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

Background

By late 1974, 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.

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."

Track listing

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

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

Chart positions

Album

Singles