Doobie Brothers "Listen to the Music: The Very Best of the Doobie Brothers" 1972-1980(rec) 1993(comp)***

I thought of the Doobies yesterday while dancing at the Doors bar in Antiparos, the oldest and most rocking bar on the island. Music choices there alternate from classic rock to old-time-funk, and at some point ''Long Train Running'' started playing from the speakers, reminding me I have a relevant review in my drafts folder; of a compilation CD as it happens. I always start with a greatest hits album, when I want to get into a new group. If it grows on me, I'll buy the individual albums, starting with the most famous and working my way towards the less celebrated ones. This is what I did, for example, with Van Morrison, David Bowie, and Neil Young. Starting with compilations, I then got their essential classics, then the just good ones (20-something albums by each) and now I'm exploring the dark corners of their discography ("Trans" and "Never Let Me Down", your time has come). But it doesn't always work that way. Sometimes I just listen to a best-of and decide that it's enough. If one asks me whether I have anything by Doobie Brothers, I can just show him this CD. 

Re-listening to this one -maybe a decade after its original purchase- confirmed my initial reaction, which was that this was a blue eyed soul version of The Eagles. It's hard to find a fault with it, really. All the hits are here, and it's never anything less than pleasant. If anything, it's a bit too commercial. But what else can you expect from a Greatest Hits collection? Anyway, I'll tackle the songs chronologically like I usually do with compilations. Second album Toulouse Street (1972) is the first to be represented here, featuring the upbeat country pop "Listen to the Music", Creedence-like "Rockin' Down The Highway" and a funky version of a Christian song popularized by The Byrds "Jesus Is Just Alright". All feature excellent harmonies on the chorus, while the latter sports a slow and bluesy bridge with guitar and vocals reminiscent of Free. The two fantastic songs opening this compilation come from their next album The Captain and Me (1973). "Long Train Runnin'" is a Southern rocker with a great riff, catchy chorus, and cool harmonica break. It reminds me of the best 70's songs by the Steve Miller Band. A disco-fied remix closes the compilation. Usually I find dance mixes of rock hits to be abominations, but you know what? If I was still a DJ, this would be the version I'd play at a club. "China Grove" and "Without You" are a couple of Southern hard rockers penned by Tom Johnston and "South City Midnight Lady" an Eagles-like ballad by Patrick Simmons who wrote most of the slower numbers. What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974) is represented by only one song, country ballad "Black Water" with the fiddle giving it a nice cajun flavor. Stampede (1975) is likewise represented by only one song, soul cover "Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)". 1976's Takin' It to the Streets sees the arrival of  new member Michael McDonald who brought a more commercial soul/pop style with him ("Takin' It to the Streets", "It Keeps You Runnin'"). With the exception of soul cover "Little Darling (I Need You), the rest of the tracks here are written by him, in the same silky jazz/pop/soul style: "You Belong To Me" (from Livin' on the Fault Line, 1977), "Minute by Minute", "What a Fool Believes", "Here To Love You" (Minute by Minute, 1979) and "Real Love" (One Step Closer, 1980) have veered far from their Southern Rock beginnings into (then) contemporary R&B. They were pretty successful commercially, and pleasant-sounding enough, but any time I want to listen to smooth soul I'll go straight to the source: Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Stevie Wonder etc. So for me this CD has two distinct halves: the first, between 1972-1975 yields some country rock gems, while the second (1976-1980) is rather indifferent to my taste. I may yet be convinced to pick up one of their early albums. But what if the only good songs are the ones included in the compilation? I guess I should choose between seeking the full albums out on youtube or taking a risk with one of their records. I say, let's live dangerously...

***** for Long Train Runnin', Listen To The Music, Black Water

**** for China Grove, Jesus Is Just Alright, Without You, Long Train Runnin'(Remix)

*** for Takin' It To The Streets, Rockin' Down The Highway, Take Me In Your Arms, South City Midnight Lady, It Keeps You Runnin', Little Darling (I Need You), You Belong To Me, Minute By Minute, Real Love

** for Here To Love You, What A Fool Believes