Poll: Best early Steve Miller Band compilation

It would be useful to know why people are voting the way that they are. What do they like or dislike about each compilation?

 

I think Steve Miller picked the songs included on Anthology:

"This is the first time I ever had the confidence to reveal myself in public. Always before, you know, people more or less needed to be fans to like the albums. Oh, I mean there’d be some good cuts and a couple of not-so-good cuts, and then some cuts that I don’t even like to remember. But Anthology is what I always wanted to make – two good LPs that’ll hold up. This is the first consistently good album I’ve ever made."

Not sure about the other Best Of collection.

 

Anything from Side 2.

 

I've got Anyhology, that covers some of the highlights but his first 5 albums are all really strong. I love the King Biscuit Flower Hour 2 cd set, Him and his band are on fire.

 

Both are lacking in my opinion. There is something special about each one of their first four albums, therefore I have a hard time chopping them up and putting tracks on a compilation.

 

I wish Anthology had Jackson-Kent Blues on it.

 

It doesn't have Quicksilver Girl -a big fail IMO.

 

I like the inclusion of Jackson Kent Blues, Quicksilver Girl and The Joker. The songs exclusive to Anthology don't compensate for these omissions. Journey From Eden is sorely missed, so Anthology gets points for that one.

 

I think the blues tracks like Evil and Come On In My Kitchen from the Joker album fit better with the earlier period material than the later period material.

 

I agree. The Joker itself I can't help but equate to his later 70s hits because it was always played along side them on his later Greatest Hits record.

edit: I Love You is also a very nice song on Anthology.

 

The Lovin' Cup not included on either compilation but included on the box set is another blues track like this. I like that one as well.

 

In My First Mind is missed on both. A mellotron-heavy psyche tune that is a load of fun.

 

If like me you think the early Steve Miller Band was great, these five albums are essential:

1. Children of the Future
2. Sailor
3. Brave New World
4. Your Saving Grace
5. 5

The original US LPs generally sound quite good, a bit better than Anthology. 1968-73 is a handy one CD compilation, I've seen but not heard the LP version. For the later stuff Greatest Hits 1974-78 is probably all you need.

 

What song do you think is the biggest omission from each compilation?

 

From both its that the Children of the Future album is not represented, as that is my favorite. Concededly the first side is a difficult one to pull from, but there are several candidates on the second side that could have been used.

But that is not the question you ask. I would say the absence of Quicksilver Girl makes the first one quite problematic.

 

Rock Love is also not represented on either compilation and Recall The Beginning... A Journey From Eden is not represented on The Best Of. The Joker of course, is not represented on Anthology.

 

Welcome 1:03
Rock Love 2:28
Living In The U.S.A. 4:04
Your Saving Grace 4:50
Going To The Country 3:13
Song For Our Ancestors 6:00
Children Of The Future 4:05
Journey From Eden 6:45
My Dark Hour 3:09
Kow Kow Calqulator 4:27
The Joker 4:25

Here is an interesting one that actually contains tracks from Children Of The Future, Rock Love and Recall the Beginning... A Journey From Eden.

 

A1 The Joker
A2 Children Of The Future
A3 Songs For Our Ancestors
A4 Living In The U.S.A
A5 Brave New World
A6 Kow Kow Calqulator
B1 Your Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash
B2 Your Saving Grace
B3 Rock Love
B4 Space Cowboy
B5 Going To The Country
B6 Gangster of Love

Here is another interesting one as it has both Rock Love and Your Cash Ain't Nothing But Trash which were both released as singles.

 

In my choice I have also taken into account non-musical elements. The Anthology cover (mainly on Lp) has a special beauty.

 

Any other thoughts on these? Additions or subtractions to the track listings?

 

"Quicksilver Girl" sounds like prehistoric Nirvana.

I have "The Best Of" and find it to be an excellent companion to my DCC "Greatest Hits 74-78".

If you need all the tracks, each of these are abundant at a great price.

 

Still a close vote. Keep on voting.

 

Seems there is a lot of love for "The Joker".
It's the LP that for me was the least interesting and the one where I started to drift away ...

 

I like them both but Anthology was my first exposure to early SMB so I went with that.

 

I am interested in the reasoning for voting for one compilation over the other. Track listing, sound, cover, more tracks, familiarity etc.?

Which tracks do you wish were included on the compilation that received your vote which are not included?