Customer Reviews

Doobie Brothers

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Doobie Brothers got their start playing biker bars in Northern California. Their self-titled debut has a loose, hit the open road feeling. The band was just a quartet at the time and they hadn't yet developed that classic Doobie sound. The album's best cuts are "Nobody", "Slippery St. Paul", "Travelin' Man" and "Beehive State". A solid debut, but hardly their best.

This CD is classic old style Doobies. It is not well known, but folks who are re-discovering the Doobies or discovering a little "Doobage" for the first time will do well to have this classic CD, the Doobie Brothers' first album in your collection. It has been said that to bring them to this place, they paid their "Doobie doos." Famous as they are for popularizing certain geographic locations, such as "China Grove" (a small community outside of San Antonio TX), "Ukiah," a remote town north of San Francisco, or "South City" ("South City Midnight Lady") denoting a seedy section of San Francisco, (classic cuts from "The Captain and Me"), this first release of the Doobies contains cuts on Chicago and Utah. Especially desirable is the tune "Travelin' Man," which so aptly unites their classic acoustic style with a wanderlust theme that is just so right. A must have for any Doobie officianado.

Everyone remembers Toulouse Street and The Captain and Me...both solid efforts that built the Doobies a huge fan base...but to find out where it really began, this album was their major label debut in 1971. "Nobody" has that classic Johnston-Simmons chemistry that built the foundation for their style that would be a major force in the 70s. "Feelin' Down Farther" and "Travelin' Man" are also standouts...really, it's ALL good. Check out this little heard gem of an album...then after you've enjoyed this one...do yourself a favor and pick up "Cycles", their comeback disc from 1989...the return of the classic Doobies lineup with great tunes like "The Doctor", "Take Me to the Highway", "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" and "Need a Little Taste of Love". Pure joy to listen to...but THIS is the album that'll show you where it all began for these guys. Not to be missed!

I was absolutely amazed and blown away by this little known debut that I only recently was able to find. Little is said, perhaps because it didn't yield a radio hit. But it stands up to some of their later releases that DID enjoy radio exposure. Amazing how their sound has come full circle from this album to the Michael McDonald era and back again. Perhaps a key to much of their original sound and that of today is Tom Johnston in the beginning and his later return. Most definitely worth a listen. It's a keeper!

A good start for a brilliant career, is what I have to say about this good album, now finally available on CD. It flopped in US charts, but, here in Brasil, the track 'Nobody' was a huge hit, released as a single with "Slippery St. Paul" in the B side. I can't believe "Nobody" was not a massive hit worldwide. Hear this marvelous song, not available in any compilations, and agree with me.

I was absolutely amazed and blown away by this little known debut that I only recently was able to find. Little is said, perhaps because it didn't yield a radio hit. But it stands up to some of their later releases that DID enjoy radio exposure. Amazing how their sound has come full circle from this album to the Michael McDonald era and back again. Perhaps a key to much of their original sound and today's return is Tom Johnston. Most definitely worth a listen. It's a keeper!

the first and most acoustic of their collection...i won it in a spot dance in 1971(?) before anyone knew who they were, at least here in canada...i agree with the prev review--it has a wistful kind of wanderlust; travelin' man and nobody are particular standouts. good album

Long before Michael McDonald emasculated them, the Doobie Brothers were one heck of a rock band. The sound is so loose and laid back you might as well be sitting on Tom Johnston's front porch sipping moonshine. Every now and then you can hear, in its infancy, what would soon become the Doobies' trademark sound. While there's no particular standout track, the entire album is solid from start to finish. Highly recommended.

If you are a hardcore Doobie Brothers fan this is an important part of their history and their development. "Nobody" is the template for the smooth, soulful rock that became their standard. Casual fans would be better served picking up stronger efforts in an enormous and catchy catalogue, or getting a few things you like in MP3.

While I was happy with the purchase of this CD (Music wise),
This is the second CD from an artist (their first album), where every
song is cut off short of fading out naturally. Its a very annoying
trait, and while this isn't nearly as bad as the 1st Pablo Cruise
I purchased (and had to return - it was so bad), I will be very
hesitant to buying a old 1st CD of an artist, I don't have already.