Review: The Doobie Brothers ‘Walk This Road’
By Hal Horowitz
There aren’t many bands that can boast of touring and releasing new music on their 54th anniversary. But The Doobie Brothers are not like most other outfits.
It has been a long and often confusing journey for these West Coast guys whose decades-long run includes some extended breaks.
From releasing 1971s mediocre debut that few heard, to initially striking gold with a combination of co-founder Tom Johnston’s “Rockin’ Down the Highway” boogie and Pat Simmons’ finger-picking folk rock, then substantially rejiggering to feature frontman Michael McDonald’s throaty soul pop, this has been an eclectic ride. Disbanding and reforming a few times, the Doobie’s ultimately returned to their earlier approach. McDonald rejoined for a 50th anniversary tour in 2021, combining both ends of the band’s see-sawing styles.
The voyage continues with ‘Walk This Road,” released June 6. Johnston and Simmons, along with longtime second guitarist John McFee, welcomes back McDonald who contributes material for the first time since 1980. That quartet is now considered The Doobie Brothers. Hired studio pros fill out the sound.
This results in a professional, expertly conceived alliance, albeit one where, despite the fraternal name, there is only one instance with a few of the foursome combining to author a tune. Producer/multi-instrumentalist John Shanks however co-pens every track, making him an unofficial fifth member.
Perhaps not surprisingly, everything is generally more laid-back than in the past, dispensing with the rollicking “Long Train Running” guitar riffs that kept the Doobies’ music alive on oldies rock stations all these years. Only Johnston’s “Here to Stay” and his tribute to “New Orleans” finds that groove, the latter featuring a tight solo evocative of former days.
Regardless, there is plenty of quality here. Patrick Simmons delivers his “Black Water”-styled folk-rock in “Angels & Mercy” about an outlaw on the run. He overdubs electric/acoustic guitars and Dobro for one of this set’s most impressive performances. His “State of Grace” is a lovely, reflective ballad; a prayer for the titular feeling with “I’ve played the hero, played the fool/Sometimes life can be so cruel” as McDonald provides backing vocals. The closing dreamy “Lahaina” pays tribute to Simmons’ Hawaiian home with guests Mick Fleetwood and Jake Shimabukuro’s ukulele.
A handful of McDonald tunes, all co-written with Shanks, are reminiscent of the slicker pop/R&B direction that sold tonnage in the ‘Minute by Minute’ era. His husky voice and ringing keyboards lead “Learn to Let Go” (taking an interesting reggae-inflected twist), “The Kind That Lasts” and “Speed of Pain,” all could have been written during his early 80s run as Doobie’s hit-making frontman. He also penned the opening gospel-inflected title track, the lone example of each Doobie taking a verse, along with a spotlight stealing turn from the always stunning Mavis Staples. More of that vocal teamwork would have been welcome.
It’s clear these recordings were not created in the studio with all members playing/collaborating concurrently. But even without that cohesive glue, ‘Walk This Road’ finds the Doobies, all in their 70s, still generating classy, occasionally invigorating music. The animated album references, and at times rejoices in, their older-but-wiser lives, proving they still have plenty of gas filling their collective tanks.
Pre-order the album HERE
“Walk This Road”
Leave A Comment