Circle of Love (Steve Miller Band album)
{{Short description|Album by Steve Miller Band}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Circle of Love
| type = Album
| artist = Steve Miller Band
| cover = Circleoflove.jpg
| alt =
| released = October 23, 1981
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Rock
| length = 34:58
| label = Capitol
| producer = Steve Miller
| prev_title = Greatest Hits 1974-78
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = Abracadabra
| next_year = 1982
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Circle of Love
| type = studio
| single1 = Heart Like a Wheel
| single1date = 23 October 1981 (US)
| single2 = Circle of Love
| single2date = January 1982
| single3 = Macho City
| single3date = 12 February 1982 (UK) {{Cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Steve+Miller+Band&titel=Macho+City&cat=s|title=Steve Miller singles}}
}}
}}
Circle of Love is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Steve Miller Band. Released on October 23, 1981, by Capitol Records, Circle of Love was the Steve Miller Band's first album of new material since the May 1977 release Book of Dreams.Billboard Vol 93 #42 (24 October 1981) p.33 (The band's Greatest Hits 1974–78 compilation disc had been issued in November 1978.) In its original vinyl album format, Circle of Love featured a total of five tracks, Side 2 of the album comprising one extended track, "Macho City" (18:32). A much shorter edit of the track was later used for CD releases.
Although Circle of Love was certified Gold for sales of 500,000 units in December 1981{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=STEVE+MILLER+BAND&ti=CIRCLE+OF+LOVE|title=Gold & Platinum|website=Recording Industry Association of America}} the album, with its lead single "Heart Like a Wheel" only managing to reach #24 in the US (and #17 in Canada), was a commercial disappointment in contrast to the band's three preceding albums which had all reached million-selling Platinum status.{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=STEVE+MILLER+BAND&ti=THE+JOKER|title = Gold & Platinum|website = Recording Industry Association of America}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=STEVE+MILLER+BAND&ti=FLY+LIKE+AN+EAGLE|title=Gold & Platinum|website=Recording Industry Association of America}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=STEVE+MILLER+BAND&ti=BOOK+OF+DREAMS|title=Gold & Platinum|website=Recording Industry Association of America}}
Critical reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|author=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/circle-of-love-mw0000190920 |title=Circle of Love - Steve Miller Band |publisher=AllMusic |date= |accessdate=2018-08-08}}
| rev3 = Rolling Stone
| rev3Score = {{rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last1=White |first1=Timothy |title=Circle of Love |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=Dec 10, 1981 |issue=358 |page=96}}
| rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}
}}
Record World called the title track a "pretty ballad [that] features warm, pinpoint harmony choruses and a unique guitar bridge."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=January 23, 1982|page=1|accessdate=2023-03-02|title=Hits of the Week|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/80s/82/Record-World-1982-01-23.pdf}}
Track listing
All songs written by Steve Miller, except "Get On Home", which is Traditional, with new lyrics and arrangement by Miller.
{{Track listing
| headline = Side A
| title1 = Heart Like a Wheel
| length1 = 3:55
| title2 = Get On Home
| length2 = 3:58
| title3 = Baby Wanna Dance
| length3 = 2:11
| title4 = Circle of Love
| length4 = 6:22
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side B
| title1 = Macho City
| length1 = 18:32
}}
- Early CD and some vinyl versions of the album featured the same tracks with slightly different durations, "Macho City" being shortened to 16:24.
Personnel
- Steve Miller – vocals, guitar
- Byron Allred – keyboards
- Gerald Johnson – bass guitar
- Gary Mallaber – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- Recording engineer – Rick Fisher
- Art – Stephen Peringer
- Design – John Browning/Ken Trimpe
- Calligraphy – Greg Stadler
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+Chart performance for Circle of Love !scope="col"|Chart (1981) !scope="col"|Peak |
| scope="row"|Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite Kent|page=201}}
|align="center"|48 |
|---|
| {{album chart|Canada|27|chartid=0430|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2025}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|14|artist=Steve Miller Band|album=Circle of Love|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2025}} |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|38|artist=The Steve Miller Band|album=Bingo!|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2025}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|35|artist=Steve Miller Band|album=Circle of Love|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2025}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|26|artist=The Steve Miller Band|rowheader=true|access-date=April 7, 2025}} |