Takin' It to the Streets

by The Doobie Brothers

Overview

The group's first album with Michael McDonald marked a shift to a more mellow and self-consciously soulful sound for the Doobies, not all that different from what happened to Steely Dan -- whence McDonald (and Jeff Baxter) had come -- between, say, Can't Buy a Thrill and Pretzel Logic. They showed an ability to expand on the lyricism of Patrick Simmons and Baxter's writing on "Wheels of Fortune," while the title track introduced McDonald's white funk sound cold to their output, successfully. Simmons' "8th Avenue Shuffle" vaguely recalled "Black Water," only with an urban theme and a more self-consciously soul sound (with extraordinarily beautiful choruses and a thick, rippling guitar break). "Rio" and "It Keeps You Runnin'" both manage to sound like Steely Dan tracks -- and that's a compliment -- while Tiran Porter's hauntingly beautiful "For Someone Special" was a pure soul classic right in the midst of all of these higher-energy pieces. Tom Johnston's "Turn It Loose" is a last look back to their earlier sound, while Simmons' "Carry Me Away" shows off the new interplay and sounds that were to carry the group into the 1980s, with gorgeous playing and singing all around. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	08/26/2008
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0081227991241
Rank:	38594

Tracks

1. Wheels of Fortune
2. Takin' It to the Streets
3. 8th Avenue Shuffle
4. Losin' End
5. Rio
6. For Someone Special
7. It Keeps You Runnin'
8. Turn It Loose
9. Carry Me Away

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Doobie Brothers   Primary Artist
The Memphis Horns   Guest Artist,Horn Section
Maria Muldaur   Guest Artist,Vocals
Michael McDonald   Synthesizer,Piano (Electric),Vocals (Background),Piano,Vocals,Clavinet,Keyboards,Lead Vocals
Tiran Porter   Bass,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Tom Johnston   Vocals,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Novi   Viola
Keith Knudsen   Drums,Vocals,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Bobby LaKind   Congas,Conductor
Jack Hale   Horn,Trombone
James Mitchell   Horn,Sax (Baritone)
John Hartman   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Wayne Jackson   Horn,Trumpet
Richie Hayward   Drums
Lewis Collins   Horn,Sax (Tenor)
Dave Shogren   Bass
Jeff Baxter   Guitar (Steel)
Novi Novog   Viola
Jessica Butler   Organ
Jesse Butler   Organ
Novi Novag   Viola
Patrick Simmons   Vocals,Lead Vocals,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Andrew Love   Horn,Sax (Tenor)
Ted Templeman   Percussion

Technical Credits

The Memphis Horns   Performer
Tiran Porter   Composer,Performer
Tom Johnston   Writer,Composer
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter   Writer
Keith Knudsen   Performer
Jack Hale   Performer
John Hartman   Writer,Composer,Performer
Wayne Jackson   Performer
Michael McDonald   Writer,Composer
Donn Landee   Engineer
Jeff Baxter   Composer,Performer
Dan Fong   Photography
Ed Thrasher   Art Direction
James J. Mitchell   Performer
Beth Naranjo   Production Coordination
Patrick Simmons   Writer,Composer,Performer
Andrew Love   Performer
Ted Templeman   Producer