The other thing about the Doobies was that despite their songs being hooky enough to get them all over the AM band, they were never as sappy as the bands they shared the dial with. Where the soft AM rock of Bread and Three Dog Night catered to the chicks, and the formerly great Chicago Transit Authority had devolved into something my friends called "Shit-cago," the Doobies' songs like "Runnin Down The Highway" and the great "China Grove" just plain kicked ass.
Disc one of this great new hits compilation from Rhino is basically all about those days in the early seventies, commonly referred to by Doobies' fans as the "Tom Johnston era."
The Doobies had so many great, riff fueled songs back then you practically can't count them. But they are all here. In addition to "China Grove" and "Runnin Down The Highway," you've got the single that for many started it all (and remains an anthem today), "Listen To The Music." From there we have "Jesus Is Just Alright," a Byrds cover that the Doobies rocked up a little and made their own to the point that few even remember the original.
Showing themselves as no mere one riff pony, the Doobies musical diversity is displayed most prominently in their biggest hit ever (at least from this era), "Black Water," a tune so down home New Orleans in it's flavor that it could just have easily have come from someone like Dr. John himself. On one of their most under-rated songs, "I Cheat The Hangman", they begin by wrapping themselves around a haunting lyric with eerily similar harmonies, then end with a wallop of frenetic crash and burn guitars. The rush is as heady as that "wacky tobacky" celebrated in their choice of a band name.
By the end of disc one however, things start to go a little south — at least for diehard fans of the rock oriented "Johnston era." By the time of the album Takin It To The Streets, the musical winds of this band were clearly shifting, as was the identity of the man steering the creative boat.
Micheal McDonald brought not only a jazzier direction to the Doobie Brothers — with slickly produced horns and charts dominating where the riff had once been king — he also brought his voice front and center. Where Tom Johnston's vocals displayed a cleaner version of the shrill, high end typical of so many of the rock vocalists of that era, McDonald's deep, resonant voice had more in common with Philly R&B.
Article comments
1 - Pico
Enjoyed your write-up, Glen. The Brothers were indeed one of those bands you didn't mind dominating AM radio back in the day.
The horn charts and soft rock numbers were there before Mike entered the scene; For Vices they brought in the Memphis horns and "South City Midnight Lady" (which I see they wisely put in this collection) is one of Simmons' best ever ballads. Stampede featured a Motown cover that became a hit and soul icon Curtis Mayfield even arranged a track. So I believe the Doobies were already headed toward MM territory; bringing him on board wasn't so much signaling a change in direction than acknowledging it.
IMO, I don't think that McDonald's entrance was such a bad thing; he actually contributed some good tunes as you pointed out. Rather, it's the loss of Johnston hurt them; if they had albums consisting of 3-4 of Johnston's, McDonald's and Simmon's best compositions, then maybe there wouldn't have been the filler that have plagued their LPs after Streets.
2 - Glen Boyd
Thanx Pico. The McDonald era was of course what it was. Some damn fine songs, but it just wasn't the same. Plus anything where Kenny loggins is involved (with the songwriting in this case) will have me pretty much throwing up the sign of the cross). The songs themselves however hold up quite well. Thanx for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the article.
-Hlen
3 - DJRadiohead
In the interest of fairness, on my review (btw, nice work, Glen) yes I made a Viagr@ joke about McDonald but I also said there were some good songs from his tenure. I tend to have a good one-liner in my review and it takes on a life of its own. More people were interested in a throwaway line about The Lovin' Spoonful or the male drug/McDonald than any of the other stuff I said. Which, you know, I can live with but I think I ought to at least be clear on it. Wait... that's my article. Let's talk about yours.
Yours is almost as good as mine- I kid, I kid. Geez. This is what happens when I get to the computer before my caffeine. Well done, Glen.
4 - Pico
I'm not so thrilled about the Kenny Loggins collaborations , either. If I had this CD, "What A Fool Believes" would never get played. I've heard it plenty of enough times, thank you very much.
It's kinda cool to get perspectives of the Doobie Brothers and their hits from two different generations. Both you and DJR have some good takes on the subject. You know, maybe you guys should make a series out of that ;&)
5 - Glen Boyd
Thanx so much DJR.
Being the "rockologist" I tend to fancy myself as, I confess that your "throwaway" line about the Lovin Spoonful got to me a little too -- somebody like the Beau Brummels just would have fit the sentiment you were trying to express a bit better. That said, I thought that your review was spot on, which is a big part of the reason I held my own up for a few days (well that and the fact that my computer was f**ked up and in the shop).
So backatcha DJR.
You only got thing backwards though. Your review was actually almost as good as...mine. LOL---
-Glen