Song of the Day 5/10: Steve Miller Band, “Living in the U.S.A.”

For historical context, musicians like Steve Miller were trashing the emptiness of American culture way back in 1968, when Boz Scaggs was still in the band and Miller still delivered raw San Francisco blues-rock. He wasn’t wrong, so conservatives, rather than addressing the criticism, have been having a hissy fit about it ever since. Our sub-mediocre Supreme Court is one direct result of that ongoing tantrum.

The tune was on “Sailor,” the second LP by the first version of Miller’s band. The single barely registered, dying at No. 94, but the album reached No. 24, the first commercially successful recording of Miller’s long career.