"High Adventure/Vox Humana" by KENNY LOGGINS – September 1982 and April 1985 US Studio Albums on Columbia Records featuring Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers, Steve Parry of Journey, David Sanborn, The Pointer Sisters, Tom Scott, David Foster, Phil Bailey, Steve Lukather, Steve Pocaro of Toto and many more (August 2014 UK Beat Goes On (BGO) Compilation – 2LPs onto 2CDs – Andrew Thompson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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LET'S GO CRAZY - 80ts Music On CD

Your All-Genres Guide To Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters

Classic Albums, Compilations, 45s

All In-Depth Reviews from the Discs Themselves

Over 1,650 e-Pages of Info

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"...We All Do The Best We Can..."

 

Part of the Rock-Soul-Folkie duo of LOGGINS and MESSINA (Jim Messina was ex Poco and Buffalo Springfield) – Kenny Loggins had already clocked up five studio albums and 2 live sets with the pairing between 1972 and 1977 - and along with it considerable chart success and record sales. His inevitable solo career began in earnest in April 1977 with "Celebrate Me Home" on Columbia Records and continued into his most productive and commercially viable decade – the Eighties.

 

And that’s where this brilliant little duo CD combo comes in – giving us his 5^th and 6^th solo albums from 1982 and 1985. The big hair and big productions break down as follows…

 

UK released 4 August 2014 – "High Adventure/Vox Humana" by KENNY LOGGINS on Beat Goes On BGOCD1160 (Barcode 5017261211606) is a BGO digital compilation that offers 2LPs Remastered onto 2CDs (no bonuses) and plays out as follows:

 

Disc 1 (41:32 minutes):

1. Don't Fight It [Side 1]

2. Heartlight 

3. I Gotta Try

4. Swear Your Love

5. The More We Try 

6. Heart To Heart [Side 2]

7. If It's Not What You're Looking For 

8. It Must Be Imagination

9. Only A Miracle 

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "High Adventure" - released September 1982 in the USA on Columbia Records TC 38127 and CBS Records 85932 in the UK (peaked at No. 13 on the US album charts).

 

Disc 2 (43:56 minutes):

1. Vox Humana [Side 1]

2. No Lookin' Back 

3. Let There Be Love

4. I'll Be There

5. I'm Gonna Do It Right 

6. Forever

7. At Last 

8. Loraine

9. Love Will Follow

Tracks 1 to 9 are the album "Vox Humana" – released April 1985 in the USA on Columbia FC 39174 and CBS 26221 in the UK. 'Vox Humana' is the Latin for Human Voice – the album peaked at 41 on the US album charts (didn't chart UK).

 

The substantial 24-page booklet features all lyrics and track-by-track annotation (with Loggins own notes) and a detailed summary by noted writer NEIL DANIELS. The outer card wrap – now generic with all BGO CD reissues – gives the whole shebang a classy feel too. But the big news is that Bernie Grundman's stunning original Production values have been brought to the fore by a superb 2014 ANDREW THOMPSON remaster. These CDs sound huge and in a good way.

 

In the late Seventies and into the Eighties – I was like many – obsessed with all things MICHAEL McDONALD. I hunted down his many contributions on other people's albums – Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Bonnie Raitt, Stephen Bishop, Donna Summer – you name it – I had to have it. Loving the "Minute By Minute" album by The Doobie Brothers to distraction in 1978 – I more than noticed the name KENNY LOGGINS turning up on songs – especially his co-write with McDonald on the fabulous Grammy-winning "What A Fool Believes". That connection again features strongly on the "High Adventure" platter where McDonald co-writes and plays keyboards on three (no silken vocals unfortunately) - "I Gotta Try", "Heart To Heart" and "Only A Miracle".

 

Co-Produced with BRUCE BOTNIK (of THE DOORS fame) – the 9-track "High Adventure" LP also featured a co-write with Journey's STEVE PARRY on "Don't Fight It" itself benefiting heavily from the zippy guitar of NEIL GUIRALDO (Pat Benatar's better half). It was a chart hit – peaking at 17 in the USA in September 1982. Production genius and ex Skylark Keyboardist DAVID FOSTER contributed to "If It's Not What You're Looking For" - while TOM SNOW who did beautiful songs for Randy Crawford like "You Bring The Sun Out" on her lovely May 1981 album "Secret Combination" for Warner Brothers co-wrote the equally pretty "It Must Be Imagination". His long-time session associate MIKE HAMILTON also plays tasty guitar throughout.

 

With the mega soundtrack "Footloose" taking up most of 1984 – Loggins returned with the 9-track "Vox Humana" in 1985, again featuring large amounts of co-writes with heavy-hitters like DEAN PITCHFORD, TOM SNOW, NATHAN EAST, DAVID SANFORD and his wife EIN LOGGINS. The album also featured the usual plethora of classy session players – MICHAEL LANDAU and BUZZY FEITON on Guitars, STEVE POCARO of Toto on Synths, MICHAEL OMARTION on Keyboards, DAVID SANBORN on Saxophone and NEIL LARSEN with GREG PHILLINGANES also on Keyboards. 

 

"I'm Gonna Do It Right" benefits from the backing vocals of THE POINTER SISTERS, STEVE LUKATHER's Guitar solo on "Forever" is typically brill and economical, PHIL BAILEY's backing vocals on "At Last" are cool and DAVID FOSTER provided choppy keys on "Lorraine" and "I'll Be There". Michael McDonald would name his second solo LP after Track 2 "No Lookin' Back" - a co-write between him, American Vocalist and Keyboard Player ED SANFORD and Kenny Loggins. 

 

Both discs are all so Eighties I know – terrible jackets and equally awful trousers. But as always with KL, the melodies in stuff like "Heart To Heart" and "The More We Try" are still there. Fans need this BGO twofer and it's another winner from England's Beat Goes On who champion the neglected side of reissues so well...

"Katy Lied" by STEELY DAN (1999 MCA 'Walter Becker and Donald Fagen' CD Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...It's Chain Lighting...And It Feels So Good..." 

I suppose its fitting to be reviewing this most American of Rock Bands on 'Independence Day' the 4th of July - a mere 41 years and 3 months after the LP's release. But then any excuse for me to rave about STEELY DAN is fair game.

The 1972 debut album "Can't Buy A Thrill" and 1977's glorious "Aja" are always cited as high points in their extraordinary career - but what about those 'overlooked' nuggets like 1973's masterful "Countdown To Ecstasy" and this -1975's "Katy Lied". 

Re-listening to it in July 2016 and you're struck by the sheer class of every song (and not just a few) - let alone just how beautiful the Remastered CD has turned out. No 'Bad Sneakers' here. Let's get to the chain lightning and the daddy who doesn’t live in New York City anymore...

UK released 28 June 1999 (11 May 1999 in the USA) - "Katy Lied" by STEELY DAN on MCA 111 916-2 (Barcode 008811191627) is a straightforward CD Remaster of the 10-track 1975 ABC Records LP and plays out as follows (35:25 minutes):

1. Black Friday

2. Bad Sneakers

3. Rose Darling

4. Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More

5. Doctor Wu

6. Everyone's Gone To The Movies [Side 2]

7. Your Gold Teeth II

8. Chain Lightning

9. Any World (That I'm Welcome To)

10. Throw Back The Little Ones

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 4th studio album "Katy Lied" - released April 1975 in the USA on ABC Records ABCD-846 and in the UK on ABC Records ABCL 5094. Produced by GARY KATZ, Engineered by ROGER NICHOLS with all songs written by DONALD FAGEN and WALTER BECKER - it peaked at No. 13 in both the US and UK LP charts.

Personnel:

DONALD FAGEN - Lead and Backing Vocals and Various Keyboards

WALTER BECKER - Bass

DENNY DIAS, WALTER BECKER, RICK DERRINGER, DEAN PARKS, ELLIOT RANDALL HUGH McCRACKEN and LARRY CARLTON - Guitars

DAVID PAICH (of Toto) and MICHAEL OMARTIAN - Keyboards

PHIL WOODS - Alto Saxophone Solo on "Doctor Wu"

WILTON FELDER and CHUCK RAINEY - Bass

JEFF PORCARO (of Toto) - Drums and Dorophone

HAL BLAINE - Drums on "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)”

VICTOR FELDMAN - Percussion and Vibes

MICHAEL McDONALD - Backing Vocals on "Bad Sneakers" and "Everyone's Gone To The Movies"

SHERLIE MATTHEWS, CAROLYN WILLIS and MYRNA MATTHEWS - Backing Vocals

JIMMIE HASKELL – Arranged the Horns on "Throw Back The Little Ones"

The 12-page foldout inlay (with the Dorothy White 'Preying Mantis' photo artwork) provides the recording info that was on the back cover of the original vinyl album along with the lyrics that graced the inner sleeve. But the real hoot is the very, very funny liner notes by Becker and Fagan that reminisce in their own sarcastic but articulate way about the making of the album, the "Pretzel Logic" tour they'd just left (broke and tired) and the dissolution of Steely Dan as a band - now reduced to only Becker, Fagan and Diaz from the group who would then bring in a huge array of top quality sessionmen for the rest of their albums. 

They made smart decisions too. I can remember looking at the black and white photos on the rear sleeve and thinking who are 'Michael McDonald' and 'Jeff Porcaro' - and that's what those Gary Katz (Producer) and "The Immortal" Roger Nichols (Engineer) geezers look like. McDonald hadn’t joined The Doobie Brothers yet to produce their changeover album "Takin' It To The Streets" in 1976 - but how clued-in of Becker and Fagen to know what his vocal brilliance would bring to everything he graced (he's on "The Royal Scam", "Aja" and "Gaucho" too). 

The AUDIO on this Becker/Fagen CD Remaster is fabulous - subtle yet powerful - every track sparkling like a newly discovered diamond. In fact this may be the best of all the 70ts LPs in terms of Audiophile. 

“Katy Lied” opens with the truly fantastic guitar-blitz of "Black Friday" - a vicious little chugger. It doesn't say who is ripping out those angry guitar solos (the liner notes didn't say either) but it sounds like Rick Derringer who tore up the slide on "Show Biz Kids" on 1973's "Countdown To Ecstasy". There's also a keyboard funky break towards the end of the song that I swear I've never heard before. Although the musician credits don't say so - I 'd swear that's Michael McDonald on the 'going insane' backing vocals for the wicked "Bad Sneakers" - and is that Elliot Randall doing the sweet guitar solo. I should mention the remaster on this track - I've the Japan SHM-CD version and this 1999 version - they both absolute rock as regards to audiophile audio. "...I would guess she's in Detroit with lots of money in the bank...although I could be wrong..." Donald Fagen advises us on the shockingly upbeat piano-bop of "Rose Darling" - and once again here in glorious audio. The last two contrasting tracks on Side 1 only confirm the album's brilliance - the slick Guitar-Funk of "Daddy Don't Live In That New York City No More" and the beautifully constructed yet melodious "Doctor Wu" - those beautiful keyboards changes as he sings "...Katy tried...I was halfway crucified...I was on the other side of no tomorrow..."

For such pervy subject matter (Mr. LaPage in his film den with his projection machine) - "Everyone's Gone To The Movies" is a happy vibe with that great catchy-as-a-cold chorus. As a song title "Your Gold Teeth" first turned up two albums back on 1973's "Countdown To Ecstasy" - here we get "Your Gold Teeth II" which opens with Crusaders-type keyboard Jazz-Funk before settling into that cool piano riff. It's properly gorgeous stuff - so accomplished as a song and again the audio makes it glisten. "...Don't question the little man...be part of the neighbourhood...yes it's chain lightning...it feels so good..." - the voices croon on the Funky "Chain Lightning" - a song that convinces many Dance Kids that Steely Dan the Rock Band had Soul in their grooves. "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)" is the quiet one on the record - Fagan's impassioned lead, a brilliant melody, hurting yet real lyrics, guitar solos and the warmth of Michael McDonald's backing vocals - all of it combine to create that effortless classiness they had. Their 4th LP ends on "Throw Back The Little Ones" - another song that takes many listens - but once it's in your noggin - it counts as another audio winner.

How many of us fans devoured the liner notes on the back cover - going on about '36-input this' and '24-channel that'. And then wondered what in God's name Walter Becker and Donald Fagen were rabbiting on about with techno gobbledygook like "...for best results observe the R.I.A.A. curve..." Why sure thing boys (you deadpan perfectionist nutjobs). 
I suppose this is what you get when you name your band after a steam-powered dildo in a William Rice Burroughs book – out there, steaming ahead and always up for it.

They would 'get along to Kid Charlemagne' for the next LP (1976's "The Royal Scam"). 

But my heart has always been with this 'Rose Darling' of an LP. 

"Katy Lied" is absolute freaking genius and then some...

"The Dukes Of September – Live At Lincoln Centre" on BLU RAY – A Review by Mark Barry Of The 2012 Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen and Boz Scaggs In Concert Release

"…Hey Nineteen…" 

The Dukes Of September Live At Lincoln Centre on BLU RAY

Looking perhaps a bit more portly around the old midriff than one would like – our three ageing heroes take centre stage after the band has warmed up the crowd with a funky James Brown instrumental. And were off…

Filmed November 2012 in Hi Def and from multiple angles (UK released March 2014) – “The Dukes Of September” looks glorious - with the Lincoln Centre surely being one of the most beautiful venues in the world (and ideally sized too). You also begin to notice as the camera pans around the stunning band that the paint on the bass guitar is knackered, the sax is a bit rusted around the gills and the keyboards ‘White Lightning’ McDonald uses has been teleported from 1976 to 2012. In other words – these are real instruments played by real musicians - and it feels like your very own “Aja” band 'live' – a complaint I’ll gladly put up with any day of the week.

First up is a truly classy cover of The Isley Brothers “Who’s That Lady” with Boz Scaggs taking lead vocals and long-time Steely Dan guitarist Jon Herington putting in blistering axework. In fact he becomes one of the heroes of the night – playing all those Jay Graydon, Larry Carlton and Elliott Randall solos we’ve known and loved all these years – not just note for note – but with an added fluidity – like he in fact played them in the first place.

The first real clunker for me is an ill-advised cover of Sam and Dave’s “Sweet Soul Music” (more cod Blues Brothers than a tribute to a classic) and a slightly underwhelming “I Keep Forgettin” also follows. But things explode when Donald Fagen goes into the funky keyboard opening of “Kid Charlemange” from 1976’s “The Royal Scam” - and you can literally hear the entire audience thinking two words – STEELY DAN! The place erupts – because they’ve waited a lifetime to hear this – the real deal – live and in your living room.

It’s followed by a fabulous bluesy cover of “The Same Thing” - a Muddy Waters Chess nugget from 1964 written by the mighty Willie Dixon. It’s followed by another genius choice – Chuck Berry’s infectious “You Never Can Tell” with McDonald playing an Accordion out front to superb effect (uses it instead of a piano for the solo giving the song a slight Cajun feel).

But after crowd-pleasing versions of “What A Fool Believes”, “Hey Nineteen” and a suave take on Teddy Pendergrass’ “Love TKO” – they hit the audience with a lethal triple whammy that slays them in the aisles. We get “Peg” (Fagen on Vocals), “Lowdown” (Scaggs on Vocals) and “Takin’ It To The Streets” (McDonald On Vocals) in a row. To hear Michael McDonald harmonize with Donald Fagen on “Peg” as he did on the 1977 “Aja” original is magical – then Boz gets fabulous and funky with “Lowdown” (people up dancing at this stage) – then a Soulful keyboard solo before McDonald goes into that “Takin’ It To The Streets” opening - and I’m bawling my eyes out like a big girl’s blouse. And as if that isn’t bad enough – Jon Herington then launches into the blistering guitar of Steely Dan’s “Reelin’ In The Years” – and resistance is quite literally futile.

There’s also a couple of tasty surprises thrown in: Fagen in the encore doing a fabulously slinky version of “Pretzel Logic” with Boz Scaggs taking the second verse - while midway through the set Scaggs does his own “Miss Sun” – a gorgeous yet forgotten gem from 1980. Boz cleverly duets the lovely melody with Monet Owens (one of the sassy backing vocalists) – she scatting vocals off his guitar licks towards the end. It’s brilliant and more than a pleasant addition. And the band are just brilliant – all of them.

I’m 56 this year and would have given a small gonad to have seen and felt this dream band for real. The music still feels fresh to me – like it was yesterday. But in lieu - this fab BLU RAY will have to do.

And as the camera pans across the senior citizen crowd – like me - you can see that its way past their bedtime. But man – what dreams to savour…

“I have never met Napoleon…but I plan to find the time…yes I do…”

I know what you mean mate.

Set List:

1.         People Get Up And Dance Your Funky Stuff – James Brown cover

2.         Who’s That Lady – Isley Brothers cover

3.         Sweet Soul Music – Sam And Dave cover

4.         I Keep Forgettin’ – Michael McDonald song

5.         Kid Charlemagne – Steely Dan song

6.         The Same Thing – Muddy Waters cover (Willie Dixon song)

7.         Miss Sun – Boz Scaggs song (sings duet with Monet Owens)

8.         You Never Can Tell – Chuck Berry cover

9.         What A Fool Believes – Doobie Brothers song

10.       Hey Nineteen – Steely Dan song

11.       Love TKO – Teddy Pendergrass cover

12.       Peg – Steely Dan song

13.       Lowdown – Boz Scaggs song

14.       Takin’ It To The Streets – Doobie Brothers song

15.       Reelin’ In The Years – Steely Dan song

16.       Lido Shuffle – Boz Scaggs song

17.       Pretzel Logic – Steely Dan song

18.       Them Changes – Buddy Miles cover

19.       People Get Up And Dance Your Funky Stuff/Credits – The Band

THE GROUP

Michael McDonald – Electric Keyboards, Accordion and Vocals

Donald Fagen – Steinway Piano, Vocals

Boz Scaggs – Guitar and Vocals

Jon Herington – Lead Guitar

Michael Leonheart – Trumpet

Walt Weiskopt – Tenor Sax and Flute

Jay Collins – Baritone Sax and Flute

Freddie Washington – Bass

Shannon Forest – Drums

Carolyn Leonheart and Monet Lewis – Backing Vocals

AUDIO SET UP:

Dolby Digital Stereo

Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround

Dolby DTS Master Audio

"Livin' On The Fault Line/Minute By Minute" by THE DOOBIE BROTHERS - 1977 and 1978 Albums on Warner Brothers (September 2011 UK Edsel/Rhino Compilation - 2LPs with Rhino Remasters onto 2CDs with Two Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 339 Others Is Available In My

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PROVE IT ALL NIGHT 

Music Of 1977 to 1979 

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

Thousands of E-Pages - All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs

Just Click Below To Purchase (No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"…No More Loneliness…No More Emptiness..." 

Two fantastic albums from the Michael McDonald years with The Doobie Brothers – beautifully musical and beautifully produced – 1977's overlooked "Livin' On A Fault Line" and the award-winning goliath that was 1978's "Minute By Minute". Both albums are chockfull of musical goodies and Soul-Rock moments. Here are the 'Echoes Of Love'...

UK released Monday 26 September 2011 (4 Oct 2011 in the USA) – "Livin' On A Fault Line/Minute By Minute" by THE DOOBIE BROTHERS on Edsel/Rhino EDSD 2107 (Barcode 740155210731) offers two albums onto 2CDs (with two Bonus Tracks) and breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (35:12 minutes):

1. You're Made That Way [Side 1]

2. Echoes Of Love

3. Little Darlin' (I Need You)

4. You Belong To Me

5. Livin' On The Fault Line

6. Nothing But A Heartache [Side 2]

7. Chinatown

8. There's A Light

9. Need A Lady

10. Larry The Logger Two-Step

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 7th studio album "Livin' On The Fault Line" (and 2nd with Michael McDonald in the line-up). It was released September 1977 on Warner Brothers K 56383 in the UK - Warner Brothers BS 3045 in the USA

Disc 2 (45:52 minutes):

1. Here To Love You [Side 2]

2. What A Fool Believes

3. Minute By Minute

4. Dependin' On You

5. Don't Stop To Watch The Wheels

6. Open Your Eyes [Side 2]

7. Sweet Feelin'

8. Steamer Lane Breakdown

9. You Never Change

10. How Do The Fools Survive?

Tracks 1 to 10 are their 8th studio album "Minute By Minute" – a Number 1 record in the USA and a Grammy Winner in several categories. It was released December 1978 on Warner Brothers K 56486 in the UK - Warner Brothers BS 3193 in the USA 

BONUS TRACKS:

11. Here To Love You (Single Remix)

12. What A Fool Believes (12" Remix)

The booklet is a great deal more substantial than what’s gone before – 24-pages of original album artwork (including inner sleeves), UK and European labels pictured, the lyrics, musician credits and an informative 6-page history by ALAN ROBINSON on both albums and their impact. It’s superbly done. But the really big news is the fabulous new SOUND...

I've had all 10 of the 2006 Japanese Remasters (in 5" card repro sleeves) to have the music - but here the PHIL KINRADE remaster at ALCHEMY in London is stunning and far better. The clarity is amazing. It helps of course that the original production on each album by Ted Templeman was so razor sharp in the first place (he's long been associated with the band and more famously with Van Halen).

Music - when the Doobies made their tentative steps into change with "Takin' It To The Streets" in 1976 – the old Tom Johnston riffage crowd were appalled (some even riled against the new hybrid Soul/Rock sound with derogatory tee-shirts telling the band where to get off). But by the time the new line-up got to 1977 and their second album with Michael McDonald as lead vocalist (Johnston was gone by then) – the transition was complete and a different chapter truly begun.

While its Number 1 follow-up "Minute By Minute" always gets the lion's share of critical plaudits (and rightly so) - I've always felt that "Livin' On The Fault Line" is a bit of a lost gem frankly – a genuinely classy Rock album with a Soulful heart. It also began the great complimentary template that made "Minute by Minute" such a satisfying listen 'overall' – Michael McDonald melodies sitting sweetly alongside Patrick Simmons and Tiran Porter songs with a bit of Keith Knudsen and Jeff Baxter thrown in for good measure too.

Once again Produced by TED TEMPLEMAN and featuring string and horn arrangements by David Paich of TOTO - "Livin' On The Fault Line” opens with the gorgeous melody of "You're Made That Way" – a song co-written by McDonald with their Drummer Keith Knudsen and one-time Steely Dan guitarist Jeff Baxter. That's followed by the chipper synth-bopper "Echoes Of Love" where band founder member and Lead Guitarist Tom Johnston takes the main vocals – then matches perfectly with McDonald on the choruses. The lovely "You Belong To Me" is one of 3 McDonald songs (this one co-written with Carly Simon) – "Nothin' But A Heartache" and the beautifully mellow "There's A Light" are the other two (Norton Buffalo plays Harmonica on "There’s A Light"). There are fantastically slick-rhythms coming at you in Side 2's "Chinatown" – a Patrick Simmons song that has gorgeous musical breaks and moments. They even have a successful go at Holland-Dozier-Holland's Marvin Gaye hit on "Little Darlin' (I Love You)" – an association with 'Motown' McDonald would turn into two cover-version albums in 2003 and 2004 called (not surprisingly) "Motown" and "Motown Two". The jazzy Patrick Simmons title track "Livin' On The Fault Line" features the Vibes of Steely Dan sessionman Victor Feldman in a very "Aja" kind-of-way and sounds incredible. The LP ends with an acoustic instrumental called "Larry The Logger Two-Step" in crystal clear audio.

Then comes the "Rumours" of 1978 – "Minute By Minute". Even now the opening Michael McDonald track "Here To Love You" sends chills up my arms – fantastically musical. The Grammy-winning "What A Fool Believes" (a co-write with Kenny Loggins) sounds huge and "Dependin' On You" is a brilliant hybrid of the old sound meeting the new. It's an album that still stands up and is an embarrassment of riches really. The 7" remix of "Here To Love You" (tagged on a bonus track) was originally on the "Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000" 4CD Box Set by Rhino in 1999 - while the 12" Remix of "What A Fool Believes" is a travesty best left alone.

There’s no sign in this reissue campaign of 1980s "One Step Closer" (their last studio album before disbanding) or the 1983 live double "Farewell Tour" which had the exclusive "Olana" on it – maybe at a later date.

So there you have it. Doobie Brothers fans have waited decades to see their band’s back catalogue on Warner Brothers be given the right reissue treatment - and England's Edsel label (who have struck a licensing deal with WEA) has done them proud.

To sum up - great music that transitions from Rock to Soulful-Rock, superb remaster audio quality, really good presentation and a dirt-cheap price into the bargain. The Doobie Brothers have always been an Ace Band and the overall quality of their albums from the 70ts still stands up big time. I’d say buy the whole damn lot frankly...

PS: there are 4 releases in this series to date (all with bonus tracks):

1. The Doobie Brothers (1971) / Toulouse Street (1972) on Edsel EDSD 2105

2. The Captain And Me (1973) / What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974) on Edsel EDSD 2015

3. Stampede (1975) / Takin' It To The Streets (1976) on Edsel EDSD 2016

4. Livin' On The Fault Line (1977) / Minute By Minute (1978) on Edsel EDSD 2107

"Stampede/Takin' It To The Streets" by THE DOOBIE BROTHERS - 1975 and 1976 Albums (September 2011 UK Edsel/Rhino Compilation - 2LPs with Rhino Remasters onto 2CDs plus Bonus Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With 145 Others Is Available In My

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

MORE THAN A FEELING 

1976

Your All-Genres Guide To 

Exceptional CD Reissues & Remasters

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"…You Don't Know Me…But I'm Your Brother…"

Now here's a two-bands doozy - the first "Stampede" from 1975 being the last with Lead Guitarist Tom Johnston at the helm - the second with newcomer and ex Steely Dan super-singer Michael McDonald adding a Soul-Rock direction for 1976's "Takin' It To The Streets". There is so much to love in these underrated albums that offer The Doobie Brothers in transition. To the wide-open plains and dirty streets... 

UK released Monday 26 September 2011 as a 2CD set (4 Oct 2011 in the USA) - "Stampede/Takin' It To The Streets" by THE DOOBIE BROTHERS on Edsel/Rhino EDSD 2106 (Barcode 740155210632) is a Compilation that offers Two Studio Albums Remastered onto Two CDs Plus Bonus Tracks (Rhino Remasters). It breaks down as follows...

Disc 1 (57:48 minutes):
1. Sweet Maxine [Side 1]
2. Neal's Fandango
3. Texas Lullaby
4. Music Man
5. Slat Key Soquel Rag
6. Take Me In Your Arms [Side 2]
7. I Cheat The Hangman
8. Precis
9. Rainy Day Crossroad Blues
10. I Been Workin' On You
11. Double Dealin' Four Flusher
Tracks 1 to 11 are their 5th studio album "Stampede" - released May 1975 on Warner Brothers K 56094 in the UK - Warner Brothers BS 2835 in the USA

BONUS TRACKS: 

12. Sweet Maxine [single remix]
13. Mambo Waltz
14. Outside Of Barstow
15. Argentine Grape (Sweet Maxine)
16. Shuffle (Double Dealin' Four Flusher)
Tracks 12 to 16 are all are taken from the 4CD Box Set "Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000" released on Rhino in September 1999 in the USA. All were new to CD at the time with 12 being the 'Single Remix' of "Sweet Maxine" and 13 to 16 being Previously Unreleased album 'Outtakes'

Disc 2 (45:40 minutes):
1. Wheels Of Fortune [Side 1]
2. Takin' It To The Streets
3. 8th Avenue Shuffle
4. Losin' End
5. Rio [Side 2]
6. For Someone Special
7. It Keeps You Runnin'
8. Turn It Loose
9. Carry Me Away

BONUS TRACKS:

10. Takin' It To The Streets [Demo]
11. We Would Sail Away (Saint Paul)

Tracks 1 to 9 are their 6th studio album "Takin' It To The Streets" - released March 1976 on Warner Brothers K 56196 in the UK - Warner Brothers BS 2899 in the USA
Tracks 10 and 11 are bonus tracks - both as per 12 to 16 on Disc 1

The 24-page booklet is far more substantial than I had expected - original album artwork including inner gatefolds is shown for both LPs, the lyrics, musician credits, UK LP labels pictured and an informative history on each album by ALAN ROBINSON. The booklet is superbly done. But the big news is the fabulous new SOUND...

I've had all 10 of the 2006 Japanese Remasters (in 5" card repro sleeves) to have the music - but here the remaster by PHIL KINRADE at ALCHEMY in London is stunning and far better. The clarity is amazing. It helps of course that the original production by Ted Templeman was so razor sharp (he's long been associated with the band and more famously with Van Halen).

Some tracks are shockingly better - that great guitar solo in "Neal's Fandango" rocks as does the cover of the Holland-Dozier-Holland Motown classic "Take Me In Your Arms..." One of my favourite 'in-between-tracks' instrumentals (in the entire Doobies catalogue) is "Slat Key Soquel Rag" which only runs to 1:52 minutes. Here it's absolutely transformed - beautifully produced in the first place, it now has gorgeous clarity - fans will flip for this. Another winner (albeit not quite as successful as the liner notes claim) is the 6:36 minutes of "I Cheat The Hangman" which sounds like The Eagles most uncharacteristic song "Journey Of The Sorcerer" which ends Side 2 of the "One Of These Nights" album (also from 1975). The Eagles stretched out instrumentally and with spectacular results - here The Doobies try the same - about 4 minutes into it - the song goes off into swirling vocals, Nick DeCaro arranged strings and Carl Himmie on trumpet fills. It sounds amazing.

"Music Man" features Soul Legend CURTIS MAYFIELD who contributes Strings and Horns that virtually 'make' the uptempo song. Another fan favourite is Tom Johnston's acoustic "Rainy Day Crossroad Blues" - it now sounds fabulous with slide nylon and steel guitar strings rattling around your music room. Although I always found both the album finishers "I Been Workin' On You" and "Double Dealin' Four Flusher" fairly plodding Seventies Rock - if they have admirers out there - then their gonna love the boogie clarity here.

The introduction of Michael McDonald to the band changed everything - and very much for the better in my opinion. Their 1976 transition album is a soulful rock record. "Losin' End" is fabulous and "Wheels Of Fortune" still retains that Tom Johnston's magic, but my heart lies with an obscurity. I've waited 30 years to hear "For Someone Special" in really great sound - and at last it's here. Because it's a Tiran Porter song (the Bass player) and doesn't feature either Johnston or McDonald on Lead Vocals (Porter handles it himself) - it sort of sounds like a slinky Steely Dan song you've missed. Every instrument is clearer - the Bass and Drums - and suddenly there's the lovely lead of Wayne Jackson from The Memphis Horns. I love it. Every time I feature this track on some 70's Fest CD in the shop shuffle - it brings customers to the counter asking after it.

Featuring Michael McDonald's heartfelt lyrics and gorgeous melody, "Takin' It To The Streets" is beautifully clear - and to this day sends chills up my arms (lyrics above). The funky and fun "8th Avenue Shuffle" sounds amazing too. And then you're hit with two knockouts - demos with just old blue eyes and a piano. The "Takin' It To The Streets" demo is mind-blowing stuff; he has the opening lyrics and just ad-libs the chorus - and yet it's still powerful. "We Would Sail Away (Saint Paul)" is excellent too and sounds not unlike a great Randy Newman outtake (high praise indeed).

So there you have it - for some reason I came to this reissue with low expectations and I leave it with exactly the opposite. Doobie Brothers fans have waited decades to see their band's great back catalogue be given the right reissue treatment - and England's Edsel label (who have struck a licensing deal with WEA) - have done them proud.

To sum up - great music, superb remaster, really good presentation and a dirt-cheap price.

Buy all of them with confidence - and roll on Little Feat, Ry Cooder, James Taylor, Rickie Lee Jones, Prince, Tom Waits etc etc...


PS: to date - there are 4 releases for The Doobie Brothers in this series (all with bonus tracks):
1. The Doobie Brothers (1971) / Toulouse Street (1972) on Edsel EDSD 2104
2. The Captain And Me (1973) / What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974) on Edsel EDSD 2105
3. Stampede (1975) / Takin' It To The Streets (1976) on Edsel EDSD 2106
4. Livin' On The Fault Line (1977) / Minute By Minute (1978) on Edsel EDSD 2107


PPS: Edsel have also re-issued most of the Todd Rundgren catalogue is this series of 2011 2CD sets (also with bonus tracks and extended booklets)