One Step Closer

by The Doobie Brothers

Product Description:

Doobie Brothers: Patrick Simmons, John McFee (vocals, guitar); Cornelius Bumpus (vocals, saxophone, organ); Michael McDonald (vocals, keyboards); Keith Knudsen (vocals, drums); Tiran Porter (bass); Chet McCracken (drums, percussion).

Additional personnel: Christopher Thompson, Nicolette Larson (vocals); Joel Peskin (baritone saxophone); Jerome Jumonville (saxophone); Bill Armstrong, Lee Thornburg (trumpet); Patrick Henderson (keyboards); Bobby LaKind, Ted Templeman (percussion).

The Doobie's last album before hanging it up for nearly a decade featured new personnel (in particular hot shot guitarist John McFee). But Michael McDonald was still running the show with his firm grasp on sophisticated pop soul. The title track here could be the best thing McDonald ever did, mating an ebullient tune in his "What a Fool Believes" style with a chorus that borders on power pop. Nothing else quite matches that, although "Real Love" and "Keep This Train A Rollin'" come close. "South Bay Strut" continues the band's tradition of including tempo changes in the instrumental breaks; it's a slick piece of fusion jazz that lets McFee strut his stuff.