Takin' It to the Streets (The Doobie Brothers album)

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Takin' It to the Streets
File:The Doobie Brothers - Takin' It to the Streets.jpg
Studio album by The Doobie Brothers
Released March 19, 1976
Recorded 1975 at Warner Brothers Studios, North Hollywood, California
Genre Rock
Length 38:23
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers chronology
Stampede
(1975)Stampede1975		 Takin' It to the Streets
(1976)		 Best of the Doobies
(1976)Best of the Doobies1976
Singles from Takin' It to the Streets
  1. "Takin' It to the Streets"
    Released: 1976
  2. "Wheels of Fortune"
    Released: 1976
  3. "It Keeps You Runnin'"
    Released: 1976
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
Robert Christgau C+[2]
Rolling Stone (favorable)[3]

Takin' It to the Streets is the sixth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1976. It was the first to feature Michael McDonald on lead vocals.

Background

By late 1975, touring was beginning to take its toll on the band, especially leader Tom Johnston. Things became worse during touring in support of Stampede when he was diagnosed with stomach ulcers. His condition worsened and several shows had to be canceled. With Johnston forced to reduce his involvement with the band, the other members considered just calling it quits but while in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, member Jeff Baxter suggested calling up friend and fellow Steely Dan graduate Michael McDonald who at the time was between gigs and living in a garage apartment. McDonald was reluctant at first, feeling he was not what they wanted, according to him, "...they were looking for someone who could play Hammond B-3 organ and a lot of keyboards, and I was just a songwriter/piano hacker. But more than anything, I think they were looking for a singer to fill Tommy's shoes." He agreed to join them and met them at the Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans where they moved on to a warehouse to rehearse for the next two days. Expecting to be finished once touring was completed, McDonald was surprised when the band invited him to the studio to work on their next album.[4]

Recording

With Johnston on the sidelines, the band was not sure how to proceed or if even making an album without him would work. "I knew the record company was panicked about any change in the band." McDonald admitted. "They were leery about getting a new guy. I was thrilled to have had the gig, but I wasn't expecting all that much." With encouragement from producer Ted Templeman, the band began poring over the songs they had available. They knew they needed more so McDonald brought in his own demos. Templeman told them, according to Patrick Simmons, "You've got a real diamond in the rough here that you can make into something if you want to go ahead." They decided to record his songs knowing it would take them in a completely different direction. While Johnston was absent for most of the sessions, he contributed one song - "Turn It Loose" - as well as back-up vocals and duet vocals with Simmons on "Wheels of Fortune". "I hadn't quit the band", he later stated. "I just wasn't physically able to do it. I needed to get off the road and get away from that whole scene for a while."[4]

Track listing

Side One
  1. "Wheels of Fortune" (Simmons, Baxter, John Hartman) – 4:54
  2. "Takin' It to the Streets" (McDonald) – 3:56
  3. "8th Avenue Shuffle" (Simmons) – 4:39
  4. "Losin' End" (McDonald) – 3:39
Side Two
  1. "Rio" (Simmons, Baxter) – 3:49
  2. "For Someone Special" (Porter) – 5:04
  3. "It Keeps You Runnin'" (McDonald) – 4:20
  4. "Turn It Loose" (Johnston) – 3:53
  5. "Carry Me Away" (Simmons, Baxter, McDonald) – 4:09

Personnel

The Doobie Brothers

Johnston rejoined the band late in the sessions and thus does not appear on most of the album. He is also missing from the back cover group photo but does appear on the album's inside sleeve photos of individual band members.

Additional personnel

Production

  • Producer: Ted Templeman
  • Engineer: Donn Landee
  • Conductor: Bobby LaKind

Chart positions

Album

Year Chart Position
1976 Pop Albums 8

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1976 "Takin' It to the Streets" Pop Singles 13
1976 "Wheels of Fortune" Pop Singles 87
1977 "It Keeps You Running" Pop Singles 37

References

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