It's September 28, 2010 and I think the "world has gone crazy" because today at your local retailer you will find a brand new Doobie Brothers CD. And by the way, it's called "World Gone Crazy." See what I did there?
It's been 40 years since the Doobie Brothers recorded their first album. What better way to celebrate than with a new CD and a remake of the first song from that CD "Nobody." This song deserved to be a hit in 1971 -- and although there's not much chance that it will be a hit today, it still sounds great. For the record, I have never heard an entire Doobie Brothers studio album. I only know the hits. (And there are many of those, including five in the top 10 and two #1's.)
So how was my first experience with an entire CD of new songs? The first word that comes to mind is… fun! This CD just makes you smile. All the classic elements that make Doobie Brothers music so memorable are on this CD. Original members Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons have written some great tunes and are keeping the Doobie Brothers flag waving as strong as ever. I mean how can you not like a song like "Chateau" with it's opening line… "Standin' on the back porch talkin' to your sister, the walls came down and hit me like a twister?" Personally I have no idea what that means, but man is it fun to sing when you're stuck in traffic. The rest of the band is rounded out by drummer Michael Hossack, who has been in and out of the band since 1972, and guitarist John McFee -- a member since 1980.
Also returning to the Doobie Brothers family, for the first time in 20 years, is veteran producer Ted Templeman (Van Halen, Van Morrison) the man who produced every Doobie Brothers hit from "Listen To The Music" to "What A Fool Believes" and then some. In my opinion bringing Templeman back was a major factor in making this album work. He just knows how this band should sound and this CD definitely sounds like the band that's been blasting out of classic rock radio stations since the 70's.
If you were a fan of the Michael McDonald era Doobies Brothers, then you will be happy to know that he does make an appearance here on the track "Don't Say Goodbye." This song sounds more like Steely Dan than the Doobie Brothers with Patrick Simmons doing his best Donald Fagen vocal and McDonald taking the background vocals. The song doesn't quite work for me but for nostalgia's sake I guess it's a nice olive branch that the rocking Doobies and the mellow Doobies could team up for at least one more song.
Make no mistake; this is not just the Doobie Brothers returning to their classic sound and resting on the ingredients that made them famous. The band spreads their musical wings on many tracks including the song "Old Juarez." From it's Latin beat percussion to it's Spanish guitar sound this is a track that would make Carlos Santana jealous.
In closing… I have never smoked a doobie, I do have a brother and I am thoroughly enjoying "World Gone Crazy."
Drumroll please… 7 out of 10 drumsticks!!
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