Willie G. Moseley Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 One wonders how many people were initially attracted to this album because of the psychedelic artwork. And one wonders how many HFCers have ever heard it, since it's my perception that an average HFCer is maybe a decade or so younger than me. And yes, the SMB was based in San Francisco during the acid rock era, but instead of shrieking guitars a la James Gurley or Barry Melton, the featured instruments, particularly on Side One, are Hammond organ and Mellotron. For me, It's one of the greatest album sides ever (RE: Abbey Road Side 2, Live: Full House Side 1, etc.---we've discussed such music before but I don't think Side 1 of Children of the Future came up. The album, the band's first, was released in June 1968....55 years ago this month. It's mysterious and trippy (a Mellotron's "signature" sound with the strings bank works perfectly on Side 1). Nice guitar work (that still holds up) on "Stepping Stone" "Roll With It" "Junior Saw It Happen" on Side 2, plus there's a harpsichord on "Baby's Calling Me Home", (sung by Boz Scaggs, who was onboard as the other guitarist for the first two albums). It would be five albums later that Miller would start dabbling in hitmaking (Rock Love, 1971), going full-bore in that direction with 1973's The Joker. While I personally respect how he succeeded, Children of the Future is the only SMB album I have on CD. If you've never heard it you owe it to yourself to listen. This ain't no Abracadabra.
django49 Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 Count me in as an early adapter. I was also taken with "Living in the USA." I recall vividly being intrigued by those guitars on the cover, wondering "WTF are those things? And where do I get one?"
beezerboy Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 yeah... thanks for that. Miller doesn't get the recognition he deserves. his band(s)/were was not only good, they had a ton of hits. not really a bad song in 60 years + doing music. I saw a long winded interview he did a while back where he talked about his roots playing in mafia owned Chicago blues clubs. thats where he developed a professional work ethic and stage presence. way interesting. also, here's a weirdo nugget from that interview.... Less Paul is Steve's godfather. the Miller family was friends with LP in the 40s. and now... I'll add my favorite missing link: Moby Grape.... the other Bay Area band that helped set the pace of the era and created a whole new sound. only a couple radio hits but man.... what good musicians.... and good songs. I have pieces of some in my head almost every day even now over 50 years later. at one time Clapton said Jerry Miller was the best guitar in American rock/blues. I know he was a big influence on me in the '60's... Travis pickin' to Chicago blues... he did it all. 5 top level players that all sing. they were a great band with a kina tragic timeline and got screwed etc. and, worst of all.... they are not in the R&R Hall of Fame moby grape 805 - Yahoo Video Search Results theres many more
hamerhead Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 14 hours ago, Willie G. Moseley said: This ain't no Abracadabra. "Abracadabra. I wanna reach out and" stab pencils in my ears. Turd Deluxe. Up 'til that song, I liked pretty much everything Steve Miller did.
DaveH Posted June 5, 2023 Posted June 5, 2023 17 hours ago, Willie G. Moseley said: This ain't no Abracadabra NOTHING is Abracadabra (or as shitty as.) And thank God.
beezerboy Posted June 6, 2023 Posted June 6, 2023 oh yeah... Abra cadabbra... 13 hours ago, hamerhead said: Abracadabra. I wanna reach out and" there was some fetal self protection mechanism that protected me from the scubby piece of yuk.... now you have brought it back to the surface. dham you. I had my own words for that one... Scabrous Cadaver.... I wanna butt slap your Granny (close enough)... (it goes way down hill from there). I remember when Siskal and Ebert flirted with the idea of reviewing music as well as movies. this was the first and last review... they hated it so much that thumbs down wasn't enough... they simply cut off their thumbs
bkrownd Posted June 8, 2023 Posted June 8, 2023 On 6/5/2023 at 6:15 AM, hamerhead said: "Abracadabra. I wanna reach out and" stab pencils in my ears. Turd Deluxe. Up 'til that song, I liked pretty much everything Steve Miller did. That's a big nostalgia song for me. Loved it when I was about 12, and love to hear it today. Abracadabra is the first album I ever owned, just to record that one song onto my mix tapes.
hamerhead Posted June 8, 2023 Posted June 8, 2023 Fine. You can stay. Just don't let it happen again.
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