Steve Miller Band, The Joker, and the “pompatous” of love

It’s the song that put the word “pompatous” into our collective consciousness, a made-up word that was actually a mishearing of ANOTHER made up word. But it sounds great in “The Joker,” proving once again that in rock and roll, if it sounds good no one will bat an eyelash to question it. In fact, “The Joker” was the Steve Miller Band’s first number one hit on the Billboard singles chart, and we’ve been singing along to it since 1973. Let’s get into the story of this ever-popular song in this episode of the Behind The Song podcast.

Music Producer: Christian Lane
Video Director: Eva Empleo

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About Janda:
Behind The Song podcast host and creator Janda Lane is an on-air host at WDRV-FM in Chicago, where she lives with her husband and podcast partner, Christian Lane, and their two cats, Ollie and Liam.

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[Georgienne]

I was born in ‘67 and loved Steve Miller Band, my kids and now my grandkids all request, when getting in the car, “The Joker”. I will always love Steve Miller Band. It’s funny to hear the different generations of my family love this song that brings us together. Good memories!

[katk]

Another who knew! Need to go back to Miller's early days. Very bluesy, and his songs are not for prfound lyrics, but to chill. Great Artist. Great Episode. Thanks Janda!

[eddiewilson]

So my wife and I just saw THE Steve Miller Band in concert in Nashville back in July. Life Long Bucket List Item!!! At the age of 80....Steve absolutely was AMAZING!!!! Thanks for this great topic!

[c.e.anderson]

I remember Jimmy Pohlmeyer sitting beside his radio with his little reel to reel waiting for them to play The Joker.
He didn't have to wait that long but it was a while.

[Elephant-wili]

Have also seen it spelled 'pompatus.' What a fabulous story and great band.

[btbb]

Thanks! I’ll be watching this a little later. I seem to recall reading that Les Paul was Steve Miller’s godfather. ???

[rodgerrodger]

Hey Janda! I missed you and this episode a few days ago. Sorry! I'm all caught up now. We saw Steve Miller play at Winterland in.S.F. at the end of the Joker tour. We were so young our parents dropped us off and picked us up back then. I didn't care for Steve back in that time period. I was into Stephen Stills. Later on in life I ran into Steve Miller at the Bohemian club in S.F. It's a creepy all male club for very rich and powerful men. Google it.The place is creepy! He was the host of the show and he's also a member. I was a guest. I spoke to him briefly about his sunburst stratocaster he was going to play at the end of the show with Sonny Charles. Steve was really, really nice. He even wore a bolar with his tuxedo. Jeff "skunk" Baxter is a member of the Bohemian club.
Great episode as always. My best to your husband and you kitty. I think you're getting younger and prettier every month. My wife agrees with me. Thanks! Keep rockin' and keep talkin'!

[c.e.anderson]

Steve Miller Blues Band was the first band name, if i recall.

[buddygriggs]

For all these years I misheard the lyric as properties of love

[DonJoyce]

Oh wow! Such weird tidbits!! The pompatous of love... hilarious.

[Gekokujo]

Blind Melon is seen as a one-hit wonder, but their entire collection is as good as their song "No Rain" that got all of the publicity. Like Shakespeare (the Medallions, and Steve Miller) Blind Melon are great at using nonsense words to paint a picture. "Columbus Clouds" bringing bad grammar like "One of these days this will die...so will me and so will you".

[Tone-def]

thank you


pomposity

noun

Pompous conduct or character; pompousness; ostentation.

Synonyms Pompousness may be used in a good sense; pomposity always expresses something objectionable. See pomp and pompous.

from The Century Dictionary

[c.e.anderson]

I thought pompatous was like a tome a big old dusty book of knowledge. In my imaginnation....