Brian presents The Doobie Brothers “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” from February of 1974 (Another Park, Another Sunday / Eyes of Silver / Nobody / Black Water). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Theme from the motion picture “Blazing Saddles” STAFF PICKS: “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone — Bruce. “She's Gone” by Hall and Oates — Rob. “Burn” by Deep Purple — Wayne. “Jim Dandy to the Rescue” by Black Oak Arkansas — Brian. COMEDY TRACK: “Energy Crisis '74" by Dickie Goodman
The Doobie Brothers were already a commercial success by the time their fourth studio album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, was released in 1974. This iteration of The Doobie Brothers features mainstream rock and roll with a folk harmony bent, and the vocals of singer-songwriters Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. Tim Porter is on bass, and "Little" John Hartman and Michael Hossack round out the group in the unusual position of dual drummers.
The group got the name The Doobie Brothers from Keith "Dyno" Rossen, who suggested it to Johnston, "because you're always smoking pot." Everyone agreed that it was a stupid name and they only intended to use the name until they came up with something better. They never did, and The Doobie Brothers have been with us for 5 decades.
When they were first starting out, The Doobie Brothers attracted early attention from local chapters of the Hells Angels, and many of their gigs were at biker bars and venues frequented by motorcycle riders.
The Doobie Brothers have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the class of 2020.
Another Park, Another Sunday
With a mellow, beautiful melody and chord progression, this track tells the story of the loss of a girl. This is a very relaxing song that takes us back to a laid back memory. Tom Johnston takes lead vocal duties on this first single release from the album.
Eyes of Silver
This is the second single release from the album. While it is well known today, it did not do as well as the modest success that "Another Park, Another Sunday" achieved as a single. Even though the band originated in the San Francisco bay area, this song has more of a southern rock feel to us. We also enjoyed the sound of The Memphis Horns on this one.
Nobody
Originally recorded on their debut album, this song was adjusted and put on the album. This was the third single, though it was about to be overshadowed by the next single coming.
Black Water
Patrick Simmons takes vocal duties on this "swamp rock" hit, which would be the biggest one off the album. Originally the B-side from "Another Park, Another Sunday," DJ's began to pick up on it, and it would become The Doobie Brothers' first million-selling song. Check out that acapella section at the end.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
The theme from the motion picture “Blazing Saddles”
Mel Brooks' comedy film could never be produced today! Brian reminisces about taking a date to this movie. Richard Pryor wrote parts of this film.
STAFF PICKS:
“Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone
Bruce's staff pick is the highest charting single from Redbone, a Native American rock group. It would peak at number 5 on the Billboard hot 100. Brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas, Tony Bellamy, and Butch Rillera make up the group, and Lolly plays the electric sitar. It got a second life when it was on Star Lord's awesome mix tape from the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
“She's Gone” by Hall and Oates
Rob brings us some blue-eyed soul from Darryl Hall and John Oates. Similar to the case with “Nobody,” this is the first release of of the song, which peaked at #60. They would tweak the song and re-release the song in 1976, when it would go to #7 — the version you will recognize more easily. Both Hall and Oates were going through breakups at the time that they wrote the song. The video to this song is...well, definitely pre-MTV!
“Burn” by Deep Purple
Wayne's staff pick brings the tempo up with the title song off Deep Purple's eighth album. The singer is David Coverdale, who co-wrote the song with Ritchie Blackmore. The constant drumming and strong vocals make it a great driving song. The lyrics tell the story of “a witch's last curse as she is burned at the stake.”
“Jim Dandy to the Rescue” by Black Oak Arkansas
Brian takes us down south, and back to a song originally written in 1956 by Lincoln Chase and recorded by Laverne Baker. Ruby Starr and Jim "Dandy" Mangrum take turns on the vocal leads on this high energy boogie.
COMEDY TRACK:
"Energy Crisis '74" by Dickie Goodman
Another montage comedy track from Dickie Goodman takes us out on this week's podcast.