LISTEN TO THE MUSIC – THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
Apr 04 '03 (Updated Apr 13 '03)
The Bottom Line The group known as “THE DOOBIE BROTHERS” was formed in March 1970 in San Jose, CA.
The first members of the group were “Tom Johnston” on vocals and guitar, “John Hartman” on drums and “Greg Murph” on bass guitar who is quickly replaced by “Dave Shogren” and they became known as “Pud”. They first began their practice sessions in a house on 12th Street in San Jose, which was also frequented by the local chapter of “THE HELLS ANGELS”. They began by performing free concerts in a local park on Sundays. They add “Patrick Simmons” on guitar and vocals in September. They then decide to change their name to “The Doobie Brothers”. Doobie at the time was California slang for “a joint” or a “marijuana cigarette”. They then become a regular house band at a club called Chateau Liberte’ in Santa Cruz, Ca. They decide to record a 6 track demo tape that is sent to “Lenny Waronker” of “Warner Brothers” records who signs them to their first recording contract.
In April 1971 they release their first album titled appropriately “The Doobie Brothers”. The album was produced by “Ted Templeman” formally of the group “Harper’s Bizarre” but the album fails to make the album charts. In October “Tiran Porter” replaces “Dave Shogren” on bass guitar. “Mike Hossack” is also added to the group on percussions and as a second drummer. Their first single titled “Listen To The Music” is released from their 2nd album and it peaks at #11 on 2 September 1972. In October they release their second album titled “Toulouse Street” that debuts at #21 on Billboards Top 200 Album charts. It not only goes gold but also eventually goes platinum after a tremendous 119 consecutive week run on the album charts. Their second single also comes for this album titled “Jesus Is Just Alright” and it peaks at #35 on 16 December. The song was previously released by “The Byrds” that peaked at #97 for them on 7 February 1970.
In June 1973 “The Captain & Me” their 3rd album is released and peaks at #7 on the album charts. This album also had two more hit singles in “Long Train Runnin’” that peaked at #8 on 21 April and “China Grove” that peaked at #15 on 18 August. In September Mike Hossack left the group to form his own band “Bonaroo” and was replaced by “Keith Knudsen” who had previously played with the backing band for “Lee Michaels”. In December Tom is arrested for possession of Marijuana.
“What Once Were Vices Are Now Habits” was their next album released in 1974 and it peaks at #4 on the US Charts and peaks at #19 in the UK in May and goes platinum. It also includes contributions by “Jeff Skunk Baxter” from the group “Steely Dan”. In July Steely Dan disbands and Jeff joins The Doobies on a permanent basics. This album had their first #1 hit single of “Black Water” that peaked at #1 on 21 December and sold over 2 million copies. It was originally released as the flip side of their single “Another Park, Another Sunday” that had peaked on its own at #32 on 20 April 74. While the group was on tour in May 1975 Tom is hospitalized with a stomach virus and is replaced by “Michael McDonald” who had also previously played for “Steely Dan” on keyboards and vocals. When the tour completed they released “Stampede” and it peaks at #4 on the US album charts and peaks at #14 in the UK in May and becomes their 4th gold album. They had one hit from this album “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me )” that peaked at #11 on 3 May.
In 1976 with Mike now a permanent member of the band they released “Takin’ It To The Streets”. It peaked at #42 on the album charts in the UK in April and peaked at #8 in the US in May and sold platinum. They also released the title track from this album that peaked at #13 on the singles charts on 17 April. Later in the year they released “It Keeps You Runnin’” with “Carly Simon” that peaked at #37 on the singles charts on 13 November. “Best Of The Doobies” which is a compilation album of their single hits is released and it peaks at #5 in January 1977 on the album charts.
“Livin’ On The Fault Line” is their next album release and it peaked at #10 in the US in October and goes gold. In January 1978 “Tom Johnston” leaves the group to pursue a solo career. They have their second #1 hit single titled “What A Fool Believes” that peaks at #1 on 20 January 1979. It was written by Mike and “Kenny Loggins” and it would be included on their next album release. In March Baxter and Hartman both leave the group
Their second #1 single hit is “What A Fool Believes” that peaked at #1 on 20 January 1979. Their next album “Minute By Minute” became their biggest selling album to date and it stayed at #1 for 5 weeks where it peaked at #1 on 7 April. “Minute By Minute” was also released as a single and peaked at #14 on 5 May. This was followed by “Dependin’ On You” that peaked at #25 on the singles charts on 11 August. In September they appeared with “Bruce Springsteen”, “Jackson Browne” and many other music artists at the all-star “MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) Concert”. Tom Johnston releases a solo single “Savannah Nights” that peaked at #34 on 17 November and his solo album “Everything You’ve Heard Is True” peaks at #100 on the album charts in December. In February 1980 The Doobie Brothers win Record Of The Year and Song Of the Year for 1979 for their single “What A Fool Believes”. They also win Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group for their album “Minute By Minute”.
In October 1980 they release “One Step Closer” that peaks at #3 on the US album charts and #53 on the UK charts in October and becomes their final platinum-selling album. In November Porter leaves the group and is replaced by “Willie Weeks”. They release “Wynken, Blynken And Nod” that peaks at #76 on 24 January 1981 on the singles charts. It is from the various artists children album “In Harmony” on “Sesame Street” records that peaks at #156 on the album charts in February. Johnston’s second solo album release is “Still Feels Good” that peaks at #158 in June. In October at the end of their most recent tour and a concert in Hawaii they decide to split. After the split the newest compilation album “Best Of The Doobies, Volume II” peaks at #339 in the US and goes gold in December. The breakup of the group is finally made official in March 1982. In July they decide to reform temporarily to begin a goodbye tour and to record a final live album. Tom McDonald releases his first solo single “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)” that peaks at #4 on 7 August. He also releases his first solo album titled “If That’s What It Takes” also in August.
Patrick Simmons releases his first solo single “So Wrong” that peaks at #30 on 19 March 1983. His 1st solo album “Arcade” peaks at #52 on the US album charts. His second and final Top 100 single is “Don’t Make Me Do It” that peaks at#75 on 18 June. It is written by “Huey Lewis” of “Huey Lewis And The News”. The Doobie Brothers release their Live Album that is a double album set titled “The Doobie Brothers Farewell Tour” that peaks at #79 on the US album charts in August. The band reunites a second time to play a special charity benefit show in December 1986 for the Stanford Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, Ca. A wing of the hospital is later named after the group in their honor. They reunite once again in May for a special one-night show at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, CA. which leans to another reunion tour.
McDonald was too busy with his solo career to attend the tour. The tour raised over 1 Million dollars for a variety of charities including the “Vietnam Veterans Aid Foundation held at the “Hollywood Bowl”. It was the second fastest sellout of that venue only to the appearance of the “Beatles”. The tour was completed on 4 July 1987 in Moscow at a peace concert featuring Soviet and American Rock ‘N Roll bands titled “The July Fourth Disarmament Festival”. Also attending the concert were “James Taylor”, “Bonnie Raitt”, “Santana” and a few local Russian groups. In June 1989 the remainder of the group minus Mike plus roadie “Bobby LaKind” signed a contract with “Capital” records. They recorded a reunion album titled “Cycles” released in the summer that went gold and peaked at #17 on the US album charts in July and becomes their 7th gold album. The album had one big single “The Doctor” that peaked at #9 on the singles charts on 20 May. On January 18 & 19 1990 they play to sellout crowds at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts in Portland, Or. As a part of their Cycles tour. In July their tour takes them to Japan where they also have special guests performing of “Daryl Hall & John Oates” and “Boz Scaggs”. In 1991 they released “Brotherhood” and it peaked at #82 on the US album charts in May.
In March 1992 McDonald rejoins the group for a one-time show in Memphis, TN. In October 12 active and inactive members of the group came back together to perform 2 shows to raise money for a trust fund for the children of the band’s percussionist “Bobby LaKind” who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died on Christmas Eve that same year. In 1993 they perform on a 22 date US tour from 7 August to 6 September. In July 1994 the group toured with “Foreigner” throughout “Europe”, “Australia” and “New Zealand”. In early 1995 Mike McDonald decides to rejoin the group and in July they tour once again with “Foreigner”. In May 1996 they begin their 25th Anniversary tour with “Lynyrd Skynyrd”. They perform a special benefit for the “Wildlife Conservation Society”. In August they also release a double album of the concert on “Sony” records titled “Rockin’ Down The Highway -The Wildlife Concert” that reached the Top 40. Also in August the concert is broadcast on PBS during their bi-annual pledge drive.
In August 1997 they tour with “Boston”, “Starship”, “Head East” and “Eddie Money”. In 1998 they are constantly on tour throughout the entire year. On 16 March 1999 they are presented with the “Diamond Award” for sales in excess of 10 million copies of “Best Of The Doobies”. By the year 2000 the group lineup had changed again to “Michael Hossack”, “Tom Johnston”, “Keith Knudsen”, “John McFee” and “Pat Simmons”. They also released a new album in 2000 titled “Sibling Rivalry” on “Rhino” records that also featured “Guy Allison” on keyboards and “Marc Russo” on sax. The album never made any considerable movement on the Billboard album charts. The CD I have and enjoy the most by them is ”BEST OF THE DOOBIES” that was originally released on 21 April 1998 on “Warner Brothers” records. The songs are listed below in the order as they appear on this CD followed by my rating of each, their peak charting position on Billboards Top 100 singles charts if it charted and then my overall rating of this particular CD:
1. CHINA GROVE – 5 (Peaked at #15 on 08/18/73)
2. LONG TRAIN’ RUNNIN’ – 5 (Peaked at #8 on 04/21/73)
3. TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS – 5 (Peaked at #13 on 04/17/76)
4. LISTEN TO THE MUSIC – 5 (Peaked at #11 on 09/02/72)
5. BLACK WATER – 5 (Peaked at #1 for 1 week on 12/21/74)
6. ROCKIN’ DOWN THE HIGHWAY – 5 (Flip side of “Jesus Is Just Alright”)
7. JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT – 5 (Peaked at #35 on 12/16/72)
8. IT KEEPS YOU RUNNIN’ – 5 (Peaked at #37 on 11/13/76)
9. SOUTH CITY MIDNIGHT LADY – 2
10. TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS (ROCK ME) – 5 (Peaked at #11 on 05/03/75)
11. WITHOUT YOU – 4 (Flip side of “Long Train Runnin’”)
TOTAL POINTS: 51 DIVIDED BY 11 = 4.63 OR 4 1/2 STARS
RATING KEY:
5 – GREAT
4 – VERY GOOD
3 – GOOD
2 – FAIR
1 – POOR
0 – THIS SONG DOESN’T BELONG ON THIS CD!
TOP 100 BILLBOARD SINGLES LISTING FOR THE DOOBIE BROTHERS
1. LISTEN TO THE MUSIC – PEAKED AT #11 ON 09/02/72
2. JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT/ROCKIN’ DOWN THE HIGHWAY – PEAKED AT #35 ON 12/16/72
3. LONG TRAIN RUNNIN’ – PEAKED AT #8 ON 04/21/73
4. CHINA GROVE/EVIL WOMAN – PEAKED AT #15 ON 08/18/73
5. ANOTHER PARK, ANOTHER SUNDAY/BLACK WATER – PEAKED AT #32 ON 04/20/74
6. EYES OF SILVER – PEAKED AT #52 ON 07/27/74
7. NOBODY – PEAKED AT #58 ON 11/02/74
8. BLACK WATER – PEAKED AT #1 FOR 1 WEEK ON 12/21/74
9. TAKE ME IN YOUR ARMS (ROCK ME) – PEAKED AT #11 ON 05/03/75
10. SWEET MAXINE – PEAKED AT #40 ON 08/02/75
11. I CHEAT THE HANGMAN – PEAKED AT #60 ON 12/27/75
12. TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS – PEAKED AT #13 ON 04/17/76
13. WHEELS OF FORTUNE – PEAKED AT #87 ON 08/28/76
14. IT KEEPS YOU RUNNIN’ – PEAKED AT #37 ON 11/13/76
15. LITTLE DARLING (I NEED YOU) – PEAKED AT #48 ON 07/30/77
16. ECHOES OF LOVE – PEAKED AT #66 ON 10/08/77
17. WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES – PEAKED AT #1 FOR 1 WEEK ON 01/20/79
18. MINUTE BY MINUTE – PEAKED AT #14 ON 05/05/79
19. DEPENDIN’ ON YOU – PEAKED AT #25 ON 08/11/79
20. REAL LOVE – PEAKED AT #5 ON 09/06/80
21. ONE STEP CLOSER – PEAKED AT #24 ON 11/22/80
22. WYNKEN, BLYNKEN AND NOD – PEAKED AT #76 ON 01/24/81
23. KEEP THIS TRAIN-A-ROLLIN’ – PEAKED AT #62 ON 02/14/81
24. HERE TO LOVE YOU – PEAKED AT #65 ON 02/06/82
25. YOU BELONG TO ME – PEAKED AT #79 ON 07/30/83
26. THE DOCTOR – PEAKED AT #9 ON 05/20/89
27. NEED A LITTLE TASTE OF LOVE – PEAKED AT #45 ON 08/12/89
SOME SONG LYRICS
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC
Don’t you feel it growin’ day by day,
people gettin’ ready for the news.
Some are happy, some are sad
Oh, we got to let the music play.
What the people need is a way to make ‘em smile,
it ain’t so hard to do if you know how.
Gotta get a message, get it on through,
Oh, now mama’s go ‘n’ to after ‘while.
Oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh, listen to the music,
oh, oh listen to the music, all the time.
ROCKIN’ DOWN THE HIGHWAY
Got those highway blues, can’t you hear my motor runnin’,
flyin’ down the road with my foot on the floor.
All the way in town they can here me comin’,
Ford's about to drop, she won't do no more.
And I smell my motor burnin', underneath the hood is smoke,
can’t stop and I can’t stop,
got to keep movin’ or I’ll lose my mind.
Oh, rockin’ down the highway, oh, rockin’ down the highway.
Oh, rockin’ down the highway, oh, rockin’ down the highway.
JESUS IS JUST ALRIGHT
Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright
I don't care what they may say
I don't care what they may do
I don't care what they may say
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright
Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright, oh yeah
Jesus is just alright with me,
Jesus is just alright
JAG’S FINAL THOUGHTS:
The Doobie Brothers music could be found in the Pop Rock, Soft Rock and Boogie Rock categories. Their sound was rousing, laid-back, energetic, mellow, amiable, good-natured, hip, fast passed and fun. They are another group like “Deep Purple” that seemed to have a revolving door of member changes over the years. They have earned a total of 13 gold and 11 multi-platinum sales awards. They have performed around the world for well over 35 million fans and still seem to have a good following. Their 1996 “Rockin’ Down The Highway” album/CD to this day is still selling well and most of the proceeds from the sales of this album/CD continue to go to the “Wildlife Conservation Society”. The “WCS” is one of the world’s largest conservation organizations, which has its headquarters at the “Bronx Zoo” in New York City, NY. I only ever owned two albums/CD’s by the Doobies but did own almost all of their singles and enjoyed their sound very much. My favorite songs by them are “Listen To The Music” and “China Grove”. Thanks once again as always for dropping by and leaving a comment and have a Wonderful Day.
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