Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
It has been 55 glorious years of music from The Doobie Brothers. They formed in San Jose, California in 1970 and released their self-titled debut album in April 1971. Two #1 hits, five Top Ten hits, 16 studio albums, 6 live albums, a huge catalog of great music and millions of fans across the globe later and they remain one of the most beloved bands in the classic rock genre. They started as a quartet-including two guitarists, singers and songwriters Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons-along with bassist Dave Shogren and drummer John Hartman.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
During the recording of their second album-Toulouse Street, which was released July 1972-Shogren left and was replaced by Tiran Porter. A second drummer-Michael Hossack-was added to the line-up as well. By the time the band’s third album was released-The Captain and Me in March 1973-Keith Knudsen was added as a second drummer. What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits was released in March 1974 and six months later, pedal steel guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter became the sixth Doobie Brother. After the release of Stampede in April 1975, Johnston left the band for health reasons.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
His departure opened the door to the second phase of the band which started with their sixth studio album-Takin’ It to the Streets-released 50 years ago in March 1976. It was the first to feature keyboard player, singer & songwriter Michael McDonald. He wrote the title song & three other tracks while adding a blue eyed soul sound to the rock band and moving them away from guitar driven tracks.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
By the time 1978’s Minute By Minute album was released on December 1, 1978-and went on to be the #1 album in the country for five consecutive weeks beginning in April 1979-the band had their second #1 hit the same month for one week courtesy of the first single, a song written by McDonald and his friend, fellow musician & songwriter, Kenny Loggins. It also won two of the top Grammy Awards in 1980-Record Of The Year (for the band performance) & Song Of The Year (to the songwriters). The title track-which earned the band the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals in 1980-peaked at #14 in June 1979 while the third single-a McDonald/Simmons collaboration-reached #25 in October of the same year.
It was also this record that led to Baxter exiting the band for creative differences and his replacement was multi-instrumentalist John McFee. Hartman also left and was replaced by Chet McCracken. The band broke up three years later, with a farewell concert held in Berkeley in September 1982.
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Several members of the band joined forces in 2020 during the pandemic to release two updated “Live In Isolation” versions of their first #1 song, “Black Water”-complete with fan participation videos included in the performance-and “Listen To The Music“. That iconic tune was the final song of my Lockdown Countdown-Day 550-five years ago on September 17, 2021. That was the year four former members-Johnston, Simmons, McDonald and McFee-reunited for a tour to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band. They kept going after that with more tours and new music including their most recent album, Walk This Road, released in June 2025.
Most importantly to me, however, is that they hold the distinction as the very first concert I ever attended in my life at the Nassau Coliseum in Hempstead, NY. Being in the same arena as that incredible band & singing along to every song they played, is still indelible in my mind. The Doobie Brothers are one of the most definitive sounds in the soundrack of my life.
The Doobie Brothers circa 2025 (L-R): Michael McDonald (seated), John McFee, Tom Johnston (seated) and Patrick Simmons. (Image found on the band’s website. Original source unknown.)
Special shoutout to the TV series, “Star Trek” which premiered 60 years ago on September 8. 1966. No, I am not a Trekkie (although I did see several of the original episodes especially the ones featuring Captain Pike (“The Menagerie: Part I & II” (S1 E11 & 12) and “The Trouble with Tribbles” (S2 E15). But that series gave us William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk (1966-1969) and for that I am eternally thankful because that role eventually led to “Denny Crane” in “Boston Legal” (2004-2008), one of the MOST hilarious characters in television history. My world would have been woefully sad without him and nobody could have played that particular brand of lawyer in the genius way Shatner did.
Some other roles I loved him in over the years include Frank O’Hara, Juliette’s dad on “Psych” (2011-2012), the Ghost Of Christmas Present in “A Carol Christmas” (2003), the emcee in “Miss Congeniality” (2000) & the 2005 sequel (“Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous”), “T.J. Hooker” in the 1980’s, “Barbary Coast” for one season (1975-1976) and too many other shows & movies to name during his 75 year career. He turned 95 this year (born March 22. 1931) and recently completed a two year course of treatment for stage 4 metastatic melanoma (skin cancer) he was diagnosed with in June 2023.
I must add that he was in one of the most comical SNL shows ever which aired 40 years ago during S12 on December 20, 1986, even poking fun at his Star Trek character (during a fan convention show skit no less) and Oliver North.
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
(Image found online. Original source unknown.)
The Doobie Brothers: “Nobody” (1971, written by Tom Johnston).
The Doobie Brothers: “Listen To The Music” (1971, written by Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons).
The Doobie Brothers: “Black Water” (1974, written by Patrick Simmons).
The Doobie Brothers: “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)” (1975, written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland).
The Doobie Brothers: “Takin’ it to the Streets” (1976, written by Michael McDonald).
The Doobie Brothers: “It Keeps You Running” (1976, written by Michael McDonald).
The Doobie Brothers: “What A Fool Believes” (1978, written by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald).
The Doobie Brothers: “Minute By Minute” (1978, written by Lester Abrams and Michael McDonald).
The Doobie Brothers: “Dependin’ on You” (1978, written by Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons).
Theme from “Star Trek” (1966, written by Alexander Courage. Vocalization by Loulie Jean Norman).
Stay safe & well.
