Customer Reviews

Everything You've Heard Is True

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

 

 

I f you are not a fan of the Michael McDonald-era Doobies (and I am included in that category), then this is the sound for you. That distictive voice coupled with the trademark guitar sound and Ted Templeman production kept me going when the "other band" wasn't happening. Listen to "Small Time Talk" for that characteristic sound. It will put a smile on your face-it does to mine.

Johnston's first solo outing contained what could have been a step beyong his Doobie's material. It has the same producer, loads of great sessionmen including Michael McDonald, Nicolette Larson, Bill Payne (Little Feat) Jim Keltner, the Tower of Power Horns and the Memphis Horns. There was one MAJOR problem with this album. The SONGS ARE NOT THERE. Plain and simple, you can add lush production and good musicianship, but if the songs aren't there, the songs aren't there. Johnston was trying for a more "current" sound. It failed. It was more like bad disco. For a better Johnston solo effort go to his next album Still Feels Good. Better songs, more "doobie-ish" material.

I bought this on LP long ago and thought this hit a bull's eye for Tom Johnston! I could not believe how great these songs were and how much they will make a bad day feel a little bit better. The only weakness I see on this cd is "Outlaw," which doesn't seem like it took to much time to write and sounds like a throw in. However, all the other tracks have a soulful feel that is just wonderful. I am so glad Wounded Bird released this on cd....it's about time somebody did!

In 1974 I saw the Doobie Brothers in concert (Nashville Municipal Auditorium). I was blown away. I don't think I ever saw a better show and that's saying something because I've seen almost all the classic rock bands of this era. The Doobies had a killer show; explosions and smoke (see the Vices album cover). The show finale (Without You) rivaled anything Kiss was doing at the time. In addition to that, they had a lot of great songs.

My friends had the Captain & Me on eight-track and we listened to it endlessly. To me that was the perfect album; an eclectic collection of hard rock, R&B, acoustic, progressive rock, and easy listening. At the time, it was the only music I had heard by the Doobies, and I jumped at a chance to see them live. You can imagine my surprise when they opened with Listen to the Music, which I didn't even know they sang.

At the concert, I was almost directly in front of Tom Johnston. He epitomized what a guitar playing lead singer should be. He would play and sing his heart out and he put on quite a show. One minor thing that impressed me was that he would light up a cigarette between songs but he wouldn't have time to finish it so he would slide the filter behind the guitar strings at the end of the guitar. As he played the smoke from the cigarette would trail away.

I was very disappointed when TJ took a lesser role in the group and gave way to Michael McDonald. I didn't buy any of the Doobies albums after Takin' It to the Streets. I did see them live in support of that album, but it just wasn't the same. The Doobies were no longer a true rock band. I was glad for their success, but the new edition wasn't for me.

As for Tom's solo albums, they were a bit of a disappointment as well. Savannah Nights is a good song on Everything You Heard is True, but he must have not had much left in the tank at this point. I do like the album cover for this record; particularly the sign behind the bar about asking for credit. I give the album 5 Stars just because it's Tom Johnston; I could never give the writer of Listen to the Music, China Grove, Long Train Runnin', and Dark-Eyed Cajun Woman anything less.

I am a Doobie Brothers fan so I'd buy pretty much anything related to them. I was disappointed when TJ left the band. Glad it was temporary! I saw him preform tunes from his solo stuff on TV years ago and at that time, hunted down this album and "Still Feels Good" and bought on vinyl (all that was around at the time). Finally I have just replaced those with CD's. Took some hunting again.

1. Down Along the River

2. Show Me

3. Savannah Nights

4. I Can Count on You

5. Small Talk Time

6. Reachin' Out for Lovin' from You

7. Outlaw

8. Man on the Stage

This is a nice little album from Tom Johnston; it sounds very much like a Doobies album but without I'm sorry to say very good songs. It is even produced by Ted Templeman!! Standout track for me is 'Savannah Nights'. The rest of the very short album (29 minutes) just flows away.

Why did Wounded Bird not release this album together with "Still Feels Good" (33 minutes) on 1 CD ?

If you like the more rootsy sound of Johnston era Doobies,

I dought you would like this. Sounds very dated and nods to the

disco sound of the time it was recorded. The only reason it gets

2 stars is that the musicians play this crap about as well as they can. I normally don't completly pan albums, but this just reminds me of how bad the state of rock was in the late seventies. This is a sour note in my record collection.