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Doobie Brothers- Stampede 50th- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons 4-28

Even a half-century after its April 1975 release, the two things I recall most about "Stampede", the fifth album from San Jose's Doobie Brothers, was the duality evident in the band's emerging sound. There was the noticeable sophistication in the sweeping symphonic "I Cheat the Hangman", but in stark contrast to the Doobie Brothers' big hit with the Motown cover of "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me for a Little While)". Band co-founders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons join me In the Studio for the golden anniversary of "Stampede" by the Doobie Brothers the week of April 28.
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Doobie Brothers- Minute by Minute- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, Michael McDonald

Even though my guest Tom Johnston sang and wrote their early hits "Listen to the Music" and "Long Train Runnin' ", and guest Michael McDonald did likewise on million-sellers "Takin' It to the Streets","It Keeps You Runnin'", & Grammy winners "What a Fool Believes" and"Minute by Minute", it is  guitarist/singer/songwriter Pat Simmons around whom the 25+ members have always rotated.
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Doobie Brothers- The Captain and Me- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons

In the Studio classic rock interview with the Doobie Brothers The Captain and Me , released March 1973.

Doobie Brothers- Toulouse Street- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, John Hartman

After a totally forgettable first album, the Doobie Brothers' sophomore effort "Toulouse Street" may just be the strongest second act of the Seventies. In the Studio Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, & John Hartman joined me forf "Listen to the Music","Rockin' Down the Highway","Disciple", and the definitive cover of "Jesus is Just All Right".
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Doobie Brothers- Takin’ It to the Streets- Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, Michael McDonald

The fact that the Doobie Brothers reinvented themselves for their March 1976 album "Takin' It to the Streets"  is quite widely known, but the reasons for the musical shift, and the manner in which they made it work so successfully, is a fascinating back-story worthy of an HBO mini-series.. On the album's 45th anniversary, Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons, & Michael McDonald are all here In the Studio to recall how it really went down.