August 23, 2024      —–     Chart #260

Hello Music Friends,

Hey folks, welcome to another edition of Chart of the Week. Last week we did country so this week we will mix it up a bit. How about some rock and roll? “Take the Money and Run” is a song recorded in 1976 by the Steve Miller Band. A song about two young (possibly teenage) bandits and the detective pursuing them, it was one of the many hit singles produced by the Steve Miller Band in the 1970s and featured on the 1976 album Fly Like an Eagle. The song peaked at number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in July 1976 and also charted in Australia.

The song was written as a road trip. Miller drew inspiration from his childhood, when he listened to the radio while on long road trips with his family, and he would sing along to his favorite songs. Because FM radio was capable of clearer stereo sound, this allowed him to make his road trip songs with more layers for a much bigger sound.

This here’s a story about Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue

Two young lovers with nothin’ better to do

Than sit around the house, get high, and watch the tube

And here’s what happened when they decided to cut loose

This was recorded with only three musicians with Steve Miller double-tracking many of the lead vocals. Not bad, huh?

And here he is in 2018. Still got it! Check out the keyboard solo at 2:22. Pretty amazing.

Have fun playing this one my friends. We are proud of this Dallas boy!

Keep Rockin’,

Stan Bradshaw