73
The Joker
Steve Miller Band
1973
You know, I wasn't that excited about this selection. I didn't even know which Steve Miller Band song was going in; on my list, it was always written as "The Joker / Take the Money and Run / Rock 'N Me." Couldn't even get to the pick after listening to all three and thinking, "well, they're all good so just pick one and be done with it." What a ringing endorsement for the Top 100.
But look, The Joker made the cut because it's a classic and when I'm on Mars in 2050 remembering how great Earth was, it will be nice to have the Space Cowboy/Maurice (seriously, he went with the name "Maurice" for his alibi here?), who speaks of the pompatus of love, with me. I don't know guys, there's not a lot to say about this one that you don't already know. You've heard it a million times, I've heard it a million times, and it still holds up more than 50 years later. On that front, do you know that Steve Miller is almost 80 years old and the guy is still out there touring?? Respect, man. Must be all that midnight tokin' that he's doing.
Other Songs Considered:
Take the Money and Run, Rock 'N Me, Jet Airliner