The Doobie Brothers, The #59 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

(Continued from Part One above...)

Johnston had to be rushed to the hospital for a bleeding ulcer as the group was beginning a tour.  Baxter suggested a keyboardist who had played with him in Steely Dan, Michael McDonald.  With Johnston unable to perform, the other members of the group pitched in and split his vocal duties.  Thus began a new phase in the career of the Doobie Brothers.

 

While Johnston's time as primary singer and songwriter was characterized by guitars and Rock & Roll, McDonald's presence coincided with a shift to keyboard-oriented softer Rock.  This change in sound was immediately evident on the 1976 album Takin' It to the Streets.  The title song stalled at #13.

The single "It Keeps You Runnin" is another outstanding song, its #37 peak position notwithstanding.

The album was the Doobie Brothers fourth straight Top 10 album and another album to go over one million in sales.

The group released the compilation Best of the Doobies, which has gone of the 10-million mark in sales.

 

In 1977, the group released the album Livin' on the Fault Line, promoted by an appearance on the PBS weekly series Soundstage.  The single "Little Darling (I Need You)" was virtually ignored despite its quality.

The album became the group's seventh straight Gold release.  Johnston continued to help out occasionally in the studio and returned to performing briefly in 1976 before once again exiting the group from exhaustion.  He finally left the group and began a brief solo career.

  

In 1978, the Doobie Brothers recorded the best album of the career, Minute by Minute.  Kenny Loggins teamed with McDonald to write "What A Fool Believes", a #1 smash in both the U.S. and Canada and #10 in the Netherlands. It is one of The Top 500 Songs of the Rock Era!" 

  

The album rose to #1 and gave radio stations great material for nearly two years.  The title song was underrated at #14.

 

The album has sold over three million copies in the U.S. alone.  "Dependin' On You" is another fine song.

  

The song earned the Doobie Brothers a Grammy Award for Record of the Year, while the album scored another for Pop Vocal Performance by a Group and was nominated for Album of the Year. If you haven't heard this tasty instrumental, we will treat you to that just now.  

The title song also landed a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year, one of the few times in history that one artist was nominated twice in the same year for that category.  The group was also nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "South Bay Strut".  Nicolette Larson and Johnston each contributed vocals on the album.

But Baxter, a key part of the early sound of the group, resisted the band's new sound and left the Doobie Brothers, as did Hartman.  Drummer Chet McCracken and string player John Mc Fee (formerly with the band Clover with Huey Lewis) came into the fold.  Multi-instrumentalist Cornelius Bumpus also joined the group, which went on an extended tour to promote Minute by Minute.

 Bobby LaKind, who had been a member of the Doobie Brothers' lighting crew and had contributed congas on previous tracks, joined as a full-time member for the 1981 album One Step Closer.  "Real Love" reached #2 in Canada and #5 in the United States.

 

It was a seventh consecutive Top 10 album for the supergroup.  The title song stalled at #24.

The group released the compilation album Best of the Doobies Volume II, which was certified Gold.

The group lost another long-time member as Porter left, replaced by Willie Weeks for the tour.  After the tour, the final original member, Patrick Simmons, also resigned.  

With no original members remaining and a sound completely different than the group started out with, the Doobie Brothers broke up.  They were joined by Johnston, Simmons, Porter, Hossack and Hartman for a "Farewell Tour" in 1982.

By 1987, Knudsen was an integral part of the Vietnam Veterans Aid Foundation, and he recruited 11 former Doobie Brothers alumni to play in a concert for the cause.  Longtime fans responded in large numbers, and the one-off show became a 12-city tour.  A show at the Hollywood Bowl reportedly was the fastest sell-out there since the Beatles' famous performance in 1964.

 

The group decided to get back together with Johnston, Hartman, Hossack, LaKind, Porter and Simmons combining to release the album Cycles on Capitol Records in 1989.  The single "The Doctor" rose to #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart and 39 overall.

Cycles went Gold, and a successful tour spanned two years, with the group joined by Bumpus on the tour.  In 1991, the Doobie Brothers released the album Brotherhood, but this time, the magic wasn't there and a subsequent tour failed miserably.

Still, the group continued to perform in various combinations, co-headlining a 1994 tour with Foreigner.  In 1995, Michael McDonald reunited with the band for a tour with the Steve Miller Band.

In 1999, the box set Long Train Runnin' 1970-2000 was released by Rhino Records.  The group joined legendary Chicago on tour to help promote the compilation--the combination was compatible, as the two bands repeated the pairing in 2008, 2010 and 2012.  

In 2004, the Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

In 2009, the Doobie Brothers played at halftime of the Orange Bowl football game in Miami, Florida.  The following year, the group released the album World Gone Crazy, with longtime producer Ted Templeman overseeing the project.

The group continues to tour and make other public appearances.

The Doobie Brothers scored 21 career hits with seven Top 10 songs and one #1.

At one time, the Doobies enjoyed a streak of nine consecutive studio albums to go Gold or better.  The band earned two Grammy Awards out of four nominations.

The Doobie Brothers, The #59 Artist of the Rock Era, Part One

 "Will always be some of the best music ever recorded."

"These guys are so great."

"I love this band."

"One of the best groups of all-time."

"They are true legends."

"Classic Rock at its best."

"Brilliant music lasts forever."

"The Doobie Brothers were one awesome group that brought Rock and Soul together."

"Music of this quality is an emotional time machine."

"The Doobie Brothers are one of my favorite groups of all-time."



Another group from one of the Rock Era's greatest cities, the City by the Bay.  Two great periods featuring two distinct music styles combine to give us The #74 Artist!

When a reunion of the group Moby Grape fell through, Skip Spence of the group introduced drummer John Hartman to guitarist Tom Johnston.  Johnston and Hartman formed the group Pud and performed around the Bay Area.

In 1970, they attracted guitarist Patrick Simmons and bassist Dave Shogren, with the group now going by the name the Doobie Brothers.  The band played throughout Northern California, featured often at the Chateau Liberté in the mountains of Santa Cruz.  After recording a demo, the band landed a contract with Warner Brothers Records in 1971.

The Doobie Brothers released their self-titled album.  While touring, the group added another drummer, Michael Hossack. 

While working on their second album with new producer Ted Templeman, Shogren left, replaced by Tiran Porter, whom Simmons played with in the band Scratch.  Porter not only brought a funky bass, but his voice contributed to the group's three-part harmonies.

When finished, the album Toulouse Street represented the band's breakthrough that is to this day highly underrated.  Pianist Bill Payne of Little Feat played on the LP, something he would repeat for many years on Doobie Brothers albums. 

 

They scored their first, hit, although at #11 it is one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs of the Rock Era*--"Listen To The Music".

 "Jesus Is Just Alright" was a perfect song of the times and is another worthy song.

 Another track that received significant airplay was "Rockin' Down The Highway".

 

The title song is a Top Track* for all-time.

The group showed off its harmonies on this beautiful song--"White Sun".

We also want to feature another standout on this amazing album--"Mamalei".

  

In 1973, the group released the album The Captain and Me.   "Long Train Runnin' plowed up to #7 in the U.K. and #8 in the U.S. and Canada. 

 "Without You" is a favorite among Doobies fans and concert-goers. 

 Johnston gave us another great song on the album--"Natural Thing". 

 

This prime cut is not to be missed in any tribute to the group--"South City Midnight Lady".

 

While working on their next album, Hossack chose to leave the band, burned out on tours.  Keith Knudsen moved into the lineup, and the Doobies released the album What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits in 1974.   The Doobie Brothers' first single, "Another Park, Another Sunday", is yet another underrated song at #32.

 

The band scored a Top 10 album that has now sold over two million copies.  "Black Water" rose to #1 in the United States and #9 in Canada.

 

It was another Double Platinum album that reached #4.  The album also includes another amazing song, and perhaps Simmons' best songwriting effort.  Maria Muldaur lent guest vocals on "I Cheat The Hangman". 

 

We also want to feature this great cut: "Song To See Me Through". Meanwhile, Steely Dan had ceased to perform live, and lead guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who had already played on previous Doobie Brothers albums The Captain and Me and Vices, joined the group as a third lead guitarist.

Johnston's health, however, began to go downhill.  He began to miss performances, but helped the group finish the 1975 album Stampede.  Stampede also peaked at #4 on the Album chart and was certified Gold.

 Hidden on the album is this great rocker--"Neal's Fandango". 

There is much to this legendary group's story--be sure to catch Part Two!

Genesis, The #60 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Early Genesis can be found in Part One Above!)

 

The group followed with the album Abacab in 1983, which rose to #1 in the U.K. and gave them their first Top 10 album in the U.S. at #7.  The title song hit #8 in Norway and #9 in the U.K.

 

"No Reply At All" featured the Phenix Horns, the horn section from supergroup Earth, Wind & Fire.  But it seemed Canadians were the only ones with good ears, taking the song to #7.

 

"Man On The Corner" also got little attention but is a solid track.

 Genesis released the EP 3 X 3, which contained another great song, "Paperlate", ignored by music directors everywhere except England, where it reached #10.

The double live album Three Sides Live included material from Genesis' performances to promote Abacab.  It has been certified Gold.

In 1983, Genesis released their self-titled album, which made it three #1 albums in a row in the U.K.  It also hit #6 in the United States.  The song "Mama" landed in the Top 10 in several European countries, but success was contained there.

 "That's All" proved to be a much better song, going to #6 in the United States.

 "Taking It All Too Hard" received some airplay, but it too is underrated.

The group was nominated for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Instrumental Performance (for "Second Home By The Sea") at the Grammy Awards.

A tour of North America and five shows in Birmingham, England extended into 1984.  Afterwards, the Genesis members worked on their own projects, with Rutherford forming the successful group Mike + the Mechanics.  

 

In 1986, Genesis released the album of their career, Invisible Touch.  The title song rose to #1 in the U.S., #3 in Australia and #6 in Canada.

 

The single "Throwing It All Away" continued the strong momentum at #4.

 

"Land Of Confusion" was another smash--#4 in the United States, #7 in West Germany, #8 in Canada and Switzerland and #10 in Sweden.

Peter Fluck and Roger Law, creators of the British television show Spitting Image, made puppets of the members of Genesis for use in the video to "Land Of Confusion".  The landmark video won seven MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year, Best Concept Video and Viewer's Choice and a Grammy Award for Best Concept Music Video.

 

The single "In Too Deep" gave the group another big hit at #3.

The album continued the group's string of #1's in the U.K. and rose to #3 in the United States.  It has now sold over six million copies.  

 "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" also soared to #3.

Genesis became the first group in history to score five hit songs from an album.  Genesis was nominated for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "The Brazilian".  They also were nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group at the American Music Awards.

Genesis performed 112 dates on tour, the most successful of their career, wrapping it up with four sold out shows at Wembley Stadium in London.  Afterwards, Genesis went on a five-year hiatus, with Banks, Collins and Rutherford again working on solo albums.

 

In 1991, the group released the album We Can't Dance, another #1 album in the U.K. which peaked at #4 in the United States.  "No Son Of Mine" jumped to #1 in Canada, #4 in Norway, #6 in the U.K., #7 in Australia and #8 in Switzerland.  With a peak of #12 in the U.S., it's an easy choice for one of The Top Unknown/Underrated Songs*.

 

"Hold On My Heart" vaulted to #1 in Canada and was a big Adult Contemporary hit in the U.S. 

Genesis was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "I Can't Dance" at the Grammy Awards.  They won an American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band, Duo or Group and were nominated for Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist and Favorite Adult Contemporary Album.  The album has sold over four million copies.

In 1992, Genesis achieved another Gold live album with The Way We Walk, Vol. 1:  The Shorts, followed by the Gold album The Way We Walk, Vol. 2:  The Longs.

Genesis toured North America and Europe and then went on another break.  In 1996, Collins, who had been mixing solo projects with his work with Genesis, left the group.  Banks and Rutherford brought in Ray Wilson to record the album Calling All Stations in 1997.  But the album paled in comparison to past Genesis releases.

The group released the box set Genesis Archive 1967-75 and followed that up with the compilation albums Turn It On Again:  The Hits and another box set, Platinum Collection.

Collins reunited with Banks and Rutherford for a worldwide tour in 2007.  Genesis sold nearly 400,000 tickets in 40 minutes for shows in Germany and the Netherlands.  They played for the Live Earth concert in London and ended the European leg of the tour with a free concert at the historic Circus Maximus in Rome before an estimated 500,000 people.

Genesis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

The group has landed 20 career hits, seven of which made the Top 10, with one #1 song.

Genesis' worldwide sales are estimated between 100 and 150 million.  They have won three American Music Awards out of four nominations, one Grammy Award from six nominations and four MTV Video Music Awards.