Customer Reviews

Live at Wolf Trap

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Doobie Brothers' new live disc "Live at Wolf Trap" captures the band in a top-notch performance recorded on July 25th 2004 at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Even after 35 years, this delightful concert proves that the Doobie Brothers have not lost their spark one bit.
Included in this disc are the immortal Doobie hits "Rockin' Down The Highway", "Jesus is Just Alright", "Long Train Runnin'", "China Grove" and of course "Listen To The Music" and "Black Water". In addition to these classics, the band reaches back into its catalog for songs that have rarely been performed live in recent years including "Another Park Another Sunday", "Steamer Lane Breakdown" and the blues-driven "Snake Man", "Rainy Day Crossroad Blues" and "Don't Start Me To Talkin'" which features a superb extended jam.
Hands down, this is a great album full of great music. While all the band members are up there in years, that still doesn't stop them from cranking out these timeless hits and making them sound like new all over again. If you're a Doobie Brothers fan, this CD is definitely a must.

I own every Doobie Brothers studio recording CD, and I have about six or seven different live concert recording CD's of the Doobie Brothers (including some bootlegs and rare concert performances). With this said, I have to say that the Doobie Brothers' new live CD "Live at Wolf Trap" is probably the finest live Doobie Brothers performance recording I have ever heard. It includes the classics, such as "Rockin' Down The Highway", "China Grove," "Listen To The Music" and "Black Water". But this performance also includes songs rarely performed live, including "Steamer Lane Breakdown," "Snake Man," and "Rainy Day Crossroad Blues." And it also has great newer songs, including the Slack Key style acoustic guitar performance of "Five Corners" and the crowd favorite "Little Bitty Pretty One."

The band's performance, musicianship and harmony singing is at its peak on this CD. And the band is a power house, with a 3-piece horn section led by Marc Russo, a great keyboard player (Guy Alison), an outstanding bass player (Skylark), two drummers (Keith Knudsen and Big Mike Hossack), a percussionist (M.B. Gordy), and the power guitar trio of Pat Simmons, Tom Johnston and John McFee. This is truly a great recording of an absolutely superb Doobie Brothers performance. I would give it 100 stars if I could. I can't wait to see the DVD of the same performance.

I wish they would've just made it a 2 cd set. After seeing the DVD it's clear that SOME tunes are edited a tad (Dangerous and Black Water for starters)....without the DVD you'd hardly notice. However the CD rocks and The Doobs sound better than ever...tight....and having a blast! Buy it...better yet...get the DVD also....Nobody...Spirit...Neals Fandango...Without You..and Takin It To The Streets are a few NOT on the cd that kick tail on the DVD. Great to see the Doobies interacting with a fired up crowd too...Wolf Trap ate it up!

I like both incarnations of the Doobies, the original line-up and the Michael McDonald line-up. This is almost a big band Doobies, or the Doobies Play Vegas. The musicianship is fine, but none of these versions are anywhere near as good as the originals. I would rather hear a live album from the 70's before they had McDonald. These guys can still play and sing, don't get me wrong. One other note: The cd cover says this release includes "Takin' It To The Streets", which it does not--the DVD does. Very homogenized release, even my favorite Doobie tune "Jesus Is Just Alright" didn't rock. Not a bad cd by any means, but not one track stands out to my ears.

"Live at Wolf Trap" recorded in Virginia in July 2004, is a great live album! Both the Doobies and the fans are really into the concert and the listener can feel the energy throughout the CD. The addition of the horn section to the band really spiced up some old Doobie favorites. The renditions of the bluesy, extended cut of "Don't Start Me Talking" and "Long Train Runnin'" are worth the price of the album alone. And, of course, other longtime Doobie staples are present on this CD as well, including great versions of "Rockin' Down the Highway", "China Grove", "Jesus is Just Alright", and a great finish with "Listen to the Music". A hidden treat is the little-heard "Little Bitty Pretty One".

The music is clear and sharp and Tom Johnson and Patrick Simmons sound great on their guitars and in voice. Talented John McFee on all of his different instruments and Skylark on bass help to make this a memorable listening experience.

This CD is a must-have for any Doobie Brother fan!

I just want to add my two cents to the negative reviews.
How can anyone find anything at fault with this release?
The songwriting is amazing as is the playing and singing
and the pacing is marvelous. This is an out and out bargain.

This is the first time I have felt compelled to write a review of an album. This is not an album about reminiscing how a band still together can sound like they used to years ago. Instead, it's an album about extreme artistry, outrageous talent, zero-compromise production, and an overriding committment to sonic brilliance. I have not followed the Doobie Brothers over the years and have not purchased one of their albums since I was a kid. I just like great music, have always enjoyed the Doobie Brothers, and decided to buy this album on a whim. The sound is amazing-- every song, in power of the voices, harmonies, the introduction of the horns (a Chicago influence, unbelievably good), and the musical genius in arrangements and production will blow you away. If you enjoyed these songs years ago, they'll be new and better than ever. If you have not listened as much to the Doobie Brothers (that would be rare), then you will discover an amazing sound and production with zero compromise. The whole album is a work of art and since its beginnnigs, I doubt this band has ever sounded better. Some standouts for me are Long Train Runnin' which I think I've listened to maybe 100 times and still going. The rendition captures the mental imagery this song has always inspired for me and takes it to another solar system making it more intense and enjoyable, something I didn't think was possible. South City Midnight Lady captures something very special, I can't put my finger on it. It is an amazing work-- the song takes you to a time and place in your life, somehow. This album represents a Van Gogh to live music at its finest.

I generally don't care for it much when a favorite artist releases multiple live albums that feature many of the same songs. Because of this I waited a long time to check out LIVE AT WOLF TRAP. Big mistake! While a majority of the songs are repeats from one or both of the previous Doobie Brothers live albums, each and every one manages to sound fresh; most of them have some little twist that makes them different from before. The whole album sounds very alive and electric.

There are a few songs that haven't appeared on live albums before - some real setlist surprises. I mean, who expected a live version of "Snake Man"? It still doesn't really sound like a complete song, but it's great what they've added to it! And "Rainy Day Crossroad Blues" here sounds much better than the original; it's been expanded, and *does* sound like a complete song now.

The only (minor) complaint is about Pat Simmons' vocals on a couple tracks. He sounds strained on "Jesus Is Just Alright" and inappropriately un-intense on "Clear As The Driven Snow."

Overall, if you only get one Doobie live album, it should be this one. Then get FAREWELL TOUR (just recently made easily available on CD), and WILDLIFE CONCERT if you just want to have all the Doobie albums.

LIVE AT WOLF TRAP is a great live CD by the Doobie Brothers, featuring little material from their revival period, and lots of great 70s classics, with John McFee filling in for Jeff Baxter on third guitar. This is a wonderful disc which belongs in any serious rock collection, and the Doobies' advocacies of sanctions against Indonesia in retaliation for that country's trumped-up 2005 drug-smuggling conviction of a young Australian tourist, high-school community-service requirements, and increased funding for law enforcement/community policing, make LIVE AT WOLF TRAP an essential purchase for both your ears AND your conscience.

I grew up when the Doobie's were in their prime. This CD brings back some great memories. However, I did buy this CD more for the jams and energy of the live show. Steamer Lane (instrumental) caught my ear and I knew I had to have it.