Salient. Victoria University Student Newspaper. Volume 37, Number 9. 1st May 1974
The Joker: Steve Miller Band (Capitol)
The Joker: Steve Miller Band (Capitol)
Running beside Andy Pratt's "Avenging Annie" 'The Joker' could have been last summer's superlative small-play: essential guitar whoongs. a buncha sleazy, slam-bam words about pussy and peaches and a voice that was Fatigue Supreme.
Since then, the albums have arrived and where Pratt trembles through 40 minutes of monstrous bravura. Miller plods on. Too much Gorgonzola, and a heap excess of dust-my-broom.
So who cares?
Steve Miller plays blues and it ain't taken me long to reckon that 'The Joker' isn't the dismal muddle I first thought it was but a cute slop dissident twang, mostly understrung and consistently attractive.
Look at the cover. Mary. That ain't no piquant kid. That's Steve Miller with a wig and if he doesn't look at all risque, that's cos he's 30 and his clothes don't fit like they used to.
Mary says this LP doesn't knock her off her chair. But then. Mary never had the pains of growing-up-with-Yes.