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The Joker (Steve Miller Band song)

{{Short description|1973 song by Steve Miller Band}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Infobox song

| name = The Joker

| cover = Steve Miller Band The Joker 1973 single cover.jpg

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Steve Miller Band

| album = The Joker

| B-side = Something to Believe In

| released = October 1973{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-10-20.pdf|title=Raydio|last=Dio|first=Ray|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|issue=42|page=25|date=October 20, 1990|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

| recorded =

| studio = Capitol (Hollywood){{cite web|last=Nichols|first=Paul|title=The Joker|url=https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/wrote-joker/|website=prsformusic.com|publisher=PRS for Music|date=December 26, 2014|access-date=October 25, 2021}}

| genre = Rock

| length =

  • 4:26 (album version)
  • 3:36 (single version)

| label = Capitol

| writer =

| producer = Steve Miller

| prev_title = Fandango

| prev_year = 1972

| next_title = Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash

| next_year = 1974

| misc = {{External music video|header=Official video|{{YouTube|dV3AziKTBUo|"The Joker"}}}}

{{Extra album cover

| header = "Take the Money and Run"/"The Joker" (1983, double A-side, live)

| type = single

| cover = Steve Miller Band Take the Money and Run & The Joker single cover.jpg

| border =

| alt =

| caption = Cover of the 1983 live single

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Steve Miller Band

| type = single

| prev_title = Living in the U.S.A." (live)

| prev_year = 1983

| title = Take the Money and Run" (live)/"The Joker" (live)

| year = 1983

| next_title = Shangri-La

| next_year = 1984

}}

{{Extra chronology

| artist = Steve Miller Band

| type = single

| prev_title = Ya Ya

| prev_year = 1988

| title = The Joker

| year = 1990

| next_title = Wide River

| next_year = 1993

}}

}}

"The Joker" is a song by American rock band Steve Miller Band from their eighth studio album, The Joker (1973). Released as a single in October 1973, the song topped the US Billboard Hot 100 in early 1974 and reached the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands.

More than 16 years later, in September 1990, "The Joker" reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks after being used in "Great Deal", a television advertisement for clothing company Levi's, and caused controversy for keeping Deee-Lite's "Groove Is in the Heart" off the number-one spot. This reissue of "The Joker" also topped the Irish Singles Chart, the New Zealand Singles Chart, the Dutch Nationale Top 100, and the Dutch Top 40.

Lyrics

Miller borrowed from the hit song "Lovey Dovey", which shares the lyric, "You're the cutest thing that I ever did see / I really love your peaches, wanna shake your tree / Lovey dovey, lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time". Ahmet Ertegun and Eddie Curtis wrote the song, and the Clovers had the highest charting version in 1954.{{cite web |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fhQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22lovey+dovey%22+%22the+joker%22+credit&pg=PA94|title= US Pop Stars Go 'Over' The Top|last= Bronson|first= Fred|date= March 31, 2001|series= Chart Beat|publisher= Billboard magazine|location= Google Books|page= 94|access-date= April 25, 2024}}

It is one of two Steve Miller Band songs that feature the nonce word "pompatus". The first line of the lyrics is a reference to the song "Space Cowboy" from Miller's Brave New World album. The following lines refer to two other songs: "Gangster of Love" from Sailor and "Enter Maurice" from Recall the Beginning...A Journey from Eden. The line "some people call me Maurice / 'Cause I speak of the pompatus of love" was written after Miller heard the song "The Letter" by the Medallions. In "The Letter", writer Vernon Green made up the word puppetutes, meaning a paper-doll erotic fantasy figure;{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Cecil |title=In Steve Miller's "The Joker," what is "the pompatus of love"? |url=https://www.straightdope.com/21342137/in-steve-miller-s-the-joker-what-is-the-pompatus-of-love |website=The Straight Dope |access-date=13 April 2024 |date=Oct 25, 1996}} however, Miller misheard the word and wrote pompatus instead.

Critical reception

Cash Box said that "The Joker" "is going all the way to become [Miller's] most successful release ever."{{cite news|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=September 22, 1973|page=18|accessdate=December 11, 2021|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1973/Cash-Box-1973-09-23.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}} Record World called it "a smooth piece that is highly reminiscent of Van Morrison" and that "could establish Miller as a potent AM act."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=September 22, 1973|accessdate=2023-03-22|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/73/RW-1973-09-22.pdf}}

Chart performance

"The Joker" topped the UK Singles Chart upon its reissue in 1990 despite selling exactly the same number of copies as that week's number-two single, "Groove Is in the Heart" by Deee-Lite. Due to a ruling that the higher position should go to the single that had increased its sales most over the week, "The Joker" controversially secured top spot, having grown its sales by 57% compared to Deee-Lite's 37%. It later transpired that a rounding discrepancy had initially caused the tie, with "The Joker" topping the charts on merit by 44,118 to 44,110 copies.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63574453|title=Official Singles Chart turns 70: Seven historic controversies|work=BBC News |date=November 13, 2022 |access-date=November 17, 2022}}

Track listings

7-inch single (1973)

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

7-inch single (1983 – live version)

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

7-inch single (1990)

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

12-inch maxi (1990)

  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 maxi (1990)

  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

Personnel

  • Steve Miller – guitar, lead vocals
  • Gerald Johnson – bass, backing vocals
  • Dick Thompson – organ
  • John King – drums

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1973–1974)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}

|8

{{single chart|Canadatopsingles|2|chartid=4963a|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|18|year=1973|week=47|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|18|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|1|artist=The Steve Miller Band|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!scope="col"|Chart (1990–1991)

!scope="col"|Peak
position

{{single chart|Austria|5|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Flanders|5|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-09-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=7|issue=38|page=IV|date=September 22, 1990|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

|2

scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book|first=Jake|last=Nyman|year=2005|title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja|edition=1st|publisher=Tammi|location=Helsinki|isbn=951-31-2503-3|language=fi}}

|12

{{single chart|France|33|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Germany|7|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|songid=2178|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Ireland2|1|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Dutch40|1|year=1990|week=44|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020|refname="d402"}}
{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Norway|2|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Sweden|4|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|5|artist=Steve Miller Band|song=The Joker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}
{{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|1|artist=Steve Miller Band|artistid=15921|rowheader=true|access-date=November 13, 2020}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1974)

!Position

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/dY7i5IF|title=National Top 100 Singles for 1974|publisher=Kent Music Report|issue=29|via=Imgur|date=December 30, 1974|access-date=January 15, 2022}}

|58

scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM){{cite magazine|url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.3893a&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.3893a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.3893a|title=The Top 200 Singles of '74|magazine=RPM|via=Library and Archives Canada|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

|50

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://billboardtop100of.com/1974-2/|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1974|website=Billboardtop100of.com|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

|40

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1990)

!Position

scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1990|title=Jaaroverzichten 1990|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

|35

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1990/MM-1990-12-22.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990|magazine=Music & Media|via=World Radio History|volume=7|issue=51|page=60|date=December 22, 1990|oclc=29800226|access-date=January 15, 2020}}

|58

scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1990|title=Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990|publisher=Dutch Top 40|accessdate=February 22, 2021}}

|15

scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1990&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

|19

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216102929/http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|archive-date=February 16, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

|26

scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC){{cite magazine|title=1990 Top 100 Singles|magazine=Music Week|publisher=Spotlight Publications|location=London, England|page=41|date=March 2, 1991}}

|24

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1991)

!Position

scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-12-21.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 1991|magazine=Music & Media|via=World Radio History|volume=8|issue=51–52|page=21|date=December 21, 1991|access-date=January 17, 2020}}

|62

scope="row"|Germany (Media Control){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1991|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

|54

scope="row"|New Zealand (RIANZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1991-12-31|title=End of Year Charts 1991|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 3, 2017}}

|20

scope="row"|Sweden (Topplistan){{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010225020647/http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|archive-date=February 25, 2001|access-date=April 7, 2025}}

|81

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Steve Miller Band|title=The Joker|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1973|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=December 19, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=November 14, 2020}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Steve Miller Band|title=The Joker|award=Gold|relyear=2005|certyear=2022|id=7051-1677-1|access-date=August 26, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Steve Miller Band|title=The Joker|award=Platinum|number=6|relyear=1973|certyear=2024|access-date=December 19, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

Notable covers and samplings

American reggae singer Shaggy and Barbadian singer Rayvon's 2001 song "Angel" samples the bassline of the song.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-shaggy-194216/|title=Q&A: Shaggy|last=Udovitch|first=Mim|date=15 February 2001|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329112113/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/qa-shaggy-194216/|access-date=16 March 2024|archive-date=29 March 2019}} It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending March 31, 2001.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhQEAAAAMBAJ |title=Billboard Magazine: March 31, 2001 Issue |date=31 March 2001 |access-date=16 March 2024}}

English musician Fatboy Slim covered "The Joker" and released it as a single on February 28, 2005.{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=25|date=February 26, 2005}} This version reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart and number 29 in Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25526/fatboy-slim/|title=Fatboy Slim|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=October 10, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Fatboy+Slim|title=Fatboy Slim Discography|website=Irish-charts.com|access-date=October 10, 2021}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_065.html The Straight Dope: In Steve Miller's "The Joker," what is "the pompatus of love"?]
  • [http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/001806.html Language Log: Dismortality and puppetutes]—post on the etymology of "pompatus".

{{Steve Miller Band}}

{{Fatboy Slim}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joker, The}}

Category:1973 singles

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Category:Fatboy Slim songs

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