The Joker (album)
| The Joker | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | ||||
The Joker is a combination
studio album by the Steve Miller Band. The album was recorded at Capitol Studios[2] and released by Capitol Records in October 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. 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.[3]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
Encyclopedia of Popular Music |   [6] |
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."[4]
Record World said of the single "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash" "A dynamic rocker, it ain't nothin' but the best!"[7]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sugar Babe" | Obie Jessie, Sam Ling | 2:24 |
| 3. | "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma" | Steve Miller | 5:41 |
| 4. | "Your Cash Ain't Nothin' but Trash" | Chuck Calhoun | 3:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Joker" | Steve Miller, Eddie Curtis, Ahmet Ertegun | 4:26 |
| 2. | "The Lovin' Cup" | Steve Miller | 2:10 |
| 3. | "Come On in My Kitchen" (Live at Tower Theater, Philadelphia) | Robert Johnson | 4:06 |
| 4. | "Evil" (Live at Aquarius Theatre, Boston) | Steve Miller | 4:35 |
| 5. | "Something to Believe In" | Steve Miller | 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
| Chart (1973–1974) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[8] | 38 |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[9] | 1 |
| US Billboard 200[10] | 2 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- ^ "Steve Miller singles".
- ^ Nichols, Paul (26 December 2014). "The Joker". prsformusic.com. PRS for Music. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Top albums from Tuesday January 8, 1974". ultimate70s.com. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
- ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "The Joker - Steve Miller Band". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-08-01.
- ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 8, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- ISBN 978-0195313734.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. February 16, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
- ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4976a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "The Steve Miller Band Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
