We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…….
This is the LP where most people discovered the Doobie Brothers. Their first Lp was OK but not polished and this one shows the difference some experience can bring. Especially after the augmented the sound with second drummer Michael Hossack and new bass player Tiran Porter.
But make no mistake, the early incarnation of this band was driven by Tom Johnston and, to a lesser extent, Patrick Simmons. The harmonies were tight, the twin-guitars were balanced nicely and the rhythm section (John Hartman is the other drummer) chugs along nicely. Ted Templeman should be commended for his production. It’s crisp & cleand and makes every instrument stand out.
Johnston writes and sings most of the songs here including the smash hit “Listen To The Music” which really sounded good coming out of your radio in the summer of 72′. “Rockin Down the Highway” is another churning rock track and Simmons delivers some gospel tinged country-rock with an old Arthur Reynolds tune, “Jesus Is Just Alright”.
There is a lot to love in the other cuts as well. Simmons wrote the title track and the Carribean tinged ‘Mamaloi” sung by Johnston.
They deliver a couple of nice covers….Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Dont Start Me Talkin” and “Cotton Mouth”, originally done by Seals & Crofts….
And Johnston delivers a rockin jam in “Disciple” which I’ve heard compared to the Allman Bros. It cooks nicely.
Little Feat’s Billy Payne sits on on keyboards for a number of tracks and a four piece horn section adds some nice color on a couple of the tunes.
The Doobies of this album were showing their chops and competing nicely with alot of their contemporaries working the same musical veins. Rock, country, blues, gospel, this band could work many different styles all in a very entertaining way. They are clearly stepping up their game and showing the skills that would make them stars in the 70’s even after Johnston suffered health problems and was replaced by Michael McDonald later in the decade.
It’s a good and timeless listen.
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