I generally hate “greatest hits” albums. They’re created more for radio fans than for music lovers. Can you imagine buying The Beatles’One and never fully appreciating Abbey Road or Rubber Soul? I can’t either. In any case, the Steve Miller Band’s Anthology avoids the dreaded distinction – it is a “compilation” album of his best early (pre-Joker) tunes. Tapped from Brave New World, Sailor, and Your Saving Grace mostly, these 16 numbers should be all you need. Aside from the cool & spacey Fly Like an Eagle (1976), most of Steve’s later, more popular albums are pretty dismissible. Not bad, just not very special. The Anthology tracks sound young & fresh – like from a band still paying dues as one of the Bay Area’s many rock acts during the “Summer of Love” days. Yeah, it’s another hippie album…..but it sounds mighty good even without the herbal therapy.

I especially like Going to the Country, Your Saving Grace, Space Cowboy, and Going to Mexico. Actually, all of the songs are homogenous – simple, idealistic, experimental. While not a tonic for the intellectually gifted, Anthology is a superb CD for the road warrior. Turn on the cruise control and turn up the volume. It makes for an imminently pleasant ride.  GD