Minute by Minute

by The Doobie Brothers

Overview

With Tom Johnston gone from the lineup because of health problems, this is where the "new" Doobie Brothers really make their debut, with a richly soulful sound throughout and emphasis on horns and Michael McDonald's piano more than on Patrick Simmons' or Jeff Baxter's guitars. Not that they were absent entirely, or weren't sometimes right up front in the mix, as the rocking, slashing "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels" and the bluegrass-influenced "Steamer Lane Breakdown" demonstrate. But given the keyboards, the funky rhythms, and McDonald's soaring tenor (showcased best on "What a Fool Believes"), it's almost difficult to believe that this is the hippie bar band that came out of California in 1970. There's less virtuosity here than on the group's first half-dozen albums, but overall a more commercial sound steeped in white funk. It's still all pretty compelling even if its appeal couldn't be more different from the group's earlier work (i.e., The Captain and Me, etc.). The public loved it, buying something like three million copies, and the recording establishment gave Minute by Minute four Grammy Awards, propelling the group to its biggest success ever. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	10/17/2025
Label:	Mobile Fidelity
UPC:	0821797230063

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Doobie Brothers   Primary Artist
Andrew Love   Guest Artist,Horn,Saxophone
Nicolette Larson   Guest Artist,Vocals
Lester Abrams   Keyboards,Piano (Electric),Vocals
John Hartman   Drums
Michael McDonald   Vocals,Keyboards,Lead Vocals,Synthesizer,Vocal Harmony
Tiran Porter   Bass,Vocals
Rosemary Butler   Vocals
Norton Buffalo   Harmonica
Tom Johnston   Guitar,Vocals
Herb Pedersen   Banjo
Jeff Baxter   Guitar,Guitar (Steel)
Byron Berline   Fiddle,Violin
Sumner Mering   Guitar,Soloist,Synthesizer
Patrick Simmons   Guitar,Vocals,Lead Vocals
Ted Templeman   Drums,Percussion
Keith Knudsen   Drums,Vocals
Bobby LaKind   Congas,Vocals,Conductor
Bill Payne   Keyboards,Synthesizer
Ben Cauley   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Lester Abrams   Composer,Writer
John Hartman   Group Member
Michael McDonald   Writer,Arranger,Composer,Group Member
Loyd Clifft   Engineer
Michael Ebert   Writer,Composer
Tiran Porter   Group Member
Donn Landee   Engineer
Carole Bayer Sager   Writer,Composer
Jeff Baxter   Writer,Composer,Group Member
Bruce Steinberg   Cover Design,Design Coordinator
Steve Malcolm   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Christine Morse   Pre-Production
David Alexander   Photography
Patrick Henderson   Writer,Composer
Beth Naranjo   Production Coordination
Rev. Patrick Henderson   Composer
Patrick Simmons   Writer,Composer,Group Member
Ted Templeman   Writer,Composer,Producer
Steve Hoffman   Mastering
Keith Knudsen   Group Member
Kenny Loggins   Writer,Composer