Steve Miller is celebrating 50 years of his most iconic album The Joker with a new box set J50: The Evolution of the Joker, out September 15 via Universal.
Made up of materials Miller curated himself, the box set chronicles his creative process as he found his defining sound. It comes in CD format, as well as vinyl and digital, and features the original album plus 27 previously unreleased recordings, including songwriting tapes, live recordings, studio outtakes, rehearsals, and audio commentary from Miller, along with exclusive liner notes from Miller and journalist Anthony DeCurtis.
Miller said in a press release about creating "The Joker":
To make a hit record, I thought it was best to have five hooks. Not one, not two, not three, not four, but five, if you really wanted to deliver a hit. Like if you take "The Joker." "Some people call me the Space Cowboy." What the hell was that? Then it continues and it gets your attention again: the slide guitar, the chorus, the harmony, the wolf whistle. It all adds up. All of these things are just elements of writing. You learn those elements, and you're always playing with them.
To coincide with the announcement, Miller has shared "The Joker Suite," showcasing his musical path to "The Joker" with two previously unreleased tracks, "Lidi" and "Travelin'." Hear them both below, where you can also find the full J50 tracklist.
J50: The Evolution of the Joker:
LP1:
Steve Miller Commentary 1
Children of the Future (Live)
Brave New World (Live)
Dear Mary (Live)
Space Cowboy (Live)
Ginger Man (Live)
Nothing Lasts (Live)
Steve Miller Commentary 2
Sugar Babe (Early Version)
Sugar Babe (Live)
Sugar Babe (Album Version)
Mary Lou (Early Version)
Mary Lou (Album Version)
LP2:
Steve Miller Commentary 3
Hat (Live – Pre Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma)
Say Hey Ray (Pre Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma)
White Elephant (Pre Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma)
Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (Early Version)
Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (Album Version)
Steve Miller Commentary 4
Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash (Early Version)
Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash (Album Version)
Lidi (Twang Guitar)
Lidi (Studio)
Lidi/Travelin' (Harmonics - Looking for a Chorus for The Joker)
Travelin' (Looking for a Chorus for The Joker)
The Joker (Album Version)
LP3:
Steve Miller Commentary 5
Lovin' Cup (Live)
Lovin' Cup (Album Version)
Come On In My Kitchen (Live)
Come On In My Kitchen (Album Version)
Evil (Studio Demo)
Evil (Album Version)
Steve Miller Commentary 6
Coupe De Ville (A Cappella)
Something to Believe In (Early Version)
Something to Believe In (Tough Crowd – Live)
Something to Believe In (Album Version)
I Don't Mind (Hotel 4-Track)
I Don't Mind (Studio)
Mama Church (A Cappella)
7-inch:
The Joker (Single Version)
Lidi/Travelin' (Harmonics - Looking for a Chorus for The Joker)
I Don't Mind (Studio)
Lidi (Studio)
Pre-order J50: The Evolution of The Joker.
Made up of materials Miller curated himself, the box set chronicles his creative process as he found his defining sound. It comes in CD format, as well as vinyl and digital, and features the original album plus 27 previously unreleased recordings, including songwriting tapes, live recordings, studio outtakes, rehearsals, and audio commentary from Miller, along with exclusive liner notes from Miller and journalist Anthony DeCurtis.
Miller said in a press release about creating "The Joker":
To make a hit record, I thought it was best to have five hooks. Not one, not two, not three, not four, but five, if you really wanted to deliver a hit. Like if you take "The Joker." "Some people call me the Space Cowboy." What the hell was that? Then it continues and it gets your attention again: the slide guitar, the chorus, the harmony, the wolf whistle. It all adds up. All of these things are just elements of writing. You learn those elements, and you're always playing with them.
To coincide with the announcement, Miller has shared "The Joker Suite," showcasing his musical path to "The Joker" with two previously unreleased tracks, "Lidi" and "Travelin'." Hear them both below, where you can also find the full J50 tracklist.
J50: The Evolution of the Joker:
LP1:
Steve Miller Commentary 1
Children of the Future (Live)
Brave New World (Live)
Dear Mary (Live)
Space Cowboy (Live)
Ginger Man (Live)
Nothing Lasts (Live)
Steve Miller Commentary 2
Sugar Babe (Early Version)
Sugar Babe (Live)
Sugar Babe (Album Version)
Mary Lou (Early Version)
Mary Lou (Album Version)
LP2:
Steve Miller Commentary 3
Hat (Live – Pre Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma)
Say Hey Ray (Pre Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma)
White Elephant (Pre Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma)
Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (Early Version)
Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma (Album Version)
Steve Miller Commentary 4
Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash (Early Version)
Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash (Album Version)
Lidi (Twang Guitar)
Lidi (Studio)
Lidi/Travelin' (Harmonics - Looking for a Chorus for The Joker)
Travelin' (Looking for a Chorus for The Joker)
The Joker (Album Version)
LP3:
Steve Miller Commentary 5
Lovin' Cup (Live)
Lovin' Cup (Album Version)
Come On In My Kitchen (Live)
Come On In My Kitchen (Album Version)
Evil (Studio Demo)
Evil (Album Version)
Steve Miller Commentary 6
Coupe De Ville (A Cappella)
Something to Believe In (Early Version)
Something to Believe In (Tough Crowd – Live)
Something to Believe In (Album Version)
I Don't Mind (Hotel 4-Track)
I Don't Mind (Studio)
Mama Church (A Cappella)
7-inch:
The Joker (Single Version)
Lidi/Travelin' (Harmonics - Looking for a Chorus for The Joker)
I Don't Mind (Studio)
Lidi (Studio)
Pre-order J50: The Evolution of The Joker.