|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Buy a CD or a vinyl record, get a $1 Amazon MP3 Credit. Limit one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
- Includes FREE MP3 version of this album Here's how (restrictions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Editorial Reviews
Audio CD.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Steve Miller Band's twelfth studio album entitled Abracadabra was released in June of 1982.
After experiencing extremely disappointing sales of his 1981 album Circle of Love, Steve decided to release another album right away with Abracadabra. Steve (as always on guitars and vocals but suffering from some writer's block as he only had two new tunes for the album) retained the band on Circle of Love (bass player Gerald Johnson, drummer Gary Mallaber and keyboard player Byron Allred) and added two new guitarists Kenny Lee Lewis (who is still in the band today) and John Massaro (the two wrote much of the album aside two tracks) and record Abracadabra at Capitol Record Studios in early 1982 with help from ex-bass player Lonnie Turner and ex-guitarist Greg Douglass (both of whom last recorded with Steve in 1977 on Book of Dreams). The result is an album which some cry "sell out" and others say "gave Steve his last hit". I think it's a great album as I found out when I first got the cassette tape in September of 1987 (alongside The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to begin my first year of Junior High School).
The opening "Keep Me Wondering Why" is a great rocker which was written by Kenny Lee Lewis. Next is the album's title track (written by Steve himself) and is the big hit from the album. The song would prove to be his last #1 pop hit in the summer/fall of 1982 and here it's in its full long version with outro and at over 5 minutes the longest track on the album. Next is the Lonnie Turner/Greg Douglass penned rocker "Something Special" which is another winner. We follow with the album's second single "Give It Up" (also penned by Steve Miller himself) and sounds like a slowed down version of "Heart Like a Wheel" but a great song. A shame the song didn't rise above #60 on the charts. Next is another nice tune out of "Never Say No" (penned by Lewis and Massaro) which ends side one on a rocking note and was the flip side to the title cut.
The second side begins with two songs written by John Massaro which is the New Wave rock sound of "Things I Told You" which is another great tune. We follow with "Young Girl's Heart" which is a nice song. Next is another Turner/Douglass composition which is the country-ish "Goodbye Love" which has some banjo-style guitar and some harmonica by either Steve or Norton Buffalo (who would join in time for the Abracadabra tour). Next is another great rocker penned by Lewis out of "Cool Magic" which is one of my favorite Steve Miller album tracks ever. We then end with the nice acoustic ballad "While I'm Waiting" penned by Massaro.
Abracadabra would become The Steve Miller Band's last album to reach the US Top 10 peaking at #3 and bringing him back to Platinum glory one more time as his career went into a slide for awhile after this (although his next great album would be 1986's Living In the 20th Century).
RECOMMENDED!
After experiencing extremely disappointing sales of his 1981 album Circle of Love, Steve decided to release another album right away with Abracadabra. Steve (as always on guitars and vocals but suffering from some writer's block as he only had two new tunes for the album) retained the band on Circle of Love (bass player Gerald Johnson, drummer Gary Mallaber and keyboard player Byron Allred) and added two new guitarists Kenny Lee Lewis (who is still in the band today) and John Massaro (the two wrote much of the album aside two tracks) and record Abracadabra at Capitol Record Studios in early 1982 with help from ex-bass player Lonnie Turner and ex-guitarist Greg Douglass (both of whom last recorded with Steve in 1977 on Book of Dreams). The result is an album which some cry "sell out" and others say "gave Steve his last hit". I think it's a great album as I found out when I first got the cassette tape in September of 1987 (alongside The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to begin my first year of Junior High School).
The opening "Keep Me Wondering Why" is a great rocker which was written by Kenny Lee Lewis. Next is the album's title track (written by Steve himself) and is the big hit from the album. The song would prove to be his last #1 pop hit in the summer/fall of 1982 and here it's in its full long version with outro and at over 5 minutes the longest track on the album. Next is the Lonnie Turner/Greg Douglass penned rocker "Something Special" which is another winner. We follow with the album's second single "Give It Up" (also penned by Steve Miller himself) and sounds like a slowed down version of "Heart Like a Wheel" but a great song. A shame the song didn't rise above #60 on the charts. Next is another nice tune out of "Never Say No" (penned by Lewis and Massaro) which ends side one on a rocking note and was the flip side to the title cut.
The second side begins with two songs written by John Massaro which is the New Wave rock sound of "Things I Told You" which is another great tune. We follow with "Young Girl's Heart" which is a nice song. Next is another Turner/Douglass composition which is the country-ish "Goodbye Love" which has some banjo-style guitar and some harmonica by either Steve or Norton Buffalo (who would join in time for the Abracadabra tour). Next is another great rocker penned by Lewis out of "Cool Magic" which is one of my favorite Steve Miller album tracks ever. We then end with the nice acoustic ballad "While I'm Waiting" penned by Massaro.
Abracadabra would become The Steve Miller Band's last album to reach the US Top 10 peaking at #3 and bringing him back to Platinum glory one more time as his career went into a slide for awhile after this (although his next great album would be 1986's Living In the 20th Century).
RECOMMENDED!
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
"Abracadabra" was Steve Miller's last chart hit (and a number one, at that). The album of the same name was the last Miller album actually worth owning. Miller is known for his blues stylings, but ultimately he is a 1970s era classic rocker at heart. With "Abracadabra," he attempted to insert some new wave flourishes into his music, with mixed results. After the big hit, the album's other highlights include "Keeps Me Wondering Why," "Give it Up" and "Cool Magic." Nothing of great consequence, but then again Miller's albums were more about having fun than thinking real hard.
Overall, "Abracadabra" is far from being Miller's best album but might be worth owning for ardent fans.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am reviewing the sound quality only. The sound is warm, it is dynamic and it is full. It sounds like someone took their time to remaster this properly. I do not detect any compression and when turned up, it just sounds...right!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite Steve Miller Album
I collect albums of Steve Miller Band. Of all the Steve Miller Band albums, this album is my favorite album.
I like the song "Abracadabra"..
I like the song "Abracadabra"..
Published 1 month ago by johnsteveyap
5.0 out of 5 stars
ABRACADABRA one more time!!
Steve Millers ABRACADABRA is still
enjoyed loud and clear with this
CD when my husband cranks up the
boom box. What fun! Thanks Amazon.
enjoyed loud and clear with this
CD when my husband cranks up the
boom box. What fun! Thanks Amazon.
Published 18 months ago by TERESA
5.0 out of 5 stars
Steve Miller Band Abracadabra
I think that this is an excellent classic rock album from the 80's by the Steve Miller Band if your a big fan of the band like I am it's worth having in your collection all the... Read more
Published on February 21, 2011 by John Jay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Condition
This was a brand new product and was in perfect condition. I received it just in time for Christmas! Thank you!
Published on January 15, 2009 by Angel Hartman
1.0 out of 5 stars
One Track Wonder
There is little to commend this CD except the title track, which I happen to like very much. Others have been spectacularly dismissive, which is a shame. Read more
Published on April 26, 2008 by Two Tone Antoine
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Bad
While much of this album is not Steve Miller's best work, it is certainly ok, I got this album, mainly for the songs "Keeps Me Wondering Why" and the full length version of... Read more
Published on May 4, 2007 by musicfanatic
5.0 out of 5 stars
steve miller band abracadabra 1982
there was a total of 6 songs that i thought was the best tracks on this cd title song abracadabra is one and keep me wonder why something special things i told you and cool magic... Read more
Published on March 21, 2005 by James E. Johnson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Mistake By the Lake
Steve Miller is a legend. Abracadabra is his illegitimate child. Thank god there's only one copy left at Amazon--maybe, if we pray, this album will just get lost at the state... Read more
Published on June 10, 2004 by Charles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Revisit Of A Favorite Band!
In 1982 it had been a while since Steve Miller Band had a hit of any note and he got one in the tital cut of this album-and
it WAS a big one! Read more
it WAS a big one! Read more
Published on December 5, 2003 by Andre' S Grindle
4.0 out of 5 stars
soft SteveMiller
This is a good cd from Steve not as good as some of his stuff like Fly Like A Eagle but still this is a nice cd to get to play when you get tired of all the stuff on the radio !
Published on January 22, 2003 by Ricky L. Miller
