The Steve Miller Band - Book of Dreams

Book of Dreams from 1977 was essentially the second half of The Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits 1974–78. Steve Miller released one of rock’s great one-two punch combinations: Fly Like an Eagle in 1976 and Book of Dreams in 1977, records that cemented him as one of the defining artists of the ’70s. The bed tracks for these watershed albums were essentially recorded at the same time, which is part of what makes them feel so cohesive. I remember a friend once calling Book of Dreams the best collection of leftover material ever recorded. I’m not sure how much water that comment holds, and I suspect Mister Miller was more concerned with pulling together the songs that best fit together stylistically. Besides, the answer to the question, “What if all the great songs were released as one album?” was already answered in 1978 with Greatest Hits 1974–78.

Does one really need to hear Book of Dreams? Kind of depends. Here’s my conundrum: I don’t have the greatest hits collection, so yes, I do sort of need this. If I had it? Perhaps not. But there’s something about hearing the songs in the sequence they were intended. For me, the draw was hearing the full versions rather than the radio edits that appeared on the hits package. “Jet Airliner” is so much better with the long intro, and frankly “funky shit” is a lot cooler than “funky kicks.” I suppose AM radio needed the latter.

While just about all of side one of Book of Dreams was featured on the greatest hits compilation, it’s side two that gives the uninitiated a relatively fresh experience. “Jungle Love,” for my money, contains one of the coolest rock and roll riffs ever committed to tape. My goodness, it is a thing of wonder. To me, it’s the best song on the album, hands down. Yes, I’m laying it on a tad thick, but my goodness it is so good.

When it comes to album tracks you need to hear, the dreamy “Electro Lux Imbroglio” instrumental that leads into “Sacrifice” is essentially Book of Dreams’ answer to the “Space Intro”/“Fly Like an Eagle” combo from Fly Like an Eagle. Steve’s guitar work here is fantastic. I think people tend to sleep on Mister Miller as a rock guitarist, but the guy had magic in his fingers. He wasn’t flashy - he was tasteful, and man, that counts for everything.

It’s a bit weird hearing some of these songs now as I find myself playing the who did he borrow that from game. “Winter Time” is a standout track, but golldernit, did Steve think people had never heard “Suite Madame Blue” by Styx? At least he didn’t stray from the chord progression. If he’d suddenly started singing “America…” I’d have lost it. Since I’m on the subject of soundalike material, Ted Nugent’s instrumental “Home Bound” from Cat Scratch Fever shares the same structural riff as “Swingtown,” which was likely coincidental… or was it? I guess it depends on who's the chicken and who's the egg. I’m honestly surprised classic rock radio stations don’t segue those songs together. I was tempted to bring up “The Stake” and "Rocky Mountain Way" too, but at some point it just gets silly and pedantic. Besides, other than the groove, they really aren’t the same, and honestly it’s a pretty standard blues-based trope. They're both good. One is better, but hey.

The album closes with “Babes in the Woods,” a 12-string acoustic-driven instrumental that almost feels like a sea shanty. It’s a really great ending to the record. Which kind of brings me back to the question: does one really need to hear Book of Dreams? Why not let Steve answer this one: "The question to everyone's answer / Is usually asked from within." What's in within you ask? The tracks on the album. I was waffling earlier, buying time for myself by saying it depended on whether or not you owned the greatest hits collection, but honestly I have to say that while that compilation is amazing, it’s still just an appetizer. If you only want the hits, fine. But if it whetted your appetite at all, then you likely already own this album and the one that preceded it. However, if you don’t, you should check Book of Dreams out. Don't worry, the big hits are here too in all their original glory, along with more material you may not have heard - and frankly, you’re missing out if you skip it.