The Doobie Brothers Album: “Minute by Minute”

"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.

I didn't think it was possible for this to happen, but it did. One of the Doobie Brothers best albums has gotten the 24kt treatment for superior sound quality and mastering. Lets face it if your still listening to the tinny, muffled version of the CD that came out years ago and only has so many tracks remastered for compilation discs and Best ofs, then this is the CD for you. I only got this disc for one reason, to get a clear, crisp and fabulous version of "How Does the Fool Survive?" and I was amazed at the rest of the disc as well. From every little clatter in the back to any minute horn or vocal, you can hear everything on this CD. It also just simply sounds the way it should. Sometimes in mastering everything just comes out sounding loud or extranious. Minute by Minute isn't a loud album, it's a soft groovy kind of one that doesn't need just a big volume, mixers and faders are used to put everything where they need to be. Whats also nice is you get the full booklet to slip in for the jewel case and everything is where it should be. There are no extended cuts or demos or anything, just the album that many people own and love. My only hope is that STAMPEDE the great fifth album is just around the corner. How awesome it will be to hear Neal's Fandango and I Cheat the Hangman in the same treatment as the band got here. I suspect that if it hasn't been done already CAPTAIN AND ME will be next, but that would be okay too. Definetly a buy.

Man, where should I start here? I've always loved this album. I had it on vinyl when it first came out and it's still one of my favorite albums by anyone.

It kicks off great with Here To Love You and ends great with How Do The Fools Survive. In between are classic hit songs like What A Fool Believes, Minute By Minute, and Depending On You. There are also great unknown songs like Sweet Feelin' and You Never Change. My least favorite song on here is Don't Stop To Watch The Wheels - and even that one is still a pretty decent song.

There's not a bad tune on here. The popularity and awards for this album were VERY well-deserved!

One of the best pop albums of all time. And I never heard it this good.

I have the Nautilus NR 18 vinyl; I think I ran through two copies of the cassette. One of those albums you listen to so much that you have to take vacations from it.

But I never heard the bass drive the first track, Here to Love You, like it is here.

And the vocals on You Never Change, amazing. Outrageous. Reminds me of Red Streamliner, off Little Feat's Time Loves A Hero, first time Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald harmonized. The best.

This Audio Fidelity 24k Plus is great. Really superior soundstage. Everything really pops up at you in the best way, great individual tone, yet totally part of the whole. THE BEST!

Reviving the old DCC 24k concept, this is the first (along with The Faces "A Nod Is As Good As A Wink...")of hopefully many Audio Fidelity 24k Gold CD's. You've not heard "Minute By Minute" until you've heard Steve Hoffman's mastering of this classic. Remastered from the original master tapes(tm) - this is simply stunning!

4 stars for the album. 5 stars for the mastering.