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| Art © IoF© Art Department Of Art Dept. |
Never as funky as the Feat, or as cool as the Dan, the Doobie Brothers album sleeves were nevertheless as much skinned-up on as anyone's back in the day. No matter what you think of the Michael MacDonald career gearshift (much admired by Lowell George), for that five album run up to '75 they never put a beat or a note out of place. And they benefitted from the mighty Warner Brothers attention to detail and quality control - great production and great sleeves that did the music justice.
Ted Templeman signed them up after hearing a 1970 demo album, which got bootleg release decades later as Introducing, On Our Way Up, Runaround Ways, Still Smokin', and Excitement, with all the attention to detail and quality control you'd expect from a bunch of Daves working out of their Mom's garage. It deserves an official release - it's a proper album, properly recorded, dammit. Only one of the songs ever got re-recorded, and they're all just swell. So for those who missed it, here it is again, with a title and cover [above - Ed.] that ain't shit.
If you ignore the cover (which I like a lot, in spite of it being wrong), the music is as carefully crafted and expertly played and sometimes just plain beautiful as you'd expect from a band who recorded the polished Be Who You Are as a demo. Templeman and Lenny Waronker's production mis-step, aiming to please the James Taylor and CSN crowd, is crystal clear, musical, and hasn't dated a day. The band would find its direction on their third album in '72, a major hit and most people's introduction to the Doobies, but working back to these sidelined albums is very, very rewarding. And something to do while we wait for the new Rain Parade album.
This post made possible thru an endowment from Dave's Mom.
To get yer palsied claws on these here waxings, simply choose the right answer to this here question!
ReplyDeleteDid the band think their name was:
a) Swell
b) Dumb
c) Funny
(clew: it's one of the above!)
b) Dumb
ReplyDeleteKee-rect!!!! Anyone else know the answer?
DeleteFunny c)
ReplyDeleteOh, bad luck there, contestant #2! (*reaches for trapdoor lever*)
DeleteRest in peace, John Hartman, Keith Knudsen, Michael Hossack, Dave Shogren and Chet McCracken.
ReplyDeleteI always thought they were named by Skippy Spence but now I read that they named themselves. So I'll vote for a) Swell.
ReplyDeleteAnd another wrong vote! (*FX trapdoor opening, fading cry into depths*)
DeleteI know this is a particularly difficult quiz today (only Babs has the right answer so far), so I'm leaving it open for a while to let all the 4/5g© try their luck!
ReplyDeleteStoopid????
ReplyDeleteNot ... exactly.
DeleteOh, wait, wait: StooPIT with a "t"?
DeleteI don't know the answer, but I do need to be edgeumicated in The Doobies as all I have is The Best Of The Doobie Brothers on vinyl.
ReplyDeleteHere's a clew - Babs got the answer right!
DeleteBabs??? Is dat de answer, like, innit??
DeleteOk, Babs got it right (as always), but I'll try None Of The Above---"Too Obvious".
DeleteMy favorite is Vices/Habits, but I'd love to hear the demo, too.
Echo, echo.
Deletesorry for the echo...no post showed up, so I thought it went to the cloud (wherever that is) or somewhere
DeleteIf your comment doesn't show immediately, it's because I'm outside somewhere and the comments are "moderated". It'll show shortly, Shirley!
DeleteCan I buy a vowel?
ReplyDeleteLess of the dissing "ugly fat guys", if you don't mind. Just who do you think are your readers? We need love, too.
ReplyDeleteYou must understand that the terms "ugly" and "fat" are used here in a non-proscriptive and non-judgemental sense. As is the word "guy". Every human varietal is welcome on th' IoF©, regardless of chromosomic content or bedroom proclivity. Even ugly fat guys.
DeleteThey're probably the best example of a band that got stuck with a dumb name they didn't like.
ReplyDeleteThey were still searching for a "permanent" name and only planned to play a few shows as the Doobie Brothers. But those shows went over so well that they were rapidly increasing their following, so they had to stick with it a little longer to keep growing their audience. Next thing you know, a little longer became 50 years.
(FT - in case you missed it, 30 minutes link is in the Benny thread)
ReplyDeleteI didn't. It'll be FoamFeatured© soon.
Deleted) all of the above?
ReplyDeleteB) Dumb (Maybe I'm the dumb one, answering anonymously so I can't get the music...)
ReplyDeleteSure
ReplyDeleteDUMB
Looked over Babs's shoulder.
The pre-MacDonald Doobs came up the other day when I was thinking about how the great WInnipeg Americana band The Bros. Landreth have melded Jackson Browne, Lyle Lovett, Little Feat, The Eagles, and and The pre-MM Doobies together in a contemporary folk-rock update of vintage Laurel Canyon sonics.
Joey Landreth is a great songwriter/slide guitarist/singer. Bonnie Raitt of course has noticed this too.
Lots of youtube goodies and a bandcamp site here:
https://thebroslandreth.bandcamp.com/
Ok, Babs got it right, but I'll try None of the Above: "Too Obvious". The Vices/Habits album is my fav, but Id love to hear the demo, too.
ReplyDeleteDude...
Deleteagain, sorry! (see above)
DeleteLo! And industry-standard linkage was manifested in order that the above musical delight may be partaken thereof, yea:
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/g4ejWMSC5We
Who remembers the episode of the TV series “What’s Happening!!” where cast member Rerun gets busted by the Doobie Brothers (who are actually guest stars on the show) for trying to record their concert?
ReplyDeleteHere’s two Doobie Bros. shows, recorded by people who did not get busted by the Brothers Doobie.
January 16, 1972, Pacific High Recorders, San Francisco, CA.
This was broadcast on KSAN-FM. This is the guitar based band I prefer, over the Michael McDonald era Doobies.
https://workupload.com/file/b3ynLb7S5y9
October 19, 2021, at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Irving, TX.
This was their 50th Anniversary money grab….I mean tour. I saw this tour at Radio City Music Hall.
https://workupload.com/file/btgCscMGSaQ
Doobie or not Doobie:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y33_vADN0k
CONTENT ADVISORY: The Doobies are going to be a continuing stooooory at th' IoF©. So don't waste your conceptually over-arching dissertations here - plenty of time to give Michael MacDonald a good kicking later, if that's your thing.
ReplyDeleteMichael McDonald ruined more than 1 perfectly good band in the 70's, I can't stand that guy.
ReplyDeleteHave you read my comment immediately above yours?
Deletemumbles - focus on taking controlled breaths.
DeleteYeah ... gee whiz ...
Delete