The Doobie Brothers - Minute By Minute (1978)

NUMBER ONE ALBUMS WEEK (MAY 5-11, 2014)

On the cover photo, Michael McDonald doesn't look to happy to be here, but we're glad he showed up. Rolling Stone magazine titled its review of this album "The Doobie Brothers dabble on and on, but Michael McDonald's great" (see below). Even without checking the credits, you can easily separate songs McDonald wrote from those written by guitarist Patrick Simmons. And quite frankly, the blue-eyed soul McDonald songs are far better than the hippie boogie groove of the others. Earlier Doobie albums seemed to rely on the solid playing of the musicians, this one seems to rely more on the songwriting. Rumor has it that the band was understandably frustrated after this album was completed and were ready to call it quits. Then sales took off and, not surprisingly, they decide to stick it out a little longer. Can't blame them.

The group's most commercially successful album, Minute By Minute was nominated for Album of the Year (losing to 52nd Street) and singles from the album won four Grammy awards:

1. Record of the Year (What A Fool Believes)
2. Song of the Year (What A Fool Believes)
3. Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals (What A Fool Believes)
4. Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus (Minute By Minute)

Press of the time:

• Robert Christgau (B): "Tight playing combines with moderately intricate rhythms and harmonies for sexy, dancey pop music of undeniable craft (at least on side one)."
• Billboard: "10 exceptional cuts based in rock but influenced heavily with jazz"
• CashBox: "latest offering should fare...well"
  
• Record World: "satisfying album highlighted by the sinewy vocals of Michael McDonald"
• Rolling Stone: "there's no question that the new record's best songs are all primarily by Michael McDonald"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #1 (5 weeks between Apr 7 - May 12, 1979)
• CashBox: #2
• Rolling Stone: #1

Tracks:  What A Fool Believes and Minute By Minute are both soft rock favorites of mine. The electric piano intro of Minute By Minute is particularly memorable. Hard core DB fans will tell you that What A Fool Believes, written by McDonald and Kenny Loggins, doesn't sound like a DB song, but it is so good that doesn't matter much to me. The Steely Dan-ish Dependin' On You was a minor hit (#25) and is also good. Of the others, stick with the McDonald tunes (just ignore the "God sez" lyrics of Carole Bayer Sager on How Do The Fools Survive? and enjoy the sweet guitar solo).

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best Of (2007)
Takin' It To The Streets (1976)

The Doobie Brothers - Takin' It To The Streets (1976)

The Doobies' first album with Michael McDonald, who immediately turned the band in a more soulful direction. However, as long as the hits kept coming, I'm sure neither band nor record label minded much. Strong performances throughout, both vocally and instrumentally. The material has its up and downs which is to be expected during a transition period. It's no Minute By Minute, but you can hear the band was headed in that direction.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone: "this is, melodically, the Doobies' best record"
• Record World: "jazz-tinged rock with carefully blended vocals"
• Billboard: "Over-all, an easier sound than previous LPs"
• Robert Christgau (C+): "You can lead a Doobie to the recording studio, but you can't make him think."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #8
• CashBox: #9

Tracks:  Of course, the McDonald-penned singles stand out (Takin' It To The Streets and It Keeps You Runnin'), that's why they were the singles. Also good are Wheels Of Fortune, Rio, and Turn it Loose. The weaker tunes are Losin' End and For Someone Special.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD:  A relatively recent impulse buy out of the bargain bin.

Previously revisited for the blog:
The Very Best Of (2007)

The Doobie Brothers - The Very Best Of (2007)

Many groups release double disc greatest hits compilations, but few have the catalog to pull it off. The Doobies come close, but there are 33 tracks here spanning the years 1970-2000. Whew! That's a lot of Doobage. I never owned a Doobie Brothers LP, so the 2001 Greatest Hits compilation would probably been a better choice for me. Liner notes are just average which is surprising for a Rhino release. Fans will complain that some versions of the songs are the radio edits, but if you grew up listening to this group on the radio (like me), then you'll be okay with that decision. As of this writing, The Doobie Brothers aren't in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame; the evidence here would suggest they probably should be. [update: the group was inducted in 2020] As I listen today, I'm noticin' there are a lot of Doobie Brothers' song titles that drop a final 'g' in favor of an apostrophe (e.g., rockin', runnin', takin', dependin', rollin').

Tracks:

Title	Year	Pop	AC
Listen To The Music	1972	11
Jesus Is Just Alright	1972	35
Rockin' Down The Highway	1972
Long Train Runnin'	1973	8
China Grove	1973	15	30
South City Midnight Lady	1973
Another Park, Another Sunday	1974	32
Eyes Of Silver	1974	52
Nobody	1974	58
Black Water	1974	1
Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)	1975	11
Sweet Maxine	1975	40
I Cheat The Hangman	1975	60
Takin' It To The Streets	1976	13
Wheels Of Fortune	1976	87
It Keeps You Runnin'	1976	37

Title	Year	Pop	Rock	AC
Little Darling (I Need You)	1977	48
Echoes Of Love	1977	66
What A Fool Believes	1979	1		22
Minute By Minute	1979	14		13
Dependin' On You	1979	25		37
Real Love	1980	5		10
One Step Closer	1980	24		21
Wynken, Blynken And Nod	1980	76		31
Keep This Train A-Rollin'	1981	62
Here To Love You	1982	65
You Belong To Me	1977	*
The Doctor	1989	9	1	31
South Of The Border	1989		30
Need A Little Taste Of Love	1989	45	3	27
Dangerous	1991		2
Rollin' On	1991		12
Ordinary Man	2001			29

*studio version included in this compilation. In 1983, a live version was issued and charted at # 79.

From the band's early AM radio days, I like Listen To The Music, Rockin' Down The Highway, Long Train Runnin', China Grove, and Black Water. The only early track I want to skip is I Cheat The Hangman, which sounds like a bad Yes or Moody Blues knock-off.

And then there's favs from the Michael McDonald era: Takin' It To The Streets, It Keeps You Runnin', What A Fool Believes (even though I could never figure out the mumbly lyrics to that one), Minute By Minute, Real Love, You Belong To Me, and One Step Closer (which I always thought should have been a bigger hit).

From the later years (1989-2000), there's nothing that really stands out to me, but the 6 songs here definitely have an early '70s flavor to them - I could see die hard fans loving them.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Not so much with this CD, but I still remember the band appearing on a couple of episodes of the ABC sitcom "What's Happening?" in the late '70s. If memory serves, the episodes focused on illegal bootleg recording. I doubt I could sit through those episodes today.

I also remember being part of an impromptu a capella version of of Black Water spontaneously breaking out at a church choir rehearsal in the late '80s. If that had happened today, someone would have recorded it on their phone and uploaded it to YouTube before rehearsal was finished.

Previously revisited for the blog:
Michael McDonald - The Ultimate Collection (2005)