The Doobie Brothers had two personalities, one pre-Michael McDonald, one post-Michael McDonald. The first incarnation was very much a rock band, almost a jam band, led by Tom Johnston’s vocals and songwriting, Patrick Simmons’ guitars, and the dual drums of John Hartman and Michael Hossack. Guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter joined the band in 1974, direct from his stint with Steely Dan, and he makes everything he does sound better. When vocalist/keyboardist Michael McDonald joined shortly after, the band found a different gear and became a little mellower, a little funkier, and little more yacht rocky.
Today’s classic song of the day comes from that first iteration of the band. The song is “Listen to the Music” and it’s a rock hard jam. Released as a single in July of 1972, “Listen to the Music” went to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the Cash Box Top 100.
“Listen to the Music” was written by Tom Johnston and included on the band’s second album, 1972’s Toulouse Street. That album also included the big hit “Jesus is Just Alright.”
The Doobies went on to have a total of ten top twenty hits, including “Long Train Runnin'” (1973), “China Grove” (1973), “Black Water” (1974), “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me)” (1975), and “Takin’ It to the Streets” (1976)—then, in the Michael McDonald era, “What a Fool Believes” (1979), “Minute By Minute” (1979), “Real Love” (1980), and “The Doctor” (1989). They had a number of other tracks that you probably remember but didn’t crack the top twenty.
The Doobie Brothers have gone through a multitude of personnel changes over the years, but are still out there touring today. The current touring group includes four members from the ’70s: Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and bassist John McFee. They’re accompanied by a quartet of backing musicians, all of whom have been playing with the band for a number of years now.
For today’s daily bonus video of the day, here’s a clip of the Doobie Brothers lip-synching “Listen to the Music” on the Dutch television program TopPop. I don’t have a date for this one, but it’s after Skunk Baxter joined the group, so probably 1974 or 1975.
