The Doobie Brothers Album: “Farewell Tour”

I've been waiting for years for this to be released on CD. Sound quality could be better (not much bottom), but the performances are spot on. In particular, the version here of Long Train Runnin' is extraordinary (although the 5 minutes of applause at the end could have been trimmed).

The Doobies' Farewell Tour CD (from 1983) is an terrific live album that contains many fan favorites from their catalog of hits - it's just not long enough! As mentioned in an earlier review, there's enough material for a double CD, but Warner Bros. decided to limit the concert to a single disk. Too bad! Consequently, some of the cuts are a little shorter than I would like ("China Grove" and "Don't Start Me Talkin'", in particular), but this deficit is made up for by extended cuts of "Long Train Runnin'", "Jesus is Just Alright", and a great lengthened version of "Steamer Lane Breakdown".

On the positive, though, the band is in fine form with Michael McDonald and Pat Simmons doing most of the vocals, the talented John McFee on his array of stringed instruments, Keith Knudsen on drums, Bobby LaKind on the congas, and Cornelius Bumpus on the sax, synth., & organ, plus a cameo by Tommy Johnson on "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove". The renditions of their songs have all been updated without losing the appeal of the original versions. (Much like later their later live CD's "Rockin' Down the Highway - The Wildlife Concert" and "Live at Wolf Trap" - both outstanding, by the way!)

I found the going tough when I tried to find this CD and would suggest getting it quick if you want a copy. For years, it was just in available in Japan, but is now making it's way to the states. The price is becoming somewhat inflated over the past few months, though, so "buyer beware"!

For Doobie "complete-ists", like myself, you'll want to search until you can find "Farewell Tour", for fans those who want something similar to this CD, but easier to find, you'll be just as happy with either (or both) of the two aforementioned live albums.

Keep on rockin'!

The Farewell Tour of the Doobies has decent sound quality and the mix of music is also good with the biggest songs of the group well represented. It would have been nice if players like Tiran Porter, Jeff Baxter, or John Hartman could have participated. Thank God they regrouped a few years later and came back strong with the Cycles album...

This album, from the summer of 1983, has never been on CD in the USA until now. The packaging reproduces all the original photos and the audio mastering seems to be the same that was issued on the Japanese CD several years ago. It sounds just fine. The original album was pretty heavily sweetened and overdubbed in the studio, but features great new arrangements of Takin It To The Streets and Listen To The Music (with a great vocal by Michael McDonald) and others, the live hit single version of You Belong To Me (which appears on CD in the US for the first time), and the new songs Olana and Can't Let It Get Away. A must for Doobies fans. Limited Edition / only available for 6 months, according to Rhino.

I'm buying this cd for 2 songs really, You Belong To Me and Slack Key Soquel Rag. I really enjoyed those versions when I saw them in Atlanta on the farewell tour. One of my all-time favorite bands! I like them better touring post-Michael McDonald. I enjoyed his stay with the Doobies but it didn't translate as well on the stage.