The Joker (Steve Miller Band song)

"The Joker"
"The Joker"
Single by Steve Miller Band
from the album The Joker
B-side	"Something to Believe In"
Released	October 1973; 30 July 1990 (UK reissue)
Studio	Capitol (Hollywood)
Genre	Rock
Length	4:26 (album version); 3:36 (single version);
Label	Capitol
Songwriter(s)	Eddie Curtis; Ahmet Ertegun; Steve Miller;
Producer(s)	Steve Miller
Steve Miller Band singles chronology
Official video
	"The Joker" on YouTube
"Take the Money and Run"/"The Joker" (1983, double A-side, live)
	Cover of the 1983 live single
Steve Miller Band singles chronology
Steve Miller Band singles chronology

"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.

Quick Facts Single by Steve Miller Band, from the album ...

Close

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.

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.^[3]

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;^[4] however, Miller misheard the word and wrote pompatus instead.

Cash Box said that "The Joker" "is going all the way to become [Miller's] most successful release ever."^[5] Record World called it "a smooth piece that is highly reminiscent of Van Morrison" and that "could establish Miller as a potent AM act."^[6]

"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.^[7]

7-inch single (1973)

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

7-inch single (1983 – live version)

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

7-inch single (1990)

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

12-inch maxi (1990)

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

CD maxi (1990)

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

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

More information Chart (1973–1974), Peak position ...

Weekly charts

Chart (1973–1974)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[8]	8
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9]	2
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[10]	18
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	18
US Billboard Hot 100^[12]	1

Chart (1990–1991)	Peak position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[13]	5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[14]	5
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[15]	2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[16]	12
France (SNEP)^[17]	33
Germany (GfK)^[18]	7
Ireland (IRMA)^[19]	1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[20]	1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[11]	1
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[21]	1
Norway (VG-lista)^[22]	2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[23]	4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[24]	5
UK Singles (OCC)^[25]	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1974)	Position
Australia (Kent Music Report)^[26]	58
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[27]	50
US Billboard Hot 100^[28]	40

Chart (1990)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop)^[29]	35
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[30]	58
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[31]	15
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[32]	19
UK Singles (OCC)^[33]	24

Chart (1991)	Position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[34]	62
Germany (Official German Charts)^[35]	54
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[36]	20

Close

More information Region, Certification ...


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[37]	3× Platinum	90,000^‡
Sweden (GLF)^[38]	Gold	25,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[39]	Gold	400,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[40]	6× Platinum	6,000,000^‡
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Close

American reggae singer Shaggy and Barbadian singer Rayvon's 2001 song "Angel" samples the bassline of the song.^[41] It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending March 31, 2001.^[42]

English musician Fatboy Slim covered "The Joker" and released it as a single on February 28, 2005.^[43] This version reached number 32 on the UK Singles Chart and number 29 in Ireland.^[44]^[45]

[1]
Dio, Ray (October 20, 1990). "Raydio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 42. p. 25. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[2]
Nichols, Paul (December 26, 2014). "The Joker". prsformusic.com. PRS for Music. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
[3]
Bronson, Fred (March 31, 2001). "US Pop Stars Go 'Over' The Top". Chart Beat. Google Books: Billboard magazine. p. 94. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
[4]
Adams, Cecil (October 25, 1996). "In Steve Miller's "The Joker," what is "the pompatus of love"?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
[5]
"CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 22, 1973. p. 18. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
[6]
"Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. September 22, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
[7]
"Official Singles Chart turns 70: Seven historic controversies". BBC News. November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
[8]
Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
[9]
"Top RPM Singles: Issue 4963a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[10]
"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1973" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[11]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[12]
"The Steve Miller Band Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[13]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[14]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[15]
"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 38. September 22, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[16]
Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
[17]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[18]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[19]
"The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Joker". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[20]
"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[21]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[22]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". VG-lista. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[23]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[24]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[25]
"Steve Miller Band: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
[26]
"National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.
[27]
"The Top 200 Singles of '74". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[28]
"Billboard Top 100 – 1974". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[29]
"Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[30]
"Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. 60. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved January 15, 2020 – via World Radio History.
[31]
"Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
[32]
"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[33]
"1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. March 2, 1991. p. 41.
[34]
"Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via World Radio History.
[35]
"Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[36]
"End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
[37]
"New Zealand single certifications – Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Radioscope. Retrieved December 19, 2024. Type The Joker in the "Search:" field.
[38]
"Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
[39]
"British single certifications – Steve Miller Band – The Joker". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
[40]
"American single certifications – Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
[41]
Udovitch, Mim (February 15, 2001). "Q&A: Shaggy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
[42]
"Billboard Magazine: March 31, 2001 Issue". March 31, 2001. Retrieved March 16, 2024.
[43]
"New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 26, 2005. p. 25.
[44]
"Fatboy Slim". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
[45]
"Fatboy Slim Discography". Irish-charts.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

The Straight Dope: In Steve Miller's "The Joker," what is "the pompatus of love"?
Language Log: Dismortality and puppetutes—post on the etymology of "pompatus".

[1] [1]
Dio, Ray (October 20, 1990). "Raydio" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 42. p. 25. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[2] [2]
Nichols, Paul (December 26, 2014). "The Joker". prsformusic.com. PRS for Music. Retrieved October 25, 2021.

[3] [3]
Bronson, Fred (March 31, 2001). "US Pop Stars Go 'Over' The Top". Chart Beat. Google Books: Billboard magazine. p. 94. Retrieved April 25, 2024.

[4] [4]
Adams, Cecil (October 25, 1996). "In Steve Miller's "The Joker," what is "the pompatus of love"?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved April 13, 2024.

[5] [5]
"CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. September 22, 1973. p. 18. Retrieved December 11, 2021.

[rw-6] [6]
"Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. September 22, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved March 22, 2023.

[7] [7]
"Official Singles Chart turns 70: Seven historic controversies". BBC News. November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 17, 2022.

[8] [8]
Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-9] [9]
"Top RPM Singles: Issue 4963a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Dutch40_-10] [10]
"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 1973" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Dutch100_Steve_Miller_Band-11] [11]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Billboardhot100_The_Steve_Miller_Band-12] [12]
"The Steve Miller Band Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Austria_Steve_Miller_Band-13] [13]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Flanders_Steve_Miller_Band-14] [14]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[15] [15]
"Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 38. September 22, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[16] [16]
Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.

[sc_France_Steve_Miller_Band-17] [17]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Germany_Steve_Miller_Band-18] [18]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Ireland2_-19] [19]
"The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Joker". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[d402-20] [20]
"Nederlandse Top 40 – week 44, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_Steve_Miller_Band-21] [21]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Norway_Steve_Miller_Band-22] [22]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". VG-lista. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Sweden_Steve_Miller_Band-23] [23]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_Switzerland_Steve_Miller_Band-24] [24]
"Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Steve_Miller_Band-25] [25]
"Steve Miller Band: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 13, 2020.

[aus74-26] [26]
"National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. December 30, 1974. Retrieved January 15, 2022 – via Imgur.

[27] [27]
"The Top 200 Singles of '74". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[28] [28]
"Billboard Top 100 – 1974". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[29] [29]
"Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[30] [30]
"Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. 60. OCLC 29800226. Retrieved January 15, 2020 – via World Radio History.

[31] [31]
"Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 22, 2021.

[32] [32]
"Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[33] [33]
"1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. March 2, 1991. p. 41.

[34] [34]
"Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via World Radio History.

[35] [35]
"Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[36] [36]
"End of Year Charts 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.

[New_ZealandSteve_Miller_BandThe_JokersingleCertRef-37] [37]
"New Zealand single certifications – Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Radioscope. Retrieved December 19, 2024. Type The Joker in the "Search:" field.

[SwedensingleCertRef-38] [38]
"Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2020.

[United_KingdomSteve_Miller_BandThe_JokersingleCertRef-39] [39]
"British single certifications – Steve Miller Band – The Joker". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 26, 2022.

[United_StatesSteve_Miller_BandThe_JokersingleCertRef-40] [40]
"American single certifications – Steve Miller Band – The Joker". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 19, 2024.

[41] [41]
Udovitch, Mim (February 15, 2001). "Q&A: Shaggy". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2024.

[42] [42]
"Billboard Magazine: March 31, 2001 Issue". March 31, 2001. Retrieved March 16, 2024.

[43] [43]
"New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 26, 2005. p. 25.

[44] [44]
"Fatboy Slim". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

[45] [45]
"Fatboy Slim Discography". Irish-charts.com. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

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Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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The Joker (Steve Miller Band song)

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

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Lyrics

Critical reception

Chart performance

Track listings

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

Notable cover versions

References

External links