Steamroller Blues
Encyclopedia
"Steamroller Blues", often labelled just "Steamroller", is a song written by James Taylor
, that first appeared on his 1970 breakthrough album Sweet Baby James
. The song title comes from the first line: "I'm a steamroller
baby, I'm bound to roll all over you...". A satire on the blues rock fashion of the time, it was a multi-sectioned walking tune full of mock serious phrases such as "I'm a napalm
bomb for you, baby" and "I'm a churnin' urn of burnin' funk." As such it exposed a humorous side of Taylor that was sometimes obscured by his more intensely personal work, and thus became one of Taylor's best-known songs.
"Steamroller" was included on Taylor's diamond-selling Greatest Hits
1976 compilation in a live version recorded in August 1975 at the Universal Amphitheatre on Los Angeles
; a different performance from 1992 was included on his 1993 album (LIVE)
. Indeed "Steamroller" was and is a James Taylor concert fixture, appearing in virtually every set list
of his over the decades, often elongated with assorted on-stage parodistic antics, such as Taylor jumping up and down frantically, or his band's electric guitarist working in an interpolation of Led Zeppelin
's "Heartbreaker
".
During the 1970s Elvis Presley
added "Steamroller Blues" to his concert repertoire, it being a good fit for his latter-era on-stage persona; it was also featured in his live televised January 1973 Aloha from Hawaii
program. It was included on the Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite
live album released the following month, and then in March 1973 this live "Steamroller Blues" was released as a single. It did reasonably well, reaching number 17 on the U.S. pop singles chart
. It was still being performed on Presley concert tours up until his 1977 death, and was included on the 2007 compilation The Essential Elvis Presley
.
A cover was recorded by country music singer Billy Dean
on his 1994 album Fire in the Dark
.
Isaac Hayes
performed the song on an episode of The A-Team
.
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, that first appeared on his 1970 breakthrough album Sweet Baby James
Sweet Baby James
Sweet Baby James is singer-songwriter James Taylor's second album, and his first release on Warner Bros. Records. Released in February 1970, it showcased Taylor's talents and showed the direction he would take in the early 1970s with the expansion of his career. The album featured one of Taylor's...
. The song title comes from the first line: "I'm a steamroller
Steamroller
A steamroller is a form of road roller – a type of heavy construction machinery used for levelling surfaces, such as roads or airfields – that is powered by a steam engine...
baby, I'm bound to roll all over you...". A satire on the blues rock fashion of the time, it was a multi-sectioned walking tune full of mock serious phrases such as "I'm a napalm
Napalm
Napalm is a thickening/gelling agent generally mixed with gasoline or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device, primarily as an anti-personnel weapon...
bomb for you, baby" and "I'm a churnin' urn of burnin' funk." As such it exposed a humorous side of Taylor that was sometimes obscured by his more intensely personal work, and thus became one of Taylor's best-known songs.
"Steamroller" was included on Taylor's diamond-selling Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (James Taylor album)
Greatest Hits is singer-songwriter James Taylor's eighth album. Released on November 1, 1976. To this day, it is the best-selling album of his career....
1976 compilation in a live version recorded in August 1975 at the Universal Amphitheatre on Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
; a different performance from 1992 was included on his 1993 album (LIVE)
(LIVE) (James Taylor)
Live is singer-songwriter James Taylor's fifteenth album, and first live album. Released in 1993, this double CD presents selections from 14 shows during a November 1992 tour...
. Indeed "Steamroller" was and is a James Taylor concert fixture, appearing in virtually every set list
Set list
A set list, or setlist, is a document that lists the songs that a band or musical artist intends to play, or has played, during a specific concert performance...
of his over the decades, often elongated with assorted on-stage parodistic antics, such as Taylor jumping up and down frantically, or his band's electric guitarist working in an interpolation of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
's "Heartbreaker
Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin song)
"Heartbreaker" is a song from English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1969 album, Led Zeppelin II. It was credited to all four members of the band, having been recorded at A&R Studios, New York, during the band's second concert tour of the United States, and was engineered by Eddie Kramer."Heartbreaker"...
".
During the 1970s Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
added "Steamroller Blues" to his concert repertoire, it being a good fit for his latter-era on-stage persona; it was also featured in his live televised January 1973 Aloha from Hawaii
Aloha from Hawaii
Aloha from Hawaii is a music concert that was headlined by Elvis Presley, and was broadcast live via satellite on January 14, 1973. It is the most watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history, viewed by an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide. The concert took place at the...
program. It was included on the Aloha From Hawaii: Via Satellite
Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite
Aloha from Hawaii: Via Satellite is a live concert album by Elvis Presley, released by RCA Records in February 1973 and peaked on the Billboard chart in the Spring of 1973. Despite the satellite innovation, the United States did not air the concert until April 4, 1973. Aloha from Hawaii went to...
live album released the following month, and then in March 1973 this live "Steamroller Blues" was released as a single. It did reasonably well, reaching number 17 on the U.S. pop singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It was still being performed on Presley concert tours up until his 1977 death, and was included on the 2007 compilation The Essential Elvis Presley
The Essential Elvis Presley
The Essential Elvis Presley is a greatest hits collection by American rock and roll icon Elvis Presley. The album was released as a two-disc set on January 2, 2007 by RCA Records as a part of Sony BMG's The Essential series and was later released by RCA and Legacy Recordings as a Limited Edition...
.
A cover was recorded by country music singer Billy Dean
Billy Dean
William Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search...
on his 1994 album Fire in the Dark
Fire in the Dark
Fire in the Dark is the title of the third studio album recorded by American country music artist Billy Dean. It was released in 1993 on SBK/Liberty Records and like his previous two albums, it was certified gold by the RIAA. Unlike his first two albums, which were produced by Tom Shapiro, this one...
.
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
performed the song on an episode of The A-Team
The A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
.