Influences And Recollections of a Musical Mind

Written By Braddon S. Williams

The Doobie Brothers: Minute By Minute

Minute By Minute (1978) by The Doobie Brothers went hand in hand with Steely Dan’s Aja in my high school years.

These 2 smooth jazz and soul influenced albums seemed tailor made for each other.

The Doobie Brothers had started out as a more traditional rock band with original lead singer Tom Johnston, but by the time Minute By Minute was released, Michael McDonald was the main vocalist and the band’s sound had become much more of a blue-eyed soulful thing.

The title song, along with What A Fool Believes and Dependin’ On You were all big hits. In addition to the singles, the album also featured contributions from long time guitarist Patrick Simmons that incorporated more of the classic Doobie’s style.

I was fortunate to see The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan together in concert last summer, and it was pure musical bliss. It was my first time seeing either band, but they had been forever wedded in my mind since the glorious ’70’s.