Steve Miller Band

Cut during the same sessions that produced last year’s Bingo! (the Steve Miller Band’s first new album in 17 years), Let Your Hair Down is full of songs that have been in Miller’s DNA since he was a rookie sitting in at blues clubs with Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters. He howls over gritty slide guitar on Waters’ ”˜Can’t Be Satisfied’ and lets his guitar run wild on Willie Dixon’s ”˜Pretty Thing.’ The peak? A joyous take on Jimmy Reed’s ”˜Close Together,’ which stresses companionship in a mean old world. Let Your Hair Down is familiar territory, but Miller is clearly having a blast.

Key Tracks: ”˜Close Together,’ ”˜Can’t Be Satisfied,’ ”˜Pretty Thing’