STEVE MILLER BAND "THE JOKER"

Steve Miller Band - Ultimate Hits

by Mark Nobes, chief editor

This American rock track was originally a UK and U.S. No.1 for The Steve Miller Band in 1973 and featured on the album of the same name. After featuring in a Levi's jeans advert during 1990, the song was re-issued and topped the British charts again for two weeks during September 1990, and also in Ireland, New Zealand and Holland.
The 1973 B-side featured a track entitled Something To Believe In, but the re-issue included a different track, Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around. The vinyl 12" version also included the intriguingly-titled Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma, and the CD Maxi single featured a fourth track; Living In The USA.
The Joker album was released a month later than the title track in October 1973, and sounded very different to previous albums, being less psychedelic and featuring more chart-friendly rock songs. The album peaked at #2 in America achieving Platinum.

Lyrics for The Joker

Formats

7" single (1973)

  1. "The Joker" – 3:36
  2. "Something to Believe In" – 4:40

7" single (1983 – live version)

  1. "The Joker" (live) – 2:55
  2. "Take the Money and Run" (live) – 3:49

7" single (1990) Capitol Records (UK) CL 583

  1. "The Joker" (single version) – 3:34
  2. "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" – 2:27

12" maxi (1990) Capitol Records (UK) 12CL 583

  1. "The Joker" (LP version) – 4:22
  2. "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" – 2:27
  3. "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma" – 5:39

CD Single (1990) Capitol Records (UK) CDCL 583

  1. "The Joker" (single version) – 3:34
  2. "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" – 2:27
  3. "Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma" – 3:33
  4. "Living in the U.S.A." – 3:59