The Doobie Brothers – Takin’ It To The Streets (1976/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

The Doobie Brothers – Takin’ It To The Streets (1976/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 38:49 minutes | 1,47 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino – Warner Records

Takin’ It To The Streets is the sixth studio album released by the American rock band. It was the first recording to feature Michael McDonald on lead vocals. The album features singles “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “Wheels of Fortune” and “It Keeps You Runnin’.”

The group’s first album with Michael McDonald marked a shift to a more mellow and self-consciously soulful sound for the Doobies, not all that different from what happened to Steely Dan — whence McDonald (and Jeff Baxter) had come — between, say, Can’t Buy a Thrill and Pretzel Logic. They showed an ability to expand on the lyricism of Patrick Simmons and Baxter’s writing on “Wheels of Fortune,” while the title track introduced McDonald’s white funk sound cold to their output, successfully. Simmons’ “8th Avenue Shuffle” vaguely recalled “Black Water,” only with an urban theme and a more self-consciously soul sound (with extraordinarily beautiful choruses and a thick, rippling guitar break). “Rio” and “It Keeps You Runnin'” both manage to sound like Steely Dan tracks — and that’s a compliment — while Tiran Porter’s hauntingly beautiful “For Someone Special” was a pure soul classic right in the midst of all of these higher-energy pieces. Tom Johnston’s “Turn It Loose” is a last look back to their earlier sound, while Simmons’ “Carry Me Away” shows off the new interplay and sounds that were to carry the group into the 1980s, with gorgeous playing and singing all around. ~~ AllMusic Review by Bruce Eder

Tracklist:
01. The Doobie Brothers – Wheels Of Fortune (04:56)
02. The Doobie Brothers – Takin’ It To The Streets (03:59)
03. The Doobie Brothers – 8th Avenue Shuffle (04:43)
04. The Doobie Brothers – Losin’ End (03:48)
05. The Doobie Brothers – Rio (03:50)
06. The Doobie Brothers – For Someone Special (05:04)
07. The Doobie Brothers – It Keeps You Runnin’ (04:19)
08. The Doobie Brothers – Turn It Loose (03:56)
09. The Doobie Brothers – Carry Me Away (04:10)

Personnel:
Tom Johnston – guitar, lead vocals on “Turn It Loose” and Vocal on “Wheels of Fortune”
Patrick Simmons – guitar, vocals
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – guitar, steel guitar
Michael McDonald – keyboards, vocals
Tiran Porter – bass, vocals, Lead Vocal on “For Someone Special”
John Hartman – drums
Keith Knudsen – drums, vocals

Additional:
The Memphis Horns
Wayne Jackson – trumpet
Andrew Love – tenor saxophone
James Mitchell – baritone saxophone
Lewis Collins – tenor saxophone
Jack Hale – trombone
Bobby LaKind – congas
Richie Hayward – drums (with Little John) on “Wheels Of Fortune”
Novi Novog – viola on “Losin’ End”
Bill Payne – organ on “Takin’ It To The Streets”
Maria Muldaur – cameo vocal appearance on “Rio”
Ted Templeman – percussion

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