The Doobie Brothers

by Stephen Thomas ErlewineAs one of the most popular Californian pop/rock bands of the 70s, the Doobie Brothers evolved from a mellow, post-hippie boogie band to a slick, soul-inflected pop band by the end of the decade. Along the way, the group racked up a string of gold and platinum albums in the U.S., along with a number of radio hits like Listen to the Music, Black Water, and China Grove. The roots of the Doobie Brothers lie in Pud, a short-lived Californian country-rock band in the vein of Moby Grape featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Johnston and drummer John Hartman. After Pud collapsed in 1969, the pair began jamming with bassist Dave Shogren and guitarist Patrick Simmons. Eventually, the quartet decided to form a group, naming themselves the Doobie Brothers after a slang term for marijuana. Soon, the Doobies earned a strong following throughout Southern California, especially among Hells Angels, and they were signed to Warner Bros. in 1970. The bands eponymous debut was ignored upon its 1971 release. Following its release, Shogren was replaced by Tiran Porter and the group added a second drummer, Michael Hossack, for 1972s Toulouse Street. Driven by the singles Listen to the Music and Jesus Is Just Alright, Toulouse Street became the groups breakthrough. The Captain and Me (1973) was even more successful, spawning the Top Ten hit Long Train Runnin and China Grove. Keith Knudsen replaced Hossack as the groups second drummer for 1974s What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, which launched their first number one single, Black Water, and featured heavy contributions from former Steely Dan member Jeff Skunk Baxter. Baxter officially joined the Doobie Brothers for 1975s Stampede. Prior to the albums spring release, Johnston was hospitalized with a stomach ailment and was replaced for the supporting tour by keyboardist/vocalist Michael McDonald, who had also worked with Steely Dan. Although it peaked at number four, Stampede wasnt as commercially successful as its three predecessors, and the group decided to let McDonald and Baxter, who were now official Doobies, revamp the bands light country-rock and boogie. The new sound was showcased on 1976s Takin It to the Streets, a collection of light funk and jazzy pop that resulted in a platinum album. Later that year, the group released the hits compilation The Best of the Doobies. In 1977, the group released Livin on the Fault Line, which was successful without producing any big hits. Johnston left the band after the albums release to pursue an unsuccessful solo career. Following his departure, the Doobies released their most successful album, Minute by Minute (1978), which spent five weeks at number one on the strength of the number one single What a Fool Believes. Hartman and Baxter left the group after the albums supporting tour, leaving the Doobie Brothers as McDonalds backing band.Following a year of audition, the Doobies hired ex-Clover guitarist John McFee, session drummer Chet McCracken, and former Moby Grape saxophonist Cornelius Bumpus and released One Step Closer (1980), a platinum album that produced the Top Ten hit Real Love. During the tour for One Step Closer, McCracken was replaced by Andy Newmark. Early in 1982, the Doobie Brothers announced they were breaking up after a farewell tour, which was ed on the 1983 live album Farewell Tour. After the bands split, McDonald pursued a successful solo career, while Simmons released one unsuccessful solo record. In 1987, the Doobies reunited for a concert at the Hollywood Bowl, which quickly became a brief reunion tour; McDonald declined to participate in the tour. By 1989, the early-70s lineup of Johnston, Simmons, Hartman, Porter, and Hossack, augmented by percussionist and former Doobies roadie Bobby LaKind, had signed a contract with Capitol Records. Their reunion album, Cycles, went gold upon its summer release in 1989, spawning the Top Ten hit The Doctor. Brotherhood followed two years later, but it failed to generate much interest. For the remainder of the 90s, the group toured the U.S., playing the oldies circuit and 70s revival concerts. By 1995, McDonald had joined the group again, and the following year saw the release of Rockin Down the Highway. But the lineup had once again shifted by the turn of the new millennium. 2000 saw the band — Hossack, Johnston, Knudsen, McFee, and Simmons — issue Sibling Rivalry, which featured touring members Guy Allison on keyboards, Marc Russo on saxophone, and Skylark on bass.