Steve Miller Unmasks “The Joker”

When they started, STEVE MILLER BAND weren’t a truly special ensemble – just one of many psychedelic-minded American bands that shone on-stage but couldn’t boast of progressive, album-oriented thinking. And then, “The Joker” arrived late in 1973 to transform this collective into stars and, memorable by both its stunning cover artwork and bright songs – plus, the immortal “Maurice” of the title track – pave the way to “Fly Like An Eagle” and further chart flights all over the world. Now, five decades on, the time came to celebrate such an achievement, and Steve Miller found a great way to do so.

Scheduled for release on September 15th on two CDs and a vinyl-focused box set, is “The Evolution Of The Joker” – a creative journey through the classic platter in which the remastered album tracks are interspersed with Steve’s commentary, outtakes, early runs and concert versions of the familiar material, many previously unheard. A truly immersive excursion into the record’s genesis, it might ruin the experience for some, as there’s no standalone remaster, while enriching the context for the others.

STEVE MILLER BAND –
The Evolution Of The Joker

CD 1:
1. Steve Miller Commentary 1
Live – Los Angeles, CA, May 20th, 1972:
2. Children Of The Future
3. Brave New World
4. Dear Mary
Live – Berkeley, CA, July 14th, 1972:
5. Space Cowboy
6. Ginger Man
7. Nothing Lasts
8. Steve Miller Commentary 2
9. Sugar Babe (early version – hotel 4-track, April 21st, 1972)
10. Sugar Babe (live – Columbus, OH, December 8th, 1973)
11. Sugar Babe (album version)
12. Mary Lou (early version – studio rehearsal, January 19th, 1973)
13. Mary Lou (album version)
14. Steve Miller Commentary 3
15. Hat (pre-“Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma” – live – Sacramento, CA, June 6th, 1971)
16. Say Hey Ray (pre-“Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma” – studio rehearsal, July 27th, 1973)
17. White Elephant (pre-“Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma” – studio rehearsal, June 21st, 1973)
18. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (early version – hotel 4-track, April 21st, 1972)
19. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (album version)

STEVE MILLER BAND –
The Evolution Of The Joker –
Box Set

CD 2:
1. Steve Miller Commentary 4
2. Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ but Trash (early version – studio jam, July 5th, 1973)
3. Your Cash Ain’t Nothin’ But Trash (album version)
4. Lidi (twang guitar – hotel 4-track, April 21st, 1972)
5. Lidi (studio, August 4th, 1973)
6. Lidi / Travelin’ (harmonics – looking for a chorus for “The Joker” – hotel 4-track, November 3rd, 1972)
7. Travelin’ (looking for a chorus for “The Joker” – live radio, July 1st, 1973)
8. The Joker (album version)
9. Steve Miller Commentary 5
10. The Lovin’ Cup (live – Lansing, MI, November 27th, 1973)
11. The Lovin’ Cup (album version)
12. Come On In My Kitchen (early version – live – Dallas, TX, October 19th, 1973)
13. Come On In My Kitchen (album version)
14. Evil (studio demo, July 28th, 1973)
15. Evil (album version)
16. Steve Miller Commentary 6
17. Coupe de Ville (a cappella – hotel 4-track, July 1973)
18. Something To Believe In (early version – hotel 4-track, November 3rd, 1972)
19. Something To Believe In (tough crowd – live – Austin, TX, October 19th, 1973)
20. Something To Believe In (album version)
21. I Don’t Mind (hotel 4-track, April 21st, 1972)
22. I Don’t Mind (studio, July 31st, 1973)
23. Mama Church (a cappella – hotel 4-track, April 21st, 1972)
24. The Joker (single version)

July 29, 2023

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