Takin it to the Streets - The Doobie Brothers

After a range of top selling LP's the standard of this latest Doobie Brothers release Takin' it to the Streets' seems to have lost the original sound which established them as one of the top groups. Taking an overall view their music has changed from the fantastic guitar and drum sounds into something of a jazzy balls-up.

My first impressions were that it was a mixture of Chicago brass and BS & T vocals, with added touches of typical DB sounds emerging here and there.

I believe this is because of the lesser known member Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter, and the new member, Michael McDonald, doing more than the original members.

I was able to say this after comparing this record to their two previous releases, 'What was onces vices....' and 'Stampede'

In both of these, the songs were written by eithe Patrick Simmons or Tom Johnston But in this LP, M. McDonald has three compositions of his own, including the title track 'Takin' it to the Streets', while Jeff Baxter also joins in with the others. Both Patrick Simmons and Tom Johnston have only one composition each.

Michael McDonald who plays the key boards, was an original member of Steely Dan Many New Zealanders will remember him from the 'not so good' Doobies con-

The absence of Tom Johnston at the concert was felt really badly, and I think a lot of DB fans who buy this record are bound to feel the same effect.

McDonald sings about three or four songs and this makes all the difference. After listening to Tom Johnston's voice, it makes you wonder whether he is the Doobies. The use of keyboards and the absence of the guitar is seen in several tracks too. The Memphis Horns can be heard in the background in most of the songs and this adds all the jazzy-ness.

The only good track in the whole LP is Turn it Loose', a Tom Johnston composition, which has all the rocking guitar drums and vocals that were so unique to the Bodies. Side two opens with a resonably good song called 'Rio' in which the vocals is shared by Maria Muldaur. (She also appeared in 'Stampede'). It begins with the usual guitar but moves into a calypso beat with lots of brass sounds to back up.

The other tracks however, are not worth mentioning individually as they do not stand out at all.

There are no good party songs either, other than Turn it Loose'. Anybody wanting to dance to the Doobies better stick to the old releases.

Well, personally I don't think much of this record, I prefer their old stuff better. However the Doobies might lose some of their old fans or even get new ones, who prefer this kind a music. The Doobies are, musically, definitely changing - probably looking for a new direction to expand after the continuous similarity of their previous releases. The music is soft and lacking in depth, different to be precise.

Anyway I wouldn't blame them for this change, perhaps it will grow on rock fans. Like Paul Williams said "...the most important factor in appreciating music is not what they play or how well they play but rather how and when and why we listen."

Hemal