Fly Like an Eagle - Steve Miller Band | The Midnight Special

[@blujay9191]

Let's hear it for the sound guys on this show. This was all live 50 years ago. The mix is great on every clip.

[@kickstar1]

what I want to know is how did they hear themselves. The monitors seem to be non existent.

[@WhyTheHorseface]

@@kickstar1maybe side fills or something under stage? Or maybe they just had stage volume set appropriately so that everyone could hear the band really well and the drummer played with restraint.

[@Frip36]

Dude, awesome comment. You are SO RIGHT!!!!

[@swbbreps8464]

@@kickstar1 they might also have been hanging on a truss above. that would also keep them out of the live of sight for TV. and, like WTHF said, band from the backline and only vocals in the flown monitors.

[@chrisccc22]

Effing Bass Player!!!!!!

[@OtherMike5000]

Bass like a FREIGHT TRAIN

[@EricLittle-l8c]

And he plays left handed

[@wellnesswithjon]

This live version is about a trillion times more groovy and powerful than the studio version.

[@DewayneCollins-qt2fh]

💯😎

[@joycepino9749]

I don't like it. Too much guitar introduction.

[@MitchMasterMusic]

4real mon

[@khm-projectsaltyfrog9231]

This was also a very early version of the song. It was still being worked out.

[@lisachauvin]

when I see a new video from The Midnight Special uploaded, I can’t click fast enough

[@hinjurock70]

Same here.

[@gregoryduncan3067]

It's important to have something to look forward to in life.

[@ceciliaohman185]

Same

[@ceciliaohman185]

@@gregoryduncan3067😅 truth

[@lisamoroney3036]

Same !

[@JohnnyAngel907]

I wanna fly too… til I’m free. This is 2024. Why can’t we still feed the children, and put shoes on their feet? Help the homeless people living in the street? We are America. The greatest country in the world. Why can’t we make this happen? I want to see us soar like that eagle. Let’s help one another and take care of one another til we’re all free. Peace and love!

[@hellbendernut]

The GOP says that is communism.

[@JohnnyAngel907]

@@hellbendernut 😂🤣

[@alexrazani8305]

You got that right

[@NingaDude231]

Trump baby we need peace and love.

[@RandomNonsense1985]

@@NingaDude231Trump is the complete opposite of peace and love.

[@regortex3364]

Steve Miller is so underrated it’s ridiculous, I know he gets played endlessly on classic rock radio but damn that album is a masterpiece.

[@Enfurarious]

That doesn’t sound underrated

[@saulspeaks2557]

I was just talking about this with my girl. You talk about Steve Miller with someone and it's always "yeah, he was pretty cool." Then you start naming songs, and watch people slowly realize they actually LOVE Steve Miller, they just didn't think about it before. 😂

[@regortex3364]

@@Enfurarious - he doesn’t get mentioned enough (imo) amongst musicians and producers, other than endless play on classic radio, he’s invisible.

[@jamescpotter]

The drummer and bassist make this song soar while absolutely grounded.

[@homunculusSZN]

I would say it makes this song “fly like an Eagle”

[@cooldebt]

@@homunculusSZN I see what you did there 😉

[@matm4331]

This performance is about 2 1/2 years before the album Fly Like an Eagle came out. So cool to see this early performance!

[@ranchokitty1]

yep I have this album tied with the nation's Bicentennial, silk screening tee shirts with the radio playing all that summer.

[@fixxxer3456]

I always liked the pre album version of Fly Like An Eagle, felt like a jam song. Loved the feel of it

[@cooldebt]

@ronaldolaquidara64 I agree. This has a real funky edge to it that is not in the album version or the live from the Breaking Ground album in '77. I wonder if there's an audio recording available anywhere.

[@jdenino6022]

So this is like a Demo version. Interesting. Never seen them in concert, wonder if they did it like this later on or stayed more true to the album version.

[@robertsanders-yy6bf]

​@@cooldebt Yes there is a kick ass audio recording of the earlier more psychedelic version of this ( not from tv) dont know if its still in print

[@CarlosBarientos]

Steve's echoplex use here is legendary!!! Made this version my favorite!!!

[@spacerockwizard]

I had no idea and I thought I knew all the great Echoplex users! His Don Kirshner Rock Concert performance of this is great too.

[@spacerockwizard]

Is that an MXR Phase 90 in there?

[@LSUOdyssey]

That is a Maestro Phaser, same one used by Funkadelic, Alex Lifeson of Rush, John Paul Jones on his keyboards, Little Feat's guitars were dripping in Maestro phaser. It's got a more adaptable tone than a Phase 90's subtle gloss. This is much chewier. ​@spacerockwizard

[@rankenfile]

Massive bass work. Great version of this song.

[@peterfangiullo2064]

I think that's Gerald Johnson

[@allenlocke1935]

@@peterfangiullo2064 I was wondering. Is he of the Brothers Johnson fame? This was so cool 😎 I need a bass player like!

[@silentlou4375]

Wow, love this version… raw, funky, bluesy.

[@cooldebt]

💯 And that sick drum beat sounds like it was used in Fresh 4 + Liz E's Wishing on a Star (90's) which was a hip-house track

[@SilentKnight43]

The genesis of an all-time classic.

[@johnshields6852]

15 in 1975 Steve had a few songs on the radio back then. Thanks for memory.

[@cynthiakoerner296]

Same, fifteen in ‘75. Great year.

[@jdenino6022]

@@cynthiakoerner296 same.

[@kingtutt61]

I gotta believe Steve still has that guitar stowed away somewhere.

[@anthonyvinson5081]

This is a great early version of the song released as a single in '76. I like it!

[@bunskilabonskiwashtubfun9841]

Steve Miller was my very first concert, at the LA Forum in Inglewood CA. It was magical, inspired me to play drums in Jr. High school jazz band. I still play in bands...Thanks Steve Miller!

[@ronnieparker4311]

This live version very groovy and spacey ! Watching these midnights specials is like time traveling back to my first favorite decade the 70’s ! Space ace Ron ⚡️⚡️⚡️

[@ronnieparker4311]

@ronaldolaquidara64 actually a friend gave me that name back in 1989! A pen pal ! We both liked kiss ! I’m a ace guy and he was a gene guy ⚡️⚡️⚡️ space ace ron

[@stevenfrederick2315]

Man, that Double Cutaway Bout Gibson Les Paul with those single Coil P-90 Pickups gave Awesome Special Affects and Futuristic Sounds! Man "The Gibson Guitar Company is the Greatest Electric Guitar Craftsman not only as Luther's or Making and Designers of the Classic Archtop L4's, L5's, Classic 400 Archtop to the Semi-Hollow Body Guitars like "The World Famous ES 335 and "The Ultimate World Famous Do It All Solid Body Guitar of All Times " The Gibson Les Paul"! Buy The Gibson Les Paul and you will Never need another Guitar! What Work of Art, Creativity of Unique Sound Quality Reproductive Affects offered in many Styles!

[@jamescox8402]

Those lyrics are even more relevant today. What a voice, love Steve Miller.

[@CautionJetblast]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe this super funky drummer is John King who predated the legendary Gary Mallaber in this band. King does an amazing job here. Loving The Midnight Special channel, a huge new asset to KZbin.

[@neighborbruce]

​@CautionJetblast you can edit your comment if you'd like!

[@CautionJetblast]

@@neighborbruceDone, thanks, I guess I just needed to open the app to do that.

[@paullevine1813]

That is Jack King not John on drums & though not Steve first drummer he came after tim Davis . Gary didn't play with Steve till the LP Recall The Beginning A Journey To Eden in 72. All great drummers . So nice to see a clip of Miller before he went commercial.

[@kickstar1]

@@paullevine1813 So are they playing the song here before it was recorded with mallaber?

[@chrissimmons4822]

No paullevine .. that is John King. He lived about 30 minutes from me in Kingsport TN in the 1990s. I worked for his company India Street Percussion. He and Dickie Thompson (the keyboard player seen in this vid.) played on the joker album and left the band after a dispute over pay. John unfortunately passed around 2010.@@paullevine1813

[@dazzlerweb]

Timeless sentiment.

[@jeffmasek9541]

Actually I never realized how inane the lyrics were. The solution to poverty and hunger is to fly like an Eagle to the sea?? But of course this is the guy who rhymed “Texas” with “Facts Is”

[@GiveMeYourNachosButthead]

@jeffmasek9541 Yeah I’m with you there, this is one song I enjoy the instruments more than the lyrics. It’s still a funky/chill song, but S. Miller singing about poverty/hunger then flying like an eagle to the sea makes absolutely no sense, lol. I know technically it’s about letting your soul ease up and feel free (and that right there is an amazing feeling when you’re not broke on the streets fighting everyday for survival), but otherwise when I hear this tune I just open my mind to the instruments more than the lyrics!

[@ardiris2715]

3 years of acid and the pompetus of love does that to a man. (:

[@markydo7]

​@@ardiris2715😂❤😂

[@Petenati2010]

The Midnight Special make me fly... like an eagle.

[@StephanieJeanne]

This version has sort of a more psychadelic sound, whereas later it felt more space age (for lack of a better description). Sounds more low-key groovy here. Great just the same!

[@Merylstreep1949]

Criminally underrated band and yeah I've always liked this version better ❤

[@markstevenson6635]

I wonder how someone can sell millions of albums, get TONS of airplay in their prime and yet be criminally underrated. Maybe they are in 2023. They weren't underrated in the 70s.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

Was waiting for someone to use the overrated term ‘underrated’. Gosh I get sick of reading it, here’s your 🏆

[@toomuchinformation]

​@@markstevenson6635I see this term so often in YT comments and it makes sense to me. There are many highly talented and successful artists during a particular era, but in the modern day they're not remembered as much as other, less talented artists from the same era. Well that's what I think the term means.

[@kneerobe8409]

​@ronaldolaquidara64 Shula-DEBRAH To Merystreep1949

[@that70sgirl90]

Those people in the audience are mesmerized !😳 I can't say I wouldn't be either. Happy Wednesday... thank you for sharing! 💖

[@markydo7]

Happy Wednesday to you too 👍❤️, love your screen name!!

[@that70sgirl90]

@@markydo7 Thank you! 😊

[@colinlobo474]

They are all Stoned !☘

[@leefreed2060]

This song was a huge part of my childhood. I still, at 56, crank this often

[@johnm.4655]

Steve's music was so groovy and psychedelic back then man! A great guitarist too. 👍 Awesome to be able to see this after so many decades. 🤗🙂

[@starsourcer]

As much as I love this song and played this constantly, I forgot about this live performance, it's (no words) - So fortunate to have grown up with this music 70's

Real musicians and performers...days gone for ever...

[@MissJensk1]

Maybe not forever . . . . Check out Greta Van Fleet 🎶🙂

[@richieboy6825]

Oh Jeez there’s 1000 amazing creative gifted musicians out there . Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Bon Iver - don’t get old before you die!!!!

[@dwaynewladyka577]

I detect a bit of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen in the opening chords. This is awesome. Cheers! ✌️

[@leiferickson5069]

He had quoted this previously in “Good Morning” off the Number Five album (1970)

[@ericminch]

Which Iron Butterfly also did in Inna Gadda Da Vida's organ solo. In 1968.

[@cooldebt]

Best quotes of Christmas tunes I've heard during live performances is the brilliant A Consouls Christmas with 'Last Christmas in Azalea Town' (Pokemon tune) and 'O Come All Ye Faithful to the Bob-Omb Battlefield' (Super Mario 64) and also Court Begins with We Three Kings (Phoenix Wright:Ace Attorney)

[@zyxwut321]

So much literally priceless and invaluable footage from "The Midnight Special". An absolute time capsule.

[@rebeccawagner4167]

Another timeless classic on the Midnight Special. This show was freaking awesome and amazing. Steve Miller Band is spectacular. I just lived to watch this on the weekend. I couldn't wait to stay up and watch my favorite bands.

[@pinstripesyndicate7156]

Pure GOLD. When live meant LIVE!!!

[@pllndch]

The progression in the chorus is just so good. Makes you wanna just go with the flow and drown in the stream of the music.

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

Great memories! Before I had a car and went out getting in trouble. I would be home watching the Midnite Special and Don Kirschner’s Rock Concert! Some great shows there!! Mom would be asleep, I’d sneak out back and smoke a doob now and then! Ahhhh!

[@criticalmass613]

Steve Miller... happy soon-to-be birthday on 5 October. Legend.

[@keithmccabe4040]

Masterclass on improv and jammin!

[@jnadle1]

One of the first times they ever performed this song. It wouldn't be a hit until 2 years later.

[@jakemoeller7850]

I remember watching Midnight Special and other live concerts from In Concert and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert. We would "prepare" ourselves prior to the programs. Good times 👍

[@AMpressions1]

I love the little Christmas flair at the beginning of this. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Such a soulful song. Love listening to these jam sessions and improvisations.

[@Regreviews]

When I tell you this performance is life

[@jtmichaelson]

Love this channel. I was a bit young when this one came out but live the decade with my parents, who were huge Midnight Special fans and let me stay up late on the weekends to watch.

[@jnewsom1979]

Dang.... this is pretty amazing!!!!

[@MrScooterdawg]

I remember staying up Friday nights as a teenager, through graduation and beyond watching Midnight Special in the 70s. The quality of these live videos- pristine. Thank you from the bottom of my heart (Nancy Wilson acoustic intro on Crazy On You- AWESOME ❤ too!) Saw Steve Miller believe at DAR Constitution Hall (I believe…it was the 70s after all 😂) Oh…these memories…

[@pattibrooks1907]

Thank you for the nice song from the 70s !

[@BNBluesmasters]

Great Performance! Thank You Midnight Special!

[@AFloridaSon]

Kind of a funky version. I like it.

[@nayraalexandre6602]

I absolutely love watching these! Can't wait for Todd Rundgren's performances on the show

[@dutchcanuck7550]

Great! More of a relaxed psychedelic jam-band groove than the space-rock album cut, which is a lot more "up" and radio-friendly. Lots of quiet, subtle stuff going on here. Love it.

[@rodewerk5034]

Insanely good, thanks The Midnight Special.

[@MrTheoHendrix]

what a sound....so great !

[@deaconblue949]

Almost fifty years ago..... Amazing!

[@dragracingpainter4462]

I have new respect for Steve after seeing this...killer performance!

[@XyzXyz-mm9vq]

I humbly bow my head before the creators of this channel and pray that it will never disappear from KZbin. Can’t thank you enough MS!

[@cherylsibson2529]

I think the song was ahead of it's time, it's still relevant! it's time to get it together, or we failed.

[@AnthonyWilliams-ot1yk]

I used to watch The Midnight Special religiously back in the 70s. How did I miss this performance by SMB? Amazing! He’s the man!

[@jm12green31]

Thank you for uploading this I've watched it from other people's KZbin channels and was waiting on this

[@lucalone]

GREAT !!!

[@pedroballadares5253]

Steve Miller , Miller Music ,Miller Man , great sound at their best !👍🏼

[@sandym8787]

Soundtrack to my young life , loved this band ..

[@epiphoney]

Trippy, man.

[@Dan_Morrison]

Awesome performance!

[@bryansmathers927]

I have these performances on DVD. These were released by Time Life Music years ago. Great stuff!!!

[@salacitastranscendentiamors]

Perfect... cant get better !!!!!! Love IT

[@brunosarria3558]

Amazing performace before de 1976.

[@ronaldharrell8067]

Love this live version!

[@eric_in_florida]

Steve was really into the psychedelic stuff before he became a hit machine.

[@JQ127-c4e]

I loved Anthology then all of a sudden he started having huge hits but what was cool was they were great songs. Bands like Chicago and Jefferson Airplane had hits in their later years but they were so lame it sucked. Steve Miller''s hit songs are all killer in my opinion.

[@rwfrench66GenX]

Thanks for the video! When Les Paul is your Godfather there’s no way you’re going to fail in the music business!

[@dansullivan3238]

THANK YOU! This is the video I've been waiting for and the sound is so much cleaner. Love it! Thank you for this.

[@cosmo1eleven855]

Midnight Special had quality production values with their televised concerts. A lot better than In Concert on ABC and others of the time. And the closeups of Steve Miller look almost HD from a time when that was not available.

[@eitancooper8240]

Mesmerizing live performance, total funk.

[@benzell4]

One of my top 5, songs of all time! Thanks for posting this version!🤘🏽

[@Acousticmarine678]

Glad TMS finally made to KZbin, too much music history to keep from music lovers of all generations.

[@WildBillHabiki]

Who knew Steve could play a guitar like that? I have a newfound respect for the guy.

[@ebutuoy5000]

Psychedelic funk....Excellent!

[@kevinschoenfeld6294]

Love this version!!! The band's great to! I remember this was up on KZbin for a while and it got taken down. Probably because of copyrighted bullshit. Either way, glad to see it again!! 🤘🤘

[@Luna-wv5zx]

I have CHILLs 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 wow grew up with the more electronic Album Into Fly like an Eagle. Love this early version too. I was blessed to be in my young years in the 70’s.

[@70sladyalways25]

This was great. Takes me right back to my high school days. Great artists! Loved the Midnight Special. Always looked forward to it each week. Thanks for sharing.

[@delboyrams363]

This is amazing what a guitarist

I will always remember this song as it came on the radio when it was new (or just after its release) and I was driving across the Broadway Bridge over the river going North down the incline and past the downtown airport and the land yacht car just floated to the rhythm of the song as the radio peacefully blasted it out... it was such a different time in the 70s

[@DennisScott-vo9ex]

That was awesome man i really miss the 70s 😬😁😬😁

[@DennisScott-vo9ex]

Thank you friend music back then was live it was all real don't like today music 🎼🎼

[@susanhill149]

Wow beautiful music and his guitar is gorgeous!The whole thing is amazing. These midnight special performances are just incredible ❤😊

[@deandynamite1672]

So relevant this song. Now, as it was then.

[@andypalin3287]

Just lovin' these performances! 😀

[@joetrolo7076]

What an absolute treat!! Thanks!!

[@petermateer]

And the lyrics are beautiful too

[@peterkovachevich]

wow, some real genius going on here.. Steve was one with his delay pedal

[@LSUOdyssey]

The paint job on that guitar is insane

[@mysticgunshots7163]

I think the same.. What a beautiful fuckin guitar💕

[@EricLittle-l8c]

Used the same guitar paint job / when I saw the band live in Syracuse at the NYS fair years ago

[@hanson2205]

True genius if Steve Miller !

[@josephcottone3347]

I was lucky enough to have caught Steve Miller band at the Nassau veterans memorial coliseum on long Island new york. I have some great pictures of the group ☺️. One of the many concerts that I have been to. My first concert was the Rascals and the Jimi Hendrix Exp on 7/5/67, At the Schaefer music festival in central Park New York city 😮❤.

[@alexlindsey3517]

There was another version made by the miller band of this song. The orginal demo version !! Way my funky and soulful... Geez. Were have all the musicians gone...

[@BLP-BrianLucasProject]

Love the Echoplex Steve is using and really enjoyed the atmospheric vibe through the entire jam. But wow, the bass groove and bass line runs really make this version soar, no pun intended. I'm not certain but I think the bassist is Gerald Johnson. Maybe someone here will confirm.

[@joerectifier]

Where can I find a bass player like that….sensational!

[@michaelschmidt9708]

This tune is the very defintion of chillax. Masterpiece.

[@BoydsofParadise]

This version cuts deep!

[@solarvanlife8177]

He must "Eat a lot of Peaches"....:) One of my all time faves....

[@Lardfist0]

So coool. Very jazz. Love the paint job on the guitar.

[@MrScooterdawg]

Thanks!

[@themidnightspecialtvshow]

Thanks so much for the support, it is greatly appreciated.

[@flicewatter]

I got see Steve Miller at RFK stadium with the Grateful Dead , a long time ago, it was awesome 👌

[@BogartedJoint696]

Not even 3 mins in and I have chills and blown away! I just turned 34 May 28th and I was robbed at birth. 💔✌🏻❤️🤘🏻