[.ca] The Joker

The Space Cowboy Begins Countdown to Superstardom:
My love affair with the Steve Miller Band began in 1973 when this album was first released. I was a junior at UNL and as usual was spending way too much time hanging out at my favorite record store when "The Joker" came over the in-store stereo system. Needless to say, I left the store with a copy of the album and just recently upgraded to CD. While this is not as strong of a collection of songs as his follow-ups (Fly Like an Eagle, Book of Dreams), there is much to enjoy here besides the catchy single, "The Joker," which was his first Top 40 hit. Originals like "Sugar Babe" and the bluesy "The Lovin' Cup" are first-rate. Also, live versions of "Come On In My Kitchen" and "Evil" show the band in fine form. Casual fans might better be served by a greatest hits collection, but this is required listening for fans who want to dig into the artist's catalog a little deeper. RECOMMENDED

The Midnight Toker:
I saw Steve Miller in OKC on tour with Sugarloaf and Freddie King. Steve was touring to support THE JOKER and played several tracks from the album. Sugarloaf opened the show and Freddie King closed. I played this album so many times after it's release. I still have a vinyl copy. This album is outstanding with SUGARBABE being my personal favorite. Not Steve Miller's best but very near the top. THE JOKER got all the airplay but there are several great songs on the album.

Smash Hit, Uneven Album:
Steve Miller's "The Joker" marked the high point of his career; the song that is, not the album. The strong hook, melodic guitar solo and clever lyrics made the song a smash hit and one of the best-ever "classic rock" tunes. Miller would parlay the song's winning formula into two excellent mid-70s albums, "Fly Like an Eagle," and "Book of Dreams," but that was in the future. "The Joker," the album, bears the mark of an artist still struggling to find a consistent groove. Stylistically, the opening track "Sugar Babe" and the goofy "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma," are closest to the hit in terms of style. Much of the rest of the album focuses on mid-tempo blues numbers, including the cover tracks "Mary Lou," "Your Cash Ain't Nothing but Trash" and "Come On In My Kitchen" and his own "Evil." Miller may have had a lifelong love affair with the blues, but he's no Eric Clapton when it comes to interpreting this form of music. Miller is best when he stays closer to rock and roll, as on the sweet album-closing "Something to Believe In." Overall, an uneven album that contains some soaring high points, including its mega-successful title track.

Not Steve Millers Best Album:
The Joker is an average album, by a great artist. This is far from being concederd one of Steve Millers best. This is very un even. You have a couple of pretty decent songs, a couple of bad ones and one absolute rock and roll classic. The Joker is filled with differnt songs, which is why this isnt a very concistant album. 'The Joker' is the best song on the album and thats not suprizing concedering its the best song Steve Miller ever recorded. The rest of the album almost seems like its all just filler. 'Marry Lou' is a pretty decent song, but it still falls short. There are maybe one or two other good songs here and the rest is just filler. I wouldnt recomend this album to people because it simplly isnt that good, its mostly just filler. If you like the song 'The Joker' I would buy a compelation album like Young Hearts, because this album is almost a complete waste of money. If you want some good Steve Miller go with Fly Like An Eagle, or Book Of Dreams.

MI PRIMER DISCO:
Este es el primer album que adquiri, habia escuchado la cancio "The Joker" y decidi comprar el disco cuando eran todavia de "LP". Actualmente lo conservo como un bonito recuerdo de mi adolescencia. Stevie Miller es uno de mis favoritos guitarristas. Lo admiro desde que tenia 14 años y todavia sigo escuchando su musica. Se los recomiendo no solo a los cuarentones sino tambien a los jovenes que quieran escuchar una buena musica con una guitarra muy original.

• Sugar Babe - Steve Miller Band, Steve Miller Band
• Mary Lou
• Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma
• Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash
• Joker
• Lovin' Cup
• Come on in My Kitchen
• Evil
• Something to Believe In