The Doobie Brothers Album: “Livin' on the Fault Line”

LIVIN' ON THE FAULT WAS RELEASED BY THE DOOBIE BROTHERS IN 1977 AND WAS ONE OF THE BEST LITE ROCK ALBUMS OF THAT YEAR. I'VE OWNED THIS OVER THE YEARS ON 8 TRACK,CASSETTE,AND NOW CD. THIS WAS THERE SECOND ALBUM WITH MICHAEL MCDONALD. I LOVE THE HIT SINGLES "ECHOES OF LOVE" AND "LITTLE DARLING(I NEED YOU)" AND "YOU BELONG TO ME" WHICH BECAME A BIG HIT FOR CARLY SIMON IN 1978. THE MUSIC IS KEYBOARD DRIVEN AND SMOOTH AND SOLID,WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE SHORT COUNTRY ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTAL SONG "LARRY THE LOGGER TWO STEP" WHICH SEEMS TO BE AN ALBUM FILLER SONG AT THE END OF THE CD.

The Japanese imports of the Doobie catalog are remastered.

Warner Brothers here in the U.S. is still selling the old LP-EQ'd, terrible-sounding masters they released on CD in 1990.

If you love these albums, get a set of the Japanese editions. They cost more, but they're worth it.

Here is the link to the Japanese remaster of

.

This is not my favorite Doobies album but it is still very good and is another example of how versatile the group really was in their '70s heyday. It is much more laid back than any of the other albums they did with it's R&B, jazz and softer rock riffs. Michael McDonald shines. Highlights include 'Echoes of Love', 'Little Darling (I Need You)' and 'You Belong To Me'.

The best West Coast sound ever, if you ask me.

I think I know about every note on this album. I went through three lp copies before cd's came out. Then I bought the first Warner cd. Flat!

But now it is here, the cover beautifully reproduced, just as it came out (well, smaller..), the embossed cover sleeve, the color photography inside, it's all there.

But what of course hit me most: the music. Fabulously remastered like it should have been done right from the start. Snares cutting, bass humming and popping, guitars sliding and picking, vocals soothing and yearning, keys oooh

The band? Needs no explaining I think.

But here we go anyhow. The Doobie Brothers were a great band from the start, their West Coast Rock and Roll sound unique in its own way. Their biggest hit Listen to the Music is probably in everybody's mind.

But with the addition of Michael McDonald on keys on their previous album Takin' it to the Streets the group got jazzier, and the r&b influences got stronger.

Here, again produced by Ted Templeman, the band grows into perfection. The Doobie Brothers had created their own special blend: genious!

The playing is so tight (with two drummers), the song writing top notch, with every single member hitting his peak. Michael's voice fits perfectly to the new sound. But of course Pat Simmons is fantastic too, as are the others. Guitars? Check out 'Skunk' Baxter!

The Band:

Pat Simmons guitars and vocals

Michael McDonald keys and vocals

Jeff Baxter guitars

Tom Johnston guitars and vocals

Tiran Porter bass and vocals

Keith Knudson drums and vocals

John Hartman drums

Guests:

Bobby LaKind congas and vocals

Dan Armstrong electric guitar

Norton Buffalo harmonica

Victor Feldman vibes

Rosemary Butler and Maureen McDonald backing vocals

The songs:

You're Made That Way

Echoes of Love

Little Darling (I Need You)

You Belong to Me

Livin' on the Fault Line

Nothin' But a Heartache

Chinatown

There's a Light

Need a Lady

Larry the Logger Two Step

As you probably know they went to super stardom with their next album Minute by Minute which had What a Fool Believes. It is of course a marvel in its own right. But if you ask me, I'll stick to this one as a first choice (after which you should get them all...). Its marvelous blend of Jazz, R&B, Rock and Roll and more never shone brighter under the Californian sun.

One more thing: take a look at the great cover photography and the marvelous idea behind creating a different image through the music

Maybe it was because the Doobie's,like Hall & Oates seemed like such commonplace radio fodder I actually spent many years avoiding their albums,thinking they were more of a singles act.I liked their hits but I am more of an album listener and after one listen it becomes obvious that 'Livin' On The Fault Line' is a staggering album for this band known more for hot singles.

This album is extremely funk and jazzy,not unlike some of what Steely Dan was doing during the same period.And the musicianship is very much in the same league-the Doobies are fabulous musicians.The hit is "Echos Of Love" and it wasn't the biggest hit the Doobies ever had."Chinatown" is a great tight groove,as is the latin tinged funk of the title track-very California cool all around.Michael McDonald of course wrote "You Belong To Me" with and for Carly Simon (and this grooving version frankly WIPES THE PANTS with hers).

And I LOVE,I LOVE,I LOVE McDonalds great keyboard playing on the Fender Rhodes.And every track on this album is full of that great,effective and economical playing.And the Doobies have a great rhythm section.They were certainly a nice little boogie rock band early on but after "Takin' It To The Streets" I personally think these guys found their true legs,despite what the detractors say.

The late 1970's was an era when pop artists weren't afraid to make accessible POP music without being so self conscious about appealing to this audience and that.And they could add country,jazz,soul,funk and blues elements into it without feeling obligated.And on this albums the Doobies put all those styles into work at various junctures but the focus is ALWAYS on the ultimate playable pop album!

And the Doobies always manage to avoid heavy over production-never afraid of lean,stripped down arrangements.On "Need A Lady" bassist Tiran gives it his all over a pure blues piece done up ALL funky!And the last cut "Larry The Logger Two Step" is folky country and western all the way!So are the Doobie Brothers pure commercial pablem?Well at least on this album I think not and you'll have to dig pretty deep to find any of these ten songs the least bit weak!Goes great with stuff like Steely Dan's 'Aja' or Steve Winwoods's self titled debut!