Abracadabra (Steve Miller Band album)

Abracadabra is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Steve Miller Band. The album was released on June 15, 1982, by Capitol Records.

Abracadabra
Studio album by
Steve Miller Band
ReleasedJune 15, 1982
Recorded1981
StudioCapitol Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length37:08
LabelCapitol
ProducerSteve Miller, Gary Mallaber
Steve Miller Band chronology
Circle of Love
(1981)		 Abracadabra
(1982)		 Steve Miller Band Live!
(1983)
Singles from Abracadabra
  1. "Abracadabra"
    Released: May 1982
  2. "Keeps Me Wondering Why"
    Released: 6 August 1982 (UK)[2]
  3. "Cool Magic"
    Released: 11 September 1982 (US)[3]
  4. "Give It Up"
    Released: October 1982 (UK)[4]
  5. "Goodbye Love"
    Released: 11 February 1983 (Ger.)[5]

Abracadabra charted in nine countries, including Germany where the record reached No. 1 for a week.[6] Four singles were released from the album: the title track, "Cool Magic", "Keeps Me Wondering Why", and "Give It Up", with the title song charting the highest.

Unlike most of the band's previous efforts, most of the album was not composed by lead singer/guitarist Steve Miller. Drummer Gary Mallaber had brought in a handful of demos from another band he was in called Tracker (of which other Steve Miller Band members John Massaro and Byron Allred were also in, along with ex-members Lonnie Turner and Greg Douglass) in hopes that one of them would be used for the album. Miller ultimately opted to use all of the demos, resulting in Mallaber receiving an impressive eight co-writing credits.[7] Miller, meanwhile, produced two of his own songs; the title track and the "Heart Like a Wheel"-soundalike "Give It Up".

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[9]
Rolling Stone[10]

Billboard said of "Cool Magic" that it's a "catchy midtempo pop tune that takes dead aim at car radios everywhere."[11] Billboard also described it as being "harder rocking" than the title track.[11] Cash Box called it "a light, straightahead pop/rocker that, in places, brings to mind the Beach Boys or the Beatles."[12]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Keeps Me Wondering Why"Gary Mallaber, Kenny Lee Lewis3:43
2."Abracadabra"Steve Miller5:08
3."Something Special"Mallaber, Lonnie Turner, Greg Douglass3:35
4."Give It Up"Miller3:35
5."Never Say No"Mallaber, John Massaro, Lewis3:37
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Things I Told You"Mallaber, Massaro3:15
7."Young Girl's Heart"Mallaber, Massaro3:33
8."Goodbye Love"Mallaber, Douglass, Turner2:53
9."Cool Magic"Mallaber, Lewis4:23
10."While I'm Waiting"Mallaber, Massaro3:26

Personnel

Additional personnel

  • Greg Douglass – guitar on tracks 3 and 8
  • Lonnie Turner – bass guitar on tracks 3 and 8

Technical

  • Produced by Steve Miller and Gary Mallaber
  • Recorded and mixed by David N. Cole
  • Additional recording by Gary Mallaber
  • Executive Producer – John Palladino
  • Photography – David Alexander
  • Art – Tommy Steele
  • Design – Tommy Steele, Jeff Lancaster

Charts

Certifications
Certifications for Abracadabra
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[25] Platinum 50,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[26] Platinum 100,000^
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[27] Gold 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[29] Platinum 1,000,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "11 Classic Rockers Who Went New Wave For One Album". VH1.com.
  2. "Steve Miller singles".
  3. "Steve Miller singles".
  4. "Steve Miller singles".
  5. "Steve Miller singles".
  6. "Album – Steve Miller Band, Abracadabra" (ASP). Media Control Charts (in German). Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  7. https://ultimateclassicrock.com/steve-miller-abracadabra/
  8. Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Abracadabra - Steve Miller Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  9. Larkin, Colin (2007). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  10. Steve Pond (1982-07-22). "Steve Miller Band: Abracadabra". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  11. "Top Single Picks". Billboard. October 2, 1982. p. 63. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  12. "News & Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 2, 1982. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-02-07.
  13. "Steve Miller Breaks Down His Most Iconic Songs". 23 September 2019.
  14. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992: 23 years of hit singles & albums from the top 100 charts. St Ives, N.S.W, Australia: Australian Chart Book. p. 201. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  15. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Austrian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  16. "50 Albums". RPM. 37 (2). August 28, 1982. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original (PHP) on October 23, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  17. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  18. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). New Zealand Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  19. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Norwegian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  20. "Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra (Album)" (ASP). Swedish Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  21. "Chart Archive: Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive – 17th July 1982". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
  22. "The Steve Miller Band Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  23. "The Steve Miller Band Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  24. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1982. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  25. "Kent Music Report No 453 – 28 February 1983 > Platinum Albums 1982 (Continued)". Retrieved December 26, 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  26. "Canadian album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra". Music Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  27. "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1983". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  28. "British album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  29. "American album certifications – Steve Miller Band – Abracadabra". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
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