The Joker (album)
1973 studio album / live album by Steve Miller Band
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The Joker is a combination live and studio album by Steve Miller Band. The album was recorded at Capitol Studios in 15 days and released by Capitol Records in October 1973.[2][3]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. It was also their first solid commercial success due to the strong radio-play of the title track. The album reached No. 2 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and has been certified Platinum in the United States. It reached No. 1 on the Cash Box Albums Charts on January 8, 1974.[4]
| The Joker | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album / live album by | ||||
| Released | October 19, 1973 | |||
| Studio | Capitol (Hollywood) | |||
| Genre | Blues rock | |||
| Length | 35:57 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | Steve Miller | |||
| Steve Miller Band chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Joker | ||||
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B−[6] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [7] |
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."[5]
Record World said of the single "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash": "A dynamic rocker, it ain't nothin' but the best!"[8]
Track listing
All tracks written by Steve Miller unless otherwise stated.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sugar Babe" | 4:35 | |
| 2. | "Mary Lou" |
| 2:24 |
| 3. | "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma" | 5:41 | |
| 4. | "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash" | Chuck Calhoun | 3:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | "The Joker" | 4:26 | |
| 6. | "The Lovin' Cup" | 2:10 | |
| 7. | "Come On in My Kitchen" (Live at Tower Theater, Philadelphia) | Robert Johnson | 4:06 |
| 8. | "Evil" (Live at Aquarius Theatre, Boston) | 4:35 | |
| 9. | "Something to Believe In" | 4:41 |
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
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[14] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||