It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness...wait, what? Scratch that. Sorry, I'm confusing Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities' with The Doobie Brothers, whom are a tale of two bands; the original Doobie Brothers and, of course, the "McDoobies".
When the band started making the rounds in their early California days,
they were befriended by The Hells Angels, and played every biker bar in The Golden State.
With their richly melodic and Southern-indebted sound, they won a fanbase right off the bat, and easy rock radio staples soon came rolling
out on a consistent and steady basis.
However, in the mid-70s lead singer
and frontman Tom Johnston had to step out, which lead to the recruitment
of Michael McDonald. McDonald would soon turn the band’s sound
completely, rendering the group more soulful and pop-friendly, but
losing a lot of their rock roots in the process. To say the band’s
legacy is divisive to this day even to hardcore fans is nothing short of
an understatement.
'The Warner Bros. Years 1971-1983' has every notable Doobie memory gathered in one place, and let’s face it: outside some fun reunion bits with the entire ensemble on stage in the late '80s and early '90s, the Doobie’s short-lived Capitol Records days are nothing much to write home about.
The set includes:
- The Doobie Brothers (1971)
- Toulouse Street (1972)
- The Captain And Me (1973)
- What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974)
- Stampede (1975)
- Takin’ It To The Streets (1976)
- Livin’ On The Fault Line (1977)
- Minute By Minute (1978)
- One Step Closer (1980)
- Farwell Tour (1983)
There will always be those that are nostalgic
for the mullet-driven rock of the group’s early days, and those
that enjoy the sleek radio candy that the McDoobies offer. Myself, I like the original Doobie Brothers slightly better than the "McDoobies".
While they weren’t perfect, they were one of the most consistently fun bands in rock music, and it's hard to have a bad time when listening to the
Doobies.
For the freeload, what's your favorite incarnation of a band that has gone through multiple personnel changes?
The Peter Green/Danny Kirwan version of Fleetwood Mac.
ReplyDeleteThe Fall is a group that has gone through so many personnel changes that an entire book was written about it.
ReplyDeleteFavorite incarnation: two drummers (Hanley and Burns), 1980-85.
The Charlie Parker All Stars with Miles Davis, John Lewis, Curley Russell and Max Roach.
ReplyDeleteThe Brian Jones era Stones, when they were amphetamine addled little snot-nosed little punks.
Miles Davis’ Second Great Quintet with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams and Wayne Shorter.
The Ron "Pigpen" McKernan era Grateful Dead.
Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers with Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton and Jymie Merritt.
The Paul McCartney era Beatles, before he died and was replaced with the look-alike/sound-alike named William Shears Campbell, a.k.a. Billy Shears.
The John Wetton, David Cross, Robert Fripp, and Bill Bruford era King Crimson.
Yeah, that line-up of Crimson were 'smokin'
DeleteJohn Mayall Blues Breakers with Peter Green
ReplyDeleteSavoy Brown with Bryce Porteous
Original Manfred Mann lineup ( Best British R&B/Blues Band)
Flamin Groovies with Roy Loney
Elvis and the Blue Moon Boys
Ronnie Wood is in Stones cause he looks like one not a lead guitar players hanky.
Quicksilver with John Cipollina, before Dino got out of jail and rejoined the band. Gary Duncan was good on guitar too but the Cipollina and later Nicky Hopkins stuff was great.
ReplyDeleteEdward the Mad Shirt Grinder
ReplyDeleteCanned Heat & Dr. Feelgood, by now no one left from the original group members...
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with the Fleetwood Mac, although I enjoyed the Bob Welch years. You got Dr Feelgood after Wilko. And the Dead I still like through the Keith & Donna years. Savoy Brown through the Chris Youlden years.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Flamin' Groovies did better with Roy Loney.
DeleteNot to mention Lynyrd Skynyrd or Journey.
ReplyDeleteBlack Sabbath was better with Ozzy.
ReplyDeleteJust two from me. The Sex Pistols. With Glen Matlock they were as good a punk band as there was. Without Glen Matlock and with Sid Vicious and they were a parody of themselves.
ReplyDeleteI also prefer circa 1966 Yardbirds with Beck & Page to the earlier version with Clapton.
agreed. Saw them in Leicester Sq Theatre (JSW TV Show) and Matlock & Cook sounded as solid as Entwistle & Moon.
DeleteWe all have Spunk, I'm guessing?
DeletePlease don’t judge me too harshly on this one.
ReplyDeleteWhitesnake ’78-’79, Jon Lord (from Deep Purple) had joined the band, they made two goodish albums, but live they were superb. By 1980 they got famous (infamous) Ian Paice (also from Deep Purple) had joined the band, every song contained a solo, and the magic was gone. Their lyrics were always ‘of it’s time’, but a song called Slide It In, “bye bye David”.
This is a judgement free zone. We dig what we dig...
DeleteAnother controversial one, the Patric Moraz album with Yes, 1974s Relayer, short lived line-up but one fine album.
ReplyDeleteABB with Duane and Berry, Fleetwood Mac but for the short period when Dave Walker was the lead vocalist, Weather Report with the line-up from their first lp.
ReplyDeleteMiles Davis era - Workin' - Steamin' - Cookin' - Relaxin' & then with a young Herbie Hancock.
ReplyDeleteWeather Report line up on Mysterious Traveller.
GOGD yes, Pigpen years.
Rory with McAvoy, Martin & de'Ath.
CSNY, not so much for just CSN.
James Gang with Joe Walsh.
Talking Heads original line up & Talking Heads during Eno period when Adrian Belew was in band.
Frank Zappa w/wo Mothers - the Ruth/George/Tom/Bruce/Chester & Ralph years - wow!
Steely Dan - original line up.
I'm sure there are lots more, but nothing comes to mind right now. Thanks Babs.
Jeff Beck era with Tal Wilkenfeld, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jason Rebello
DeleteI agree with mumbles on Zappa & Steely Dan, and I'll add the original Who.
DeleteNapoleon Murphy Brock should be in that Zappa line up, sorry I forgot him the first time.
DeleteLink 1
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/FNuCCLyumM3
Link 2
https://workupload.com/file/JT6476BAXpH
The original Yes with Pete Banks & Tony Kaye.
ReplyDeleteWhat was the question again?
ReplyDeleteKlaatu with John, Paul, George & Ringo.
ReplyDeleteC in California
hahahahahahaha
DeleteI already said so many times, but I'm unreasonably fond of the Buggles era Yes, the BugglYes.
ReplyDeleteI like "Jefferson Starship: The Next Generation" with Kantner, Creach, Cassady, Darby Gould, Tim Gorman, Slick Aguilar & Prairie Prince. Darby had a strong voice & was a bit more, um, reliable than Grace. "Shadowlands" is a personal favorite.
ReplyDeleteFleetwood Mac "Rumors" era. But to add a little spice here, and contrary to many die hard fans, I love the Genesis "Abacab" era.
ReplyDeleteSoft Machine's first lineup.
ReplyDeleteNow no originals left.
Bat