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Recall The Beginning review by Julian Cope

Miller had a real ace up his sleeve and delivered it to an unsuspecting public in 1972. Miller retreated to the studio with a brace of crack studio vets and issued "Recall The Beginning...A Jounery From Eden" to critical raves.

The record begins with a soul/funk instrumental called "Welcome" which slides effortlessly into a groovy 50's Doo-Wop number called "Enter Maurice" this one is greasy as hell and a whole lot of fun. "High On You Mama" is a seductive down-home blues piece that features some pretty slide guitar and underwater bass guitar runs. "Heal Your Heart" goes back to the soul strut of early Miller albums such as "Sailor" and "Your Saving Grace." The next track "The Sun Is Going Down" is a bit of fluff but nothing that offensive. Side one ends with a real winner called "Somebody Somewhere Help Me" this one re-visits the record's opening theme then turns into a classic dose of blue-eyed soul (this would have been a bitchin' 45 but Capitol wasn't having it, what a bunch of squares man!!!)

In truth side one is fine uptempo groovin' stuff but it simply does not prepare you for the brilliance of side 2, in my opinion this is one of the greatest album sides in pop history and probably the pinnacle of Miller's career. It's like Miller was magically transported back to the glory days of 1967-68. Side 2 begins with a gorgeous acoustic piece called "Love's Riddle" which features dreamy strings and Miller's eerie whispered vocals, then it's right into another mellow down easy number called "Fandango" which explodes into technicolor during the song's mid-section.

"Nothing Lasts" is just plain incredible, it opens with a dramatic wash of strings and Miller's elegant acoustic fingerpicking. The piece then takes flight in exhilirating fashion with Steve singing a majestic duet with himself, this number could be the greatest thing Miller ever recorded. But wait it gets even better, the closing track "Journey From Eden" (aka "Blackbird") is a mind-numbing psychedelic trip ballad straight off the grooves of the group's debut 1968 "Children Of The Future." Wow! what a finish to a briiliant side of music. You might think I'm mad but the stuff on the second side of this record is right up there with Big Star #3, Forever Changes by Love and Starsailor by Tim Buckley and other heavies.

Sadly "Recall The Beginning...Journey From Eden" was not the huge hit it deserved to be and has been all but forgotten over the years. This is a fucking tragedy man!!!

Rock Love
Tracks
* The Gangster Is Back
* Blues With Out Blame
* Love Shock
* Let Me Serve You
* Rock Love
* Harbor Lights
* Deliverance

Musicians include:
* Steve Miller - synthesizer, guitar, harmonica, vocals
* Ross Valory - bass
* Charlie McCoy - harmonica
* Jackie King - drums

Recall The Beginning...Journey From Eden
Tracks

* Welcome
* Enter Maurice
* High on You Mama
* Heal on Your Heart
* The Sun Is Going Down
* Somebody Somewhere Help Me
* Love's Riddle
* Fandango
* Nothing Lasts
* Journey from Eden

Musicians include:

* Steve Miller - guitar, vocals
* Roger Clark - drums
* Jesse Ed Davis - guitar
* Jim Keltner - drums
* Gerald Johnson - bass
* Jackie King - drums
* Gary Malaber - drums
* Ben Sidran - keyboards
* Dicky Thompson - keyboards