuff riff, nicely done, but nothing special.
1. Abracadabra (Abracadabra, 1982)
“The best piece of music I’ve ever heard from The Steve Miller Band is the ending part of “Abracadabra”. Unfortunately, that part isn’t included in this single, as it was cut short. You have to hear the album version to get that part. Unfortunately, it isn’t worth getting the album to hear that part. Every now and then you can hear it on classic rock stations, but I hate classic rock stations.”
