The Joker (album)

The Joker
Studio album by Steve Miller Band
Released	October 1973
Genre	Rock, blues
Length	35:57
Label	Capitol
Producer	Steve Miller
Steve Miller Band chronology
Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden (1972) The Joker (1973) Fly Like An Eagle (1976)
Singles from The Joker
"The Joker" Released: October 1973 "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash" Released: 1974

The Joker is the eighth album by Steve Miller Band, released in 1973. The album marked a period of significant change for the group as the band abandoned their psychedelic oriented music for a more melodic, smooth rock/blues sound. Perhaps not coincidentally, it was also their first solid commercial success due to the strong radio-play of the title track. The title track took 19 days to record. The album reached #2 on the Billboard 200 and has been certified Platinum in the United States.

The artwork of the album is also considered amongst the greatest; for example Rolling Stone would later rank it as one of the "Top 100 Album Covers Of All Time".^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic rated The Joker three out of five stars, calling it "all bright and fun, occasionally truly silly". He also stated that it "isn't mind-expanding", but concluded by saying that it "nevertheless maintains its good-time vibe so well that it's hard not to smile along...provided you're on the same wavelength as Miller, of course."

Track listing

1. "Sugar Babe" (Steve Miller) – 4:35
2. "Mary Lou" (Obie Jessie, Sam Ling) – 2:24
3. "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma" (Miller) – 5:41
4. "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash" (Chuck Calhoun) – 3:21
5. "The Joker" (Miller, Eddie Curtis, Ahmet Ertegün) – 4:26
6. "Lovin' Cup" (Miller) – 2:10
7. "Come On in My Kitchen" (live at the Tower Theater, Philadelphia) (Robert Johnson) – 4:06
8. "Evil" (live) (Miller) – 4:35
9. "Something to Believe In" (Miller) – 4:41

Singles

Four tracks from the album were released as singles: "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash" (1974), "The Joker" (1974), "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma" (1974) and "Evil" (1975).

8-track tape

• Released on Capitol Quadraphonic 8-track tape.
• The Quadraphonic 8-track tape of this album features an extended (4:11) unedited version of "The Joker" and also features studio talk before "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash". The studio talk information is also present on the standard vinyl release.
• Near the end of the song "Lovin' Cup", someone can be heard saying "Last....Last verse". This is very noticeable on the Quadraphonic 8-track tape. According to an email from stevemillerband.com, it was Lonnie Turner the bassist.

Personnel

• Steve Miller – guitar, vocals, harmonica
• Gerald Johnson – bass guitar (all but 8), vocals
• Dick Thompson – organ, clavinet
• John King – drums

Additional personnel

• Lonnie Turner – bass guitar (8)
• "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow – pedal steel guitar (9)
• John Van Hamersveld and Norman Seeff – album cover design
• Norman Seeff – photography

References

1. "Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Album Covers". Rolling Stone. Rateyourmusic.com. November 14, 1991. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. The Joker - Steve Miller Band at AllMusic