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Steve Miller Band — Journey From Eden
Album: Recall the Beginning - A Journey From Eden
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1489









Released: 1972
Length: 6:27
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Listen to the blackbird sadly sing
For you, for me
Look at all the pointless suffering
Humanity

I am dreaming of a garden
And I see the midnight flight
Of a blackbird, through my vision
To the light
To the light

She is standing in the doorway
With the love light in her eye
And she beckons me to journey
Through the night
Through the night

Listen to the blackbird sadly sing
For you, for me
Look at all the pointless suffering
Humanity

To the people, who are naked
As they breathe in amber haze
Wandering endlessly narcotic
Through the maze
Through the maze

To the leaders, who are timeless
As they flaunt their warlike ways
Flying endlessly o'er the wasteland
Seeking praise
Seeking praise

Listen to the blackbird sadly sing
For you, for me
Look at all the pointless suffering
Humanity
Comments (91)add comment
The bass line is so active and melodic! 
The bass lines at the end are so good.
 joejennings wrote:

So did WNEW FM 102.7 NYC  &  WMMR FM 93.3 Philly!  (sister stations)  Those were the days!  

back before iheart radio took everything over
 Bitchin_Bob wrote:

Far out and extremely timely. Never, never gets old....

"To the leaders, who are timeless

As they flaunt their warlike ways

Flying endlessly o'er the wasteland"

True. Classic stuff.

Far out and extremely timely. Never, never gets old....

"To the leaders, who are timeless

As they flaunt their warlike ways

Flying endlessly o'er the wasteland"
 Tjerome wrote:

WBCN in Boston often played Early Steve Miller.

So did WNEW FM 102.7 NYC  &  WMMR FM 93.3 Philly!  (sister stations)  Those were the days!  
 Relayer wrote:

Steve Miller; a man destroyed by the constant shallow playlists of FM radio, has found a new home for his lesser known/obscure music.  Glad that RP plays stuff like that I would have never heard elsewhere.



You have to concede that Steve had monster commercial success by writing songs for FM radio. Yes they got overplayed but he fed the beast and gladly AFAICT. 
I've always loved this haunting tune... Reminds me a bit of Stephen Stills in many spots. I still think of Steve as Essential to Modern Rock, especially his early, trippy, earnest works... Thanks, RP, for sharing the best gems from your vast, wonderfully eclectic rock collection!
 bkrans9 wrote:

If the '70s DJs had played more of his deep shit like this, I would not have hated that other shit half as much. 


WBCN in Boston often played Early Steve Miller.
 surfool wrote:

Not my favorite, but I do appreciate the deeper cuts. What an incredible band and catalogue!




Same here.  I  Agree!!
Not my favorite, but I do appreciate the deeper cuts. What an incredible band and catalogue!
Looking down the comments, I'm not here to say anything original, but Oh Man, THAT BASS
 rigel2213 wrote:

Sick bass line on this tune. It really provides the melodic backbone. 



I was lucky enough to see the Steve Miller Band at Massey Hall in Toronto around this time Gerald Johnson was the bassist and he was very good. I still remember him marching across the stage playing like it was his show.
 jwallstrom846 wrote:

Been one of my favorite groups since late 60s.  Did not know this song, now my new favorite. 



just saw Steve about a month ago in concert in chicago.  at age 79(!) he's still got his voice and wails on the guitar.  played all the old hits and had an awesome acoustic version of Jet Airliner that totally changed thevibe of the song.  love this guy. 
This isn't for me, but at least it's not Fly Like an Eagle for the millionth time. Thank you, RP!
Been one of my favorite groups since late 60s.  Did not know this song, now my new favorite. 
 jacopo777 wrote:

Love that Drumming.



Love that bass too!
Me and my bud are flying high like an eagle ✌️
Gerald Johnson's bass is fucking amazing...
 jagdriver wrote:

Glyn Johns did this recording.


I was fortunate enough to be invited to have lunch at Glyn Johns' house last year.  A really top bloke with a fund of absolutely mind-blowing stories!
Excellent Tune!! I never heard it before.  Thank You RP!
 Hannio wrote:


I had never heard this but I am not surprised.  I like his music for the most part, and some if it I love, but it always came across to me with just a hint of inauthenticity.  Like he was in it for the money first and the art after.
As Al Kooper once said about David Clayton-Thomas...Great singer but I
don't believe a word he sings...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.


 bkrans9 wrote:

If the '70s DJs had played more of his deep shit like this, I would not have hated that other shit half as much. 

Yeah a lot less space cowboy or gangster of love

Love that Drumming.
Sooooooo Gooood!!!!! More Steve please!!!
Love the bass!
If the '70s DJs had played more of his deep shit like this, I would not have hated that other shit half as much. 
Steve Miller--the great band leader, before he became the epitome of over-played AOR nausea. 
 Thomdetroit wrote:


Lets be clear, he made easy sounding music so that it could be played a billion times. He chose that path. Hardly being destroyed.
 

Hey, Steve made pop music but it was still GREAT. He's not a schlockmeister. 
Beautiful ... such talent
Sick bass line on this tune. It really provides the melodic backbone. 
Cool tune. Was always intrigued by SMs hipper side. When I saw the album playing tonight I picked my iphone to turn it over and check out the back side of the album cover.
 Relayer wrote:
Steve Miller; a man destroyed by the constant shallow playlists of FM radio, has found a new home for his lesser known/obscure music.  Glad that RP plays stuff like that I would have never heard elsewhere.
 

Lets be clear, he made easy sounding music so that it could be played a billion times. He chose that path. Hardly being destroyed.
Excellent bass chops on this. Never heard this one before. Nice!
 markmonk478 wrote:
I thought Steve Miller was pretty much destroyed by "Abracadabra".
 He has just disappear, saying "Abracadabra", but he has still an eye for you...

Quite the musical chameleon, Steve Miller.
GREAT band and wonderful era for them musically.
I thought Steve Miller was pretty much destroyed by "Abracadabra".
Wonderful!
ahhhh, here's an old favorite.  Thanks!
Wow, forgot about this one.  Great stuff!  Thanks R.P. for shaking off some of my cobwebs.
 Relayer wrote:
Steve Miller; a man destroyed by the constant shallow playlists of FM radio, has found a new home for his lesser known/obscure music.  Glad that RP plays stuff like that I would have never heard elsewhere.
 
In what sense was Steve Miller "destroyed"?
Before they got busy writing some of the most iconic rock anthems, they were busy writing this great stuff. SMB was the real deal.
Steve Miller; a man destroyed by the constant shallow playlists of FM radio, has found a new home for his lesser known/obscure music.  Glad that RP plays stuff like that I would have never heard elsewhere.
interesting to hear how he sounded before hitting it big.
Takes me back.   One year out of college.   On my own.   Rock and jazz in the evenings.   Some things haven't changed.

I enjoy this song very much on our 6 month trip to India in eighties...A really great song..far out! 
Recognized his voice.  Cool song.
 FatPants wrote:
Nice! Never heard this one before.  Love RP!

 
Just about to post exactly the same, FatPants!
 
Nice! Never heard this one before.  Love RP!
would love to hear some other cuts from this album ! is one of his best !
I'll say it agian, only on Radio Paradise! Brilliant music selections curated by humans with excellent taste!!
 

Listen to the blackbird sadly sing
For you, for me
Look at all the pointless suffering
Humanity

I am dreaming of a garden
And I see the midnight flight
Of a blackbird, through my vision
To the light
To the light

She is standing in the doorway
With the love light in her eye
And she beckons me to journey
Through the night
Through the night

Listen to the blackbird sadly sing
For you, for me
Look at all the pointless suffering
Humanity

To the people, who are naked
As they breathe in amber haze
Wandering endlessly narcotic
Through the maze
Through the maze

To the leaders, who are timeless
As they flaunt their warlike ways
Flying endlessly o'er the wasteland
Seeking praise
Seeking praise

Listen to the blackbird sadly sing
For you, for me
Look at all the pointless suffering
Humanity

Pointless suffering indeed...Red Wing Blackbirds kind of sing like giant crickets ( and don't reject their young if handled by humans BTW), Starlings are an imported pest that sound like Mucus Garglers ( awesome punk band name, that ).
 WonderLizard wrote:

Rolling Stone did a feature on him about the time of "The Joker"/"Fly Like an Eagle." He produced a business chart showing his plan to release Top 40 hits on a regular basis—entirely without irony. He views his work as a business as much as an artistic enterprise. 

 

I had never heard this but I am not surprised.  I like his music for the most part, and some if it I love, but it always came across to me with just a hint of inauthenticity.  Like he was in it for the money first and the art after.
one millers  lesser known albums / but there is some really nice stuff on this / enter Maurice !
I've heard this song before, maybe from the Anthology collection, but I had never heard of this album.  Very good song!
Wow never heard this one but it's great! 
Congratulations on getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!
Wow, forgot about this album.  Awesome.
Glyn Johns did this recording.
This is very trippy, first time I heard it.....just moved to Malaysia and the first song I heard after firing up RP, great way to destress from moving!!
Now play Feel So Glad, Baby's House, and Come On Into My Kitchen!
Wow! After many years as a die hard Steve Miller fan this emerged as one of my favorites. I'm willing to bet that no other music source has the insight to play this song. Thanks so much Bill and Rebecca. Long live RP.
 
9>10...
I'm in awe...what a beauty recording
old Steve Miller so much better... Your Saving's  Grace so worth exploring if you don't know it!
 
 WonderLizard wrote:

Rolling Stone did a feature on him about the time of "The Joker"/"Fly Like an Eagle." He produced a business chart showing his plan to release Top 40 hits on a regular basis—entirely without irony. He views his work as a business as much as an artistic enterprise. So long as the music's good, who cares? I for one thought his "Joker"/"Eagle" period was a lot of fun.

 
I think the "Joker/Eagle" era was fun too; it was after that when things got much worse, though I imagine most of us still know all the lyrics to those later tunes due to the excessive airplay back then.
 phlattop wrote:

I read somewhere that churning out top 40 hits became his focus at the cost of fully developed albums.

 
Rolling Stone did a feature on him about the time of "The Joker"/"Fly Like an Eagle." He produced a business chart showing his plan to release Top 40 hits on a regular basis—entirely without irony. He views his work as a business as much as an artistic enterprise. So long as the music's good, who cares? I for one thought his "Joker"/"Eagle" period was a lot of fun.
 dragon1952 wrote:
Steve Miller was great before he started trying to churn out top 40 hits....although he did succeed at that. I guess you gotta Take the Money and Run....ha ha. No, seriously....I was just Joker - ing......ha ha.

 
I read somewhere that churning out top 40 hits became his focus at the cost of fully developed albums.
 coloradojohn wrote:
Yeah, really good stuff from his early days! Very much carrying the signature sounds of the times. I dig the harmonies, bass and guitar!

 
 

Indeed!


I've got this on heavily worn vinyl. Bought it when it came out during my sophomore year in high school. Great to hear it again!
groooooovieeeeee      : )
Steve Miller was great before he started trying to churn out top 40 hits....although he did succeed at that. I guess you gotta Take the Money and Run....ha ha. No, seriously....I was just Joker - ing......ha ha.
Bill G. has done it again. I had a S.M. album titled ' Brave New World ' around 1974. Previous song....Brave New World by Richard Ashcroft. 
Very nice, I don't think I've ever heard this. Didn't know SM could do this kind of thing. 
Yeah, really good stuff from his early days! Very much carrying the signature sounds of the times. I dig the harmonies, bass and guitar!
 Pedro1874 wrote:
Oh yeah!  23 tracks in the library Bill - more SMB please! {#Sunny}{#Good-vibes}{#Notworthy}

RIP John, James, Norton and Tim.

 
I really love Swingtown... this one is new too me but I like so far
Quite sonic
Oh yeah!  23 tracks in the library Bill - more SMB please! {#Sunny}{#Good-vibes}{#Notworthy}

RIP John, James, Norton and Tim.
WOW I had this in vinyl.  I wonder where it is now?
My second favorite SMB song.....an absolutely stunning song!
Melancholy
 MojoJojo wrote:
 New to me.

 
Me too. Liking it...
loving this
College daze.
SOLID!!!

PersonnelSteve Miller – guitarvocals  Gerald Johnson – bass guitar  (amazing) Ben Sidran – keyboards Dick Thompson – keyboards Jim Keltner – drums Roger Allen Clark – drums Gary Mallaber – drums Jack King – drums
March '72

(lotta drummers : ) 

Wow, time warp!  Thanks Bill for putting me back in high school for a few minutes, excellent tune, great era.
That was GREAT!  Let's hear more of that, please!
 This was the Steve Miller that I was familiar with until his later and popular music came out.   "Fly Like An Eagle" just seemed so not like his earlier material.   A great overview of his earlier work - like this - is from his "Anthology" album.
hints of Fleetwood Mac
 New to me.