It'd be tough to find a better meat 'n' taters rock 'n' roll band than the Doobie Brothers. Since the dawn of the 1970s they've been delivering well built, widely appealing music that is the definition of a working rock band with serious dedication to both craft and audience satisfaction. While they've had their share of hits, what endures is their love of simply making music that makes folks shuffle and smile.
Today is longtime drummer Michael Hossak's 63rd birthday, and we'd like to take this opportunity to give the percussionist and his band some thoroughly deserved props. Hossak is one of those wonderful drummers that rides in the architecture of the songs, creating structure and solidity but rarely drawing overt attention to his stick work. He's the groovy force behind “Blackwater," “Jesus Is Just Alright," “China Grove," and myriad other Doobie's numbers that have become cross-cultural standards.
We begin this installment of the Candy with a tune celebrating how music really can help us dance our blues away. One day we hope someone launches a successful modern day equivalent to The Midnight Special.
Unlike a lot of their peers from the same era that continue to tour, the Doobies have retained their sparkling harmonies, which are on full display on this folk-inflected gem captured at Wolf Trap in 2004.
Go ahead and sing along. We'll be chiming in right along with you.
The addition of horns for this performance gives this choogler a nifty new feel.
Longhaired gospel doesn't come any better than this. Even Santa loves this song!
This is the definition of good time rock & roll. And Hossak has a really fabulous jacket in this clip, too. Stars 'n' stripes forever, dude.
Although best known as a singles band, there's a treasure trove of great deep album cuts in their catalog, including this picker's delight from 1975's Toulouse Street.
We conclude this week with a smooth classic from 1973's enduring The Captain and Me, the perfect score for sparking a phatty and cuddling up with your honey.
