{"product_id":"the-doobie-brothers-takin-it-to-the-streets-mobile-fidelity-numbered-edition","title":"The Doobie Brothers - Takin' It To The Streets (Mobile Fidelity Numbered Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Doobie Brothers\u003c\/strong\u003e faced a serious predicament as they prepared to record \u003cem\u003eTakin’ It to the Streets\u003c\/em\u003e. That the group navigated a potentially serious personnel problem that would’ve tanked lesser bands and scored its fourth straight Top 10 album — while again expanding its range — speaks to the collective’s chemistry, broad-mindedness, and songwriting abilities. Known as the effort on which vocalist-keyboardist \u003cstrong\u003eMichael McDonald\u003c\/strong\u003e makes his debut, the 1976 set stands as an all-encompassing representation of the various styles the Doobie Brothers explored during their heyday.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSourced from the original analog master tapes, mastered by engineer Krieg Wunderlich, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, and housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, \u003cstrong\u003eMobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition 180g 45RPM 2LP \u003c\/strong\u003epresents \u003cem\u003eTakin’ It to the Streets\u003c\/em\u003e in definitive sound. Given the luxurious room of a 45RPM version for the first time and benefiting from the wider grooves, the music unfolds amid large soundstages replete with ultra-quiet backgrounds, big dynamics, and accurate imaging. By then a key component of the Doobie Brothers' success, \u003cstrong\u003eTed Templeman\u003c\/strong\u003e’s production is brought to light with stellar clarity and definition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs is the case on Mobile Fidelity's four other acclaimed Doobie Brothers 45RPM reissues, myriad facets that help make \u003cem\u003eTakin’ It to the Streets\u003c\/em\u003e timeless, natural, and organic — minimal overdubs, voices that realistically rise and fall, notes that properly carry and decay, warm tones, bass lines that pop with color, well-placed percussive accents, defined separation between the players — emerge with incredible presence, openness, and fullness. Nothing is overdone or out of place. No small feat given Templeman and company didn't know how everything would unfold when they first met up in Southern California.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConfronted with a change in plans by co-founder \u003cstrong\u003eTom Johnston\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose contributions to the band up to that point in its career identified him as an indispensable member, the Doobie Brothers were thrown for a loop when he curtailed pre-planning work and retreated home to deal with ongoing health problems. Thankfully, \u003cstrong\u003eJeff \"Skunk\" Baxter\u003c\/strong\u003e, the group's newest full-time recruit, had a possible solution in his former fellow \u003cstrong\u003eSteely Dan\u003c\/strong\u003e colleague McDonald. The singer-keyboardist had already sat in with the Doobie Brothers on their recent tour. So, why not give it a shot?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMcDonald's prodigious talents notwithstanding, he couldn't technically replace Johnston. For starters: McDonald's soulful timbre bore little resemblance to Johnston's grittier voice. And McDonald played keyboards, not guitar. No wonder Templeman initially expressed reservations. He also knew the Doobie Brothers needed additional material before they could consider wrapping the record. Yet the skepticism began to dissipate on the first day of the sessions. Still waiting for second drummer \u003cstrong\u003eKeith Knudsen\u003c\/strong\u003e, the band gathered in the studio with former roadie \u003cstrong\u003eBobby LaKind\u003c\/strong\u003e on congas and \u003cstrong\u003eLittle Feat\u003c\/strong\u003e drummer \u003cstrong\u003eRichie Hayward\u003c\/strong\u003e for a live run through \u003cem\u003e\"Wheels of Fortune.\"\u003c\/em\u003e The instrumental parts of that take landed on the record. Johnston would even return to share the lead vocal duties with \u003cstrong\u003ePatrick Simmons\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThose magical results, and the experience of hearing McDonald woodshed the title track at the piano, turned Templeman into a believer and cheerleader. Spurred by their veteran producer's encouragement and McDonald's ideas for songs, the Doobie Brothers embraced new directions just as they did after their debut LP and on subsequent efforts with orchestral and horn treatments. The latter return on \u003cem\u003eTakin’ It to the Streets\u003c\/em\u003e courtesy of the five-piece \u003cstrong\u003eMemphis Horns\u003c\/strong\u003e. Yet outside of viola accompaniment on \u003cem\u003e\"Losin' End,\"\u003c\/em\u003e string elements step aside in favor of McDonald's pianos, synthesizers, and clavinet. And, on five cuts, lead singing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the new face of the band, McDonald ended up crafting all or portions of four tunes. His fingerprints are all over two of the singles, including the jazzy, blue-eyed-soul delight \u003cem\u003e“It Keeps You Runnin’”\u003c\/em\u003e and irresistibly melodic title track, which cracked the Top 15 and became one of the Doobie Brothers’ signature numbers. He and Baxter’s penchant for smoothness, and a precursor to the band’s coming transition into rhythmically oriented yacht rock, informs the brassy sway of \u003cem\u003e“Carry Me Away.”\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFurther enriched by \u003cstrong\u003eTiran Porter\u003c\/strong\u003e’s gorgeous, time-signature-shifting ballad \u003cem\u003e“For Someone Special,”\u003c\/em\u003e Simmons’ peppy, spring-loaded \u003cem\u003e“8th Avenue Shuffle,”\u003c\/em\u003e and Johnston’s \u003cem\u003e“Turn It Loose”\u003c\/em\u003e — the move-your-feet boogie serving as kind of apt farewell to the band’s prior rock ‘n’ roll sound — \u003cem\u003eTakin’ It to the Streets\u003c\/em\u003e spun uncertainty into gold. Altered yet unbowed, the Doobie Brothers once again offered countless listeners “the best kind of remedy” with feel-good music that holds up amid any era.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab","offers":[{"title":"Numbered 2LP 180g 45RPM","offer_id":59144037728601,"sku":"SDZ-51044","price":79.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/e54edfa8b70e35d09fe203309dbd896b8446a4153119232390662ca5a8f6bd62.jpg?v=1787652138","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/the-doobie-brothers-takin-it-to-the-streets-mobile-fidelity-numbered-edition","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}