Steve Miller Band-The Joker

Original

This is his eigth album and best selling up to that point thanks to the title track which became a monster hit. This came out in 1973 and I liked the music on anthology so much I bought this on as soon as it came out. I consider this more in line with his earlier albums than his more Pop oriented records that would follow. To say this record has been played a lot would be an understatement. Whenever I brought records to a friends house or a party this would be among them. It was also played a lot at the apartments. Another record where you can listen to either side and won’t be dissapointed. Side one has two covers from the 50’s “Mary Lou” and “Your Cash Aint Nothing But Trash” ,”Sugar Babe” ,which I just decided belongs on my playlist, and “Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma” on of my favorites of his. Love Millers guitar solo in that one and Gerald Johnson’s bass. Side two starts with “The Joker” a song with a great beat and a hodgepoge of references to other songs of his,some lines stolen from another 50’s song called “Lovey Dovey” and a made up word(pompetus). Pot smokers also loved the midnight toker line but I was not one when I bought the record. “The Lovin’ Cup” is a litle number featuring Miller on harmonica. Next are two great live cuts “Come On In My Kitchen”,a Robert Johnson song, from The Tower Theatre a venue I have never been to ,although when I lived in Upper Darby I was within walking distance to the place, and “Evil” recorded in Boston. I love the spacey intro to “Come On In My Kitchen” which is actuall the ending of the previous song. “Evil” follows seamlessly so it sounds like it’s from the same show. The beautiful “Something To Believe In” with some steel guitar is the last song and one I put on one of my Mellow Tunes mix tapes(yes, I had eight of them.) The record still sounds good after being played many many trimes although there is a skip in “The Joker”.A truly classic album.

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