Steve Miller Band | NUMBER 5 | CD

Composers: Tim Davis ; Steve Miller ; Bobby Winkelman; Ben Sidran; Boz Scaggs.
Steve Miller Band (Guitar): Steve Miller (bass instrument); James Cooke (acoustic guitar); Lonnie Turner, Bobby Winkelman (bass instrument); Nicky Hopkins, Ben Sidran.
Personnel: Steve Miller , Steve Miller (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, harmonica, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, background vocals); Bobby Winkelman (vocals, guitar, 12-string guitar, background vocals); Bobby Thompson (vocals, guitar, banjo); Bobby (vocals, 12-string guitar, background vocals); Tim Davis (vocals, drums, percussion, background vocals); James "Curly" Cooke (guitar, acoustic guitar); Wayne Moss (guitar, bass instrument); Lonnie Turner (guitar, fretless bass); Jim Miller, Jimmy Miller (guitar); Charlie McCoy (harp, harmonica); Charlie (harp); Buddy Spicher (violin, fiddle); Bud Billings (trumpet); Nicky Hopkins (piano, keyboards); Lee Michaels (organ, keyboards); Ben Sidran (keyboards); Jim Tillman, Jimmy Tillman (drums).
Recording information: Cinderella Sound, Nashville, TN.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Steve Miller ; Buddy Spicher.
Steve Miller's first release of the 70's, NUMBER 5, saw the guitarist still bridging the adventurous psychedelic blues of his early work with the radio-pumping classic rock that he would perfect by the middle of the decade. Producer Glyn Johns (Rolling Stones, The Who) adds some interesting sonic experimentation to the album, which adds a new dimension to Miller's music and approach, especially on songs like "Industrial Military Complex Hex."
The album opens on a mellow, somewhat countrified note that reflects the record's Nashville recording base and the presence of session hands like harmonica player Charlie McCoy and fiddler Buddy Spicher. These acoustically-based songs ("Good Morning," "I Love You," "Going to the Country"), segue into some of Miller's most underrated rockers --"Going to Mexico" and "Jackson-Kent Blues," for example. #5 would be one of the last strict blues-rock albums Miller would make before dedicating himself full-time to a successful career as an FM radio pop star.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock
• Released: 8/27/1994
• Released: 08/27/1994