In 2021, Steve Miller once again dug deep into his archives and found a never-before-heard-or-seen, full-length concert recording from 1977. “Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground: August 3rd, 1977”, featuring such classic rock staples as “The Joker” and “Rock’n Me,” arrived via Sailor/Capitol/UMe.
The recording captures Miller’s legendary 1977 line-up at the beginning of the band’s turn from playing ballrooms and theatres to arenas and football stadiums.
Of the performance, the guitarist, multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter, bandleader, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Songwriters Hall of Fame member says, “This show at the Cap Center in Landover, Maryland, captures the band right at the peak after “The Joker“, and in the middle of “Fly Like an Eagle” and “Book of Dreams”, a stream of hit [album]s… We decided to call it “Breaking Ground” because that’s exactly what we were doing.”
“Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground: August 3rd, 1977 includes original liner notes by music journalist David Fricke who says – “Breaking Ground” captures the Steve Miller Band on stage in one of their biggest years, 1977. They were at a perfect crossroads of psychedelic zeal and progressive, popcraft while staying true to Miller’s first love, the blues.”
Miller’s “The Joker” became his first (of three) #1 singles, when it reached the top of the Hot 100 on Jan. 12, 1974. The album was recorded on multi-track tape and newly mixed and mastered by Miller and his veteran audio engineer Kent Hertz.
The Fat Angel Sings 