Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Steve Miller is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his landmark album, The Joker, with a new boxed set. Set for release on September 15, J50: The Evolution of The Joker includes the original 10 tracks from the Steve Miller Band’s platinum-selling 1973 album and 27 previously unreleased songs from Miller’s songwriting archive.
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The curated collection, available on CD, vinyl, digital download, and streaming platforms, also features new audio commentary and liner notes from Miller and music journalist Anthony DeCurtis.
The 79-year-old frontman and seasoned guitarist hopes this expanded edition of The Joker, which climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and elevated the Steve Miller Band into the mainstream, will help listeners experience the magic they felt during the recording process five decades ago.
“The most important rule that every kid out there who wants to make a record should remember is: When you go into the studio, be ready to do the whole performance the first time you do it because that’s going to be the best time you do it,” Miller says in a statement. “The whole thing is to capture the first performance. That’s a lot of what The Joker’s about. It was all first takes, and first takes are always better than perfect takes.”
RELATED: 50 Years Later, The Meaning Behind “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band
Miller will hit the road for 35 headlining shows across the U.S. through the end of the year. You can find a complete list of his upcoming tour dates and ticketing information at Steve Miller Band’s official website.
Fans can get a sneak preview of J50: The Evolution of The Joker by listening to the album’s hit title track, along with the never-before-released songs “Lidi” and “Travelin’,” which were shared to music streaming platforms today (July 25). A short teaser video for the boxed set, which includes archival footage of the band, can be seen below.
The Joker 50th Anniversary Box Set Track List:
LP1 SIDE ONE
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)
LP1 SIDE TWO
Steve Miller Commentary 2
Sugar Babe (Early Version)
Sugar Babe (Live)
Sugar Babe (Album Version)
Mary Lou (Early Version)
Mary Lou (Album Version)
LP2 SIDE ONE
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)
LP2 SIDE TWO
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 SIDE ONE
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)
LP3 SIDE TWO
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” SIDE A
The Joker (Single Version)
Lidi/Travelin’ (Harmonics – Looking for a Chorus for The Joker)
7” SIDE B
I Don’t Mind (Studio)
Lidi (Studio)
Photo Credit: Gijsbert Hanekroot / Courtesy Big Hassle
