Minute By Minute [Import]

Doobie Brothers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 31, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: PID
• ASIN: B000803CXO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #836,224 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Here to Love You

2. What a Fool Believes

3. Minute by Minute

4. Dependin' on You

5. Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels

6. Open Your Eyes

7. Sweet Feelin'

8. Steamer Lane Breakdown [Instrumental]

9. You Never Change

10. How Do the Fools Survive?

Editorial Reviews

MusicTap.com, February 16, 2005

Please see Matt Rowe's review on-line at MusicTap.com or at AudioFidelity.net --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

This is where the "new" Doobie Brothers really made their debut with emphasis on horns and Michael McDonald's voice and piano. The public loved it, buying more than three million copies. The recording establishment gave "Minute By Minute" four Grammy Awards, propelling the group to its biggest success ever. Features "What A Fool Believes", "Minute By Minute" and more. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars uplifting, soulful, fun--impossible to resist, December 27, 2004

By 

Dave "missing person" (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Minute By Minute (Audio CD)

"Minute By Minute", originally released in December of 1978, was the third official studio album from the Doobie Brothers with Michael McDonald as a member of the band, and I think it's clear that the third time was the charm, both artistically and commercially--although the previous two albums certainly weren't without solid commercial success in the US, this one was a bonafide blockbuster, topping the US charts, having gone platinum within the first four months of its original release, and having gone triple-platinum by 1985.

I think the report of the band being dissatisfied with this album can be attributed to them feeling emotionally drained at the time of its recording/ release. The sessions weren't exactly smooth sailing--in the booklet for the Rhino "Greatest Hits" CD, Michael McDonald recalls how the band did countless takes just for "What A Fool Believes" alone and that they "almost gave up".

Without a doubt, the huge success of this album was deserved. It's really amazing how much better of an album "Minute By Minute" is compared to the first two Doobies' albums with McDonald--1976's "Takin' It To The Streets" and 1977's "Livin' On The Fault Line" respectively. Although respectable albums, the Doobies sound rather burnt out on "...Streets" and "...Fault Line" and often seem to be coasting on their (admittedly hugely respectable) instrumental chops to try and mask a lack of quality songwriting. With "Minute By Minute", energy and enthusiasm are back in a big way--it's like the band suddenly got a second wind.

Michael McDonald's gasping, soulful vocals here pack a major wallop and are simply infectious, and he handles the lead vocals on a handful of classic tracks from this album. And of course, McDonald was one damn impressive songwriter as well--his album opening solo composition, the heavily syncopated "Here To Love You", is one of his characteristic "soulful rants" as I like to call them, and it's an irresistible, uplifting feel-good tune. "What A Fool Believes" was a huge hit, and with its crisp beat, rich & soaring harmonies, clever and incisive love lyrics, the sly key change on the chorus, and the extreme melodic catchiness, it's a total classic--it's true that you've probably heard it a 'zillion' times, but there's no denying the brilliance of it. The jazzy, arrestingly hushed and moody title track is also classic hit. "Open Your Eyes", with its pleading minor-keyed verses and extreme catchiness, is also a gem, and don't forget about the grooving album closer "How Do The Fools Survive?".

The greatness doesn't stop there. On the previous album, it was as if the band was either afraid to rock out or had forgotten how to do so, but they come gloriously roaring back in that department with Patrick Simmons' enthusiastic bluesy rocker "Don't Stop To Watch The Wheels", an irresistible song with a super fun guitar line and cool atmospheric stuff going on as well.

I'll admit that not every song itself on the album is a classic, but still, "Dependin' On You" is a fun feel-good tune, and "Streamer Lane Breakdown" is a solid, country-flavored instrumental that adds a welcome diversity. The minor-keyed "You Never Change" is admittedly a bit slight, and yet it's still another piece of arrestingly catchy material. The quasi-ballad "Sweet Feelin'", with vocals from Nicolette Larson, is rather fluffish, but it's still catchy, under 3 minutes long, and nicely enjoyable.

So, despite some weaknesses, I have to admit I have a real weakness for this type of classy music, the kind of stuff that really holds up to repeated listening. Even "What A Fool Believes" is one of those songs that, despite its relentless airplay, has so much going on to make it one of those songs that's always 'worth one more listen', as the saying goes. On the whole, "Minute By Minute" is a great and timeless album.

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Timeless Masterpiece That Will Live On, September 13, 2000

By 

Paul Martin (Waukesha, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minute By Minute (Audio CD)

"Love" being the predominant theme of the ten songs that make up this CD, Minute by Minute is a milestone work for the Doobie Brothers, and provides the listener with an audio snapshot of a rock band in a period of unsurpassed, creative excellence.

Beginning on the first track with an urgent, precission drum beat that commands attention, and ending on the tenth track with a never-to-be-equaled, 1-take, studio guitar solo, Minute by Minute is a masterpiece.

Winning Record Of The Year at the 22nd Annual GRAMMY awards in 1979, the Doobie Brothers/Minute by Minute also won GRAMMY awards for Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals (Michael McDonald: Arranging "What A Fool Believes"), Song Of The Year (Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins: "What A Fool Believes").

When Jazz guitar great Larry Carlton covered an instrumental version of the song Minute by Minute, on his album "Discovery", he thanked Michael McDonald in the liner notes for providing "the real thing." That is, he had access to the best keyboard players in the business, but no one could play it with as much soul and feeling as Michael does. And feeling, and emotion, and soul, and spirit, are all driving forces behind this CD.

This is the Doobie Brothers at their very best, and they'll never top this moment in their recording history. Singer/sonwriter Bob Seger expressed a similar situation, when referring to The Eagles trying to out-do "Hotel California", or when Seger, himself tried to top "Night Moves", you just have to accept the fact that you've reached such a high summit of achievement, and notoriety, and rising above that point, for the Doobie Brothers, is insurmountable.

The album features: Michael McDonald keyboards, synthesizers, vocals/ Patrick Simmons guitars, vocals/ Jeff Baxter guitars/ Tiran Porter bass, vocals/ Keith Knudsen drums, vocals/ John Hartman drums/ Bobby LaKind congas, vocals/ Tommy Johnston vocals.

Along with help from friends: Kenny Loggins, Nicolette Larson, Billy Payne, Carole Bayer Sager, Lester Abrams, Norton Buffalo, Rosemary Butler, etc.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars McDonald Doobies at their pinnacle, February 27, 2001

By 

Jeff Davenny (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minute By Minute (Audio CD)

This album ended up being a seminal pop recording, prefacing the pop/fusion of the 80's. Even so, Minute by Minute's quality, though tremendous, was even lost on the band members after the long hours spent recording it. Perhaps it was the unprecented length of time it took to record it, but the band thought it didn't work. Imagine their surprise at the phenomenon it turned into.

Anti-Mike McDonald Doobie fans like the one reviewer on this page don't stop to consider that each of the Tom Johnston Doobie albums each were an evolution themselves. Stampede, the last pre-McDonald recording, featured an eclectic blend of tunes that, while guitar-based, still had elements like the Condoli brothers playing jazz trumpet licks on Pat Simmons' "I Cheat the Hangman." And, if anyone wants to blame someone for Tom Johnston's departure, blame Tom: he got sick from hard living, and the band would have broken up without Skunk Baxter's idea to bring ex-Steely Dan mate McDonald aboard to save a big concert tour.

The best pre-McDonald Doobie work featured Bill Payne's (Little Feat) keyboard playing anyway, so McDonald's arrival on the scene was not that out of character. But they didn't know McDonald's awesome voice and musical ability would take over the band. Good thing it did: it gave the band new life, which extends to the present day.