DOOBIE BROTHERS : Collection (Edsel)

Sep 4 2011 by Bev Bevan, Sunday Mercury

DOOBIE BROTHERS

Collection (Edsel)

hHERE’S a fabulous collection, comprising eight albums in all on four double-CDs, from one of my all time favourite American rock bands.

Formed in San Jose, California in 1970, the Doobie Brothers included in their line-up such fine musicians as Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter and Michael McDonald.

CD One encompasses debut album The Doobie Brothers from 1971 and the follow-up, Toulouse Street, which includes US hits Jesus Is Just Alright and anthem Listen To The Music.

On the second CD The Captain And Me includes Long Train Running and that brilliant rocker Without You (which I’ll be playing on my radio show on Tuesday night), whilst What Once Were Vices Are Now Habits includes two more chart hits, Another Park Another Sunday and Black Water.

CD Three finds Steely Dan’s Jeff Baxter joining the Doobies for the Stampede album, which includes a great version of Gladys Knight & The Pips’ Take Me In Your Arms. Michael McDonald was added for Takin’ It To The Streets, singing lead on the title track and the splendid It Keeps You Runnin’.

The fourth and final CD of this must-have set comprises Living On The Fault Line and Minute By Minute, featuring more superb vocals from McDonald on Little Darlin’, You Belong To Me, Here To Love You, How Do The Fools Survive and the classic What A Fool Believes, a big UK hit and an American chart topper in 1979.