"Fly Like An Eagle" by THE STEVE MILLER BAND - 1976 Studio Album on Mercury Records (October 2010 UK Edsel Records 2 Disc Set CD + DVD Reissue of 2006 30th Anniversary Edition Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…I Want To Fly Like An Eagle…Let My Spirit Carry Me…"

Capitol Records USA released a 30th Anniversary Edition of Steve Miller's 9th studio album "Fly Like An Eagle" from May 1976 as a 2-disc set (CD + DVD) in 2006. 

UK released in October 2010 - Edsel EDSX 3010 (Barcode 740155301033) is a British mid-priced reissue of that American CD and DVD (remastered) version and breaks down as follows (51:18 minutes):

1. Space Intro [Side 1]

2. Fly Like An Eagle

3. Wild Mountain Honey

4. Serenade

5. Dance, Dance, Dance

6. Mercury Blues

7. Take The Money And Run [Side 2]

8. Rock ’n’ Me

9. You Send Me

10. Blue Odyssey

11. Sweet Marie

12. The Window

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Fly Like An Eagle" - released May 1976 in the USA on Capitol Records ST-11497 and in the UK on Mercury 9286 177 (it peaked at number 3 on the US charts and at number 11 in the UK)

BONUS TRACKS (Previously Unreleased):

13. Fly Like An Eagle '73 [Demo]

14. Take The Joker And Run [Acoustic Demo Version]

15. Rockin' Me '76 Slow [Demo]

Seven of the album's twelve-tracks were issued across 4 x 7" singles in both the USA and the UK – this CD will allow fans to sequence them all as follows:

1. "Take The Money And Run" b/w "Sweet Maree"

May 1976 USA 7" on Capitol 4260 – May 1976 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 800

2. "Rock 'n Me" b/w “Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma” and "Living In The U.S.A."

August 1976 USA 7" on Capitol 4323 – October 1976 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 804

NOTE: the 1st US B-side was "Shu Ba Da Du…" an old track from 1973's "The Joker"; it was then reissued with "Living In The U.S.A." as its B-side, a track from 1969's "Sailor". The British B-side is "The Window" - a track off the "Fly Like An Eagle" album]

3. "Fly Like An Eagle" b/w "Mercury Blues"

December 1976 USA 7" on Capitol 4372 – August 1976 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 802

[Note: the US B-side is a track off the "Fly Like An Eagle" album, but the British B-side is an old track called "Lovin' Cup" from 1973's "The Joker"]

4. "Serenade" b/w "Dance, Dance, Dance"

January 1977 UK 7" single on Mercury 6078 808 [No US 7" equivalent]

The original US and UK vinyl album cover was a very plain affair (no insert or inner sleeve) and had barely readable credits on the rear – so it's nice to finally see the artwork given a long overdue upgrade. This new UK reissue comes in a very fetching 3-way foldout card digipak featuring expanded artwork on both the front and rear – all of it in the same colour scheme as the original vinyl album. Inside the tri-gatefold – the three-piece band is pictured - Steve Miller on Vocals, Guitar, Sitar and Roland Keyboards, Lonnie Turner on Bass with Gary Mallaber on Drums And Percussion. 

The audio CD, DVD and areas beneath the see-through plastic trays all feature live photos of Miller from the 2005 concert while the new 20-page booklet has comprehensive liner notes by JOEL SELVIN of the San Francisco Chronicle. They’ve reproduced the Capitol Records 3-page Promo Blurb of May 1976 with the Lyrics provided for the first time too. The packaging is very tasty indeed. But the real fireworks lie in the sound…and the huge amount of goodies on the DVD.

Like "Book Of Dreams" (the album that followed "Fly Like An Eagle") - I've had the 1998 Eagle reissue for years just to have the album on CD – but this new 2011 sonic upgrade is truly superlative. Remastered by BARRY GRINT at Alchemy in London, the sound quality is massively improved on every track – and not just trebled up to the nines for effect. This is not a loud CD for loudness sake – it has power and muscle and great presence. 

Right from the swirling synths of the album's instrumental opener "Space Intro" through to the opening guitar and bass of "Flying Like An Eagle" (lyrics above) – the remaster is light, clear and beautifully produced. There isn’t hiss - nor is there a feeling of over-compression – the instruments have air around them and sound 'live'. Chris McCarty’s "Wild Mountain Honey" sounds so sweet now and the drums of "Serenade" whack out of your speakers with an impressive tightness. The slinky "Mercury Blues" (written by Karl Douglass and Robert Geddins) has great guitar-work – so clear and full while the James Cotton harmonica on "Sweet Maree" is fantastic – warbling mean and moody in your living room. I've never really like "Dance, Dance, Dance" or the oddly-out-of-place cover of Sam Cooke's "You Send Me", but Steve Miller/Jason Cooper original "The Window" is a great way to finish the record – and it sounds fab too.

Then comes something genuinely shocking – the 1973 demo of "Fly Like An Eagle" which is superbly produced and an entirely different take on the finished version we’re so used to. It's just brilliant – taking the song in a more funky-rock direction. It has far more emphasis on the socially conscious lyrics – and it fades out with a long echoed-guitar finish that had me grinning from ear-to-ear. The "Acoustic" Demo of "Take The Money And Run" has an almost Doobie Brothers circa Tom Johnston feel – it's excellent. As is the acoustically slowed down folky demo of "Rockin' Me" – with its spoken lyrics and in-studio giggling towards the end - it's clearly a work in progress and yet it still feels fully formed.

The DVD features 3 items - a 2-hour 22-track live concert filmed 17 September 2005 at The Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View in California, a 2006 documentary called "Thirty Years Rock'n" conducted by Joel Selvin about the making of the album which includes an interview with Steve Miller - and finally a 5.1 Surround Sound Mix of the "Fly Like An Eagle" album. It has to be said that the definition of the picture wavers from clear to blurry on almost all the numbers (I don’t know why given it’s a modern-day shoot), but the band are super-tight and incredibly well rehearsed – so the songs are superbly delivered (enjoying themselves too) and the sound is great. Some have experienced problems with synching, but I found it ok. "I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love", "Got Love If You Want It" and "Gangster Of Love" are considerably enhanced by the Blues Boogie presence of George Thorogood on Guitar and Vocals (great stuff), while "All Your Love (I Miss Loving)" introduces the incredible versatility of Joe Satriani on Lead Guitar (he and Miller play off each other so well on a few Blues standards). It's a shame the picture quality isn't better, but the music is superb.

So there you have it – a great Seventies Radio-friendly Rock album given a properly cool makeover (with genuine bonus tracks), massively improved packaging, top sound quality, a bonus DVD jam-packed with good stuff (albeit a little creaky in places) - and all of it at less than seven shiny new English pounds.

A bit of a bargain frankly – and like a girl who wants to keep on Rock 'n’ me – it's big time recommended...

The 2011 and 2012 STEVE MILLER BAND 'Special Edition'

CD Reissue Series from Edsel Records of the UK

1. Children Of The Future (April 1968) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5003 - Barcode 0740155500337

2. Sailor (October 1968) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5004 - Barcode 740155500733

3. Brave New World (June 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5005 - Barcode 740155500535

4. Your Saving Grace (November 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5006 - Barcode 740155500634

5. Number 5 (July 1970) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5007 – Barcode 740155500733

6. Fly Like An Eagle (July 1976) – released 11 October 2010 on Edsel EDSX 3010 (with Bonus DVD) – Barcode 740155301033 – see REVIEW

7. Book Of Dreams (May 1977) - released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1051 – Barcode 740155105136 – see REVIEW

8. Circle Of Love (October 1981) – released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1052 – Barcode 740155105235

9. Abracadabra (June 1982) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1053 – Barcode 740155105334

10. The Steve Miller Band Live! (April 1983) - released 4 April 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1056 – Barcode 740155105631

11. Italian X-Rays (November 1984) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1054 – Barcode 740155105433

12. Wide River (July 1993) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1055 – Barcode 740155105532

PS: Could someone please get to Remastering long-standing holes in the Steve Miller back catalogue - October 1971's "Rock Love", March 1972's "Recall The Beginning...A Journey From Eden" and especially October 1973's "The Joker" – that way fans and the curious would have access to a 'near' complete run in decent Audio...

“Book Of Dreams” by THE STEVE MILLER BAND. A Review Of His 1977 LP - Now Reissued & Remastered Onto A 2011 Edsel Records CD.

This review is part of my Series "SOUNDS GOOD: Exceptional CD Remasters 1970s Rock And Pop" Download Book available to buy on Amazon to either your PC or Mac (it will download the Kindle software to read the book for free to your toolbar). Click on the link below to go my Author's Page for this and other related publications:

                       http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00LQKMC6I

"…It’s Here That I Want To Stay…"

UK released February 2011 - Edsel EDSS 1051 (Barcode 740155105136) is a straightforward mid-price CD reissue of Steve Miller’s 10th studio album – the brilliant "Book Of Dreams" - and the big old Jet Airliner breaks down as follows (38:05 minutes):

1. Threshold

2. Jet Airliner

3. Winter Time

4. Swingtown

5. True Fine Love

6. Wish Upon A Star

7. Jungle Love [Side 2]

8. Electro Lux Imbroglio

9. Sacrifice

10. The Stake

11. My Own Space

12. Babes In The Wood

Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "Book Of Dreams" released May 1977 in the USA on Capitol Records SO-11630 and in the UK on Mercury 9286 453 (it peaked at number 2 on the US charts and at number 12 in the UK). Six of the album's 12 tracks were issued across three 7" singles in both the USA and the UK – this CD will allow you to sequence them all as follows:

1. "Jet Airliner" b/w "Babes In The Wood"

April 1977 USA 7" on Capitol 4424 – April 1977 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 811

2. "Jungle Love" b/w "Wish Upon A Star"

August 1977 USA 7" on Capitol 4466 - September 1977 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 812

3. "Swingtown" b/w "Winter Time"

November 1977 USA 7" on Capitol 4496 - January 1978 UK 7" on Mercury 6078 813

This new EDSEL reissue comes in a very fetching 3-way foldout card digipak featuring expanded artwork on both the front and rear – all of it in the same colour scheme as the original vinyl album. Inside the tri-gatefold - each member of the band is pictured and named for the first time - and there’s a new 16-page booklet with comprehensive liner notes by JOEL SELVIN of the San Francisco Chronicle. Even the CD bears the now famous flying-horse logo that’s become synonymous with the band (aping the labels of the original American album). There’s several snaps of rare foreign picture sleeves for the 3 singles, photos of the group and Steve in the studio and playing live, the Capitol Picture Disc of the entire album is pictured and Lyrics are provided for the first time too. The packaging is very tasty indeed. But the real fireworks lie in the sound…

I’ve had the 1998 Eagle reissue for years just to have the album on CD – but this new 2011 sonic upgrade is truly superlative. Remastered by BARRY GRINT at Alchemy in London, the sound quality is massively improved on every track – and not just trebled up to the nines for effect. This is not a 'loud' CD for 'loudness' sake – it has power and muscle and great 'presence'. 

Right from the synth intro on the instrumental opener “Threshold” through to the guitar and bass of "Jet Airliner" (a cover of a Paul Pena song – lyrics above) – the remaster is light, clear and wonderfully produced. There isn’t hiss nor is there a feeling of over-compression – the instruments have air around them and sound 'live'. But Track 3 – the swirling and lovely "Winter Time" really ups the game – you can suddenly hear Norton Buffalo’s harmonica playing more clearly and Lonnie Turner’s bass – so sweet. "Swingtown" slides into existence with that fantastically tight drumming and when the guitar chords finally kick in – it’s fabulous.  The whistling synth intro of "Jungle Love" almost blows your out your speaker cones (but in a good way) while the acoustic guitar harmonics of "Sacrifice" give way to a great Les Dudek electric guitar solo complimented by Byron Allred’s slinky keyboard touches swirling all around the entire song. The synchronized-guitars of "The Stake" are just huge now – irresistibly great rock written by band guitarist David Denny - while the 3rd instrumental and album finisher "Babes In The Wood" is a lovely and understated way to finish the record.

So there you have it – a great Seventies Radio-friendly Rock album given a properly cool makeover, good packaging, top sound and sporting a pittance of a price tag. Tremendous stuff…

The 2011 and 2012 STEVE MILLER BAND 'Special Edition' 

CD Reissue Series from Edsel Records of the UK are:

1. Children Of The Future (April 1968) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5003 - Barcode 0740155500337

2. Sailor (October 1968) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5004 - Barcode 740155500733

3. Brave New World (June 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5005 - Barcode 740155500535

4. Your Saving Grace (November 1969) - released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5006 - Barcode 740155500634

5. Number 5 (July 1970) – released 17 September 2012 on Edsel EDSA 5007 – Barcode 740155500733

6. Fly Like An Eagle (July 1976) – released 11 October 2010 on Edsel EDSX 3010 (with Bonus DVD) – Barcode 740155301033 – see REVIEW

7. Book Of Dreams (May 1977) - released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1051 – Barcode 740155105136 – see REVIEW

8. Circle Of Love (October 1981) – released 7 February 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1052 – Barcode 740155105235

9. Abracadabra (June 1982) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1053 – Barcode 740155105334

10. The Steve Miller Band Live! (April 1983) - released 4 April 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1056 – Barcode 740155105631

11. Italian X-Rays (November 1984) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1054 – Barcode 740155105433

12. Wide River (July 1993) - released 7 March 2011 on Edsel EDSS 1055 – Barcode 740155105532

PPS: Could someone please get to Remastering long-standing holes in the Steve Miller back catalogue - October 1971's "Rock Love", March 1972's "Recall The Beginning...A Journey From Eden" and especially October 1973's "The Joker" – that way fans and the curious would have access to a 'near' complete run in decent Audio...

“Brief Encounter” – A Review Of The 1945 British Classic, Now Fully Restored & Reissued On BLU RAY in 2009.

"…I’ve Fallen In Love…I Didn’t Know That Such Violent Things Could Happen To Ordinary People…"

London in 1945 is a world of Watney's Brown Ale, Sunlight Soap and Capstan's Full Strength Cigarettes. There are usherettes in cinemas, sticky buns under glass, stippled pigskin handbags and big-wheeled perambulators. And into the Refreshment Rooms of Milford Junction Train Station step a man and a woman catching the 5:40 to Churley and the 5:50 to Ketchworth who sip tea and say things like "rather" and "beastly" and "most awfully sorry". And into our forbidden romantic consciousness lodges David Lean's terribly British morality tale and cinematic legend..."Brief Encounter".

STORY/LOCATION:
Lean picked up the option on Noel Coward's 1935 short play "Still Life" and quickly extended and renamed it "Brief Encounter" with the help of Anthony Havelock-Allen and Ronald Neame. It was then decided by both its backers and the British Government to locate the shoot at Carnforth Train Station in Lancashire (the Second World War was winding down at this point in history, but night-bombing was still a very real threat in London). Filming began in February 1945 and was shot at night after the stations business day had ended. UK released in November 1945 (1946 in the USA), it received three Academy Nominations - Best Actress, Screenplay and Director (a first for a British Director).

ACTORS:
Cyril Raymond plays Laura's rather soppy husband Fred Jesson who on seeing Laura in distress offers to help her by inviting her to do the Times Crossword Puzzle with him. He is a nice man and they are a 'happily married couple' - but he is clearly unaware of the hurricane taking place in London every Thursday between his demure wife and a total stranger. Long-time Ealing Comedy regular Stanley Holloway plays Milford Station's Senior Ticket Collector Albert Godby whose heart and fancy extends to Myrtle Bagot the haughty Refreshment Room head-lady played by Joyce Carey. Myrtle primly refutes but secretly enjoys Albert's 'saucy' advances ("I'm sure I don't know to what you are referring...") while Dolly Messiter is also brilliant as Everley Gregg - Laura's 'gossiping acquaintance' who talks 'nineteen to the dozen' in the café and on train home.

But the movie belongs to its two leads - Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Neither were classic Hollywood hunks - and in some respects it was their very ordinariness that gave their performances such power - even danger. Celia Johnson plays Laura Jesson - suburban housewife to Fred and mother to their plumy-mouthed children - Bobby and Margaret. Every Thursday she wanders into London on the steam train from her suburban home in Ketchworth for a day out. Trevor Howard plays Dr. Alec Harvey who commutes from a practice in Churley to a London hospital that specializes in preventative medicine (he will leave England shortly for South Africa). He is married to Madeleine (whom we never see) and also has two children. The Doctor and the Housewife meet one Thursday by chance in the train station's tearooms and after only a few weeks - fall passionately in love. But they are already married. And these are honourable people who don't want to be dishonourable. So they're faced with a predicament their respective decencies know will cause real heartache if they go ahead with their flight of fantasy (run off with each other to exotic places - as she dreams on the train). They must make an agonizing decision and ultimately sacrifice their 'true' love...

The other big star of the film is Noel Coward's screenplay. Coward was of course 'gay' in a Britain that barely tolerated a napkin out of place - and with this in mind, you can't help but feel that the thread of unrequited love runs throughout the entire piece. It is Oscar Wilde's famous phrase moulded into a film - Laura and Alec's illicit passion is "the love that dares not speak its name".

PRINT:
Which brings us to this 2009 BLU RAY reissue. The black and white stock has been fully restored by The British Film Institute (BFI) in conjunction with ITV Studios/The David Lean Foundation and CINEIMAGE - and their combined work here is exceptional. Even as the open credits show a speeding steam train race through a station while Rachmaniov's Piano Concert No. 2 plays - the difference is shocking. Forget all the old line-riddled scratch-filled versions you've seen down through the decades, this wonderfully clean restoration is the best the film has ever looked. The original 4:3 letterbox aspect is used as default (centred on your screen) - and even if you opt for Wide or Full Screen mode, it doesn't stretch the image to any real detriment. Here are some examples of how good it looks...

* The close up on Dolly's lips on the train - you can now see her make-up and lipstick
* Laura at home sewing in a chair - her perfectly pressed blouse and big buttons - her gold bracelet - all incredibly clear
* The mirror scene in Laura's bedroom when she first lies to her husband - the clear reflection in the glass - the music and script - all gives it a new 'world-closing-in-on-you' feel
* Laura and Alec go out for a clandestine drive in the country and stop at a bridge over a stream - you can see the glinting of the water on their coats - beautifully clear
* As Laura runs away from the flat owned by Stephen (Alec's Doctor colleague) where she might have given in to her emotions for Alec - she runs in the rain down a city street at night - the picture quality is beautiful (so noir)
* In a telephone kiosk in a tobacconist shop telephoning her husband to say that she's going to be late - beautiful shadows and light
* Sitting down on the bench beside the War Memorial - cold and ashamed - as a lone London Bobby approaches her and asks how she is

PACKAGING/LANGUAGES/EXTRAS:
The red and gold outer card-wrap has embossed script on it - the scene in the Regent Park's boathouse when he is drying his clothes and he so eloquently confesses his love for her - "I love your wide eyes...and the way you laugh at my jokes..." There isn't a booklet which is a bit of a visual let down, but there are extras worth noting - "A Profile Of Brief Encounter" which features an interview with the young waitress in the tea room - actress Beryl Walters and a history of the shoot (the teahouse was a stage built beside the Carnforth Train Station). There's also the Theatrical Trailer, a Stills Gallery and a piece on the restoration process. Subtitles are only in English and English for the Hard Of Hearing.

Another point worth mentioning is that Celia Johnson's character is given the ingenious device of a 'voiceover' - blocking out the jabbering busybody or the intrusive world in general. It allowed Johnson to say heavy things off screen but more importantly it gave us Laura's 'true' thoughts - and ultimately a way to empathize with her yo-yo feelings of elation and recrimination. The dialogue too was also so subtly full of suggestion - "I hardly know him at all really..." (querying her affections) - "You could never be dull..." (his growing passion for her) - her joy after they've shared their first kiss "And I'd said I loved him. And it was true..."

It's an innocent world really, so it was probably genuinely shocking to the audience of the day when Laura disembarks towards the end of the film from the train home only to run to Alec who is waiting in his friend's flat (a doctor called Stephen played so coldly by Valentine Dyall). Are they going to consummate their love - regardless of the cost? Will they be so cruel to their partners and especially to their children? What does 'one' do? Well buying this classic on Blu Ray at a penny less than nine pounds is a good start...

In the decades that have since passed, David Lean's 'frightfully' downbeat British romance has been parodied relentlessly and beloved with a passion in equal measure. And yet it still holds a powerful resonance even today and is likely to make 'one' reach for a handkerchief - and not because there's some grit in your eye...

"Brief Encounter" on BLU RAY is a triumph and both The British Film Institute and CINEIMAGE are to be congratulated on this reissue and its wonderfully restored print. In Celia's words "I want to remember every minute...always...always...to the end of my days..."

Well now we can.

PS: for other superb restorations on BLU RAY, see also my reviews for "The Italian Job", "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning", "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner", "North By Northwest", "Cool Hand Luke", "The Dambusters", "The Prisoner - The Complete (UK TV) Series In High Definition", "Braveheart", "Snatch", "The Ladykillers", "The African Queen", "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", "Back To The Future Trilogy" and "Kelly's Heroes".