Category: Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers – Rockin Down The Highway – The Wildlife Concert (1996)

by Record Facts

The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band from San Jose, California. The group has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide throughout its career. The band has been active for five decades, with their biggest success occurring in the 1970s.
 The band’s history can be roughly divided into three eras.
From 1969 to 1975 they featured lead vocalist Tom Johnston and featured a mainstream rock and roll sound with elements of folk, country and R&B. Johnston quit the group in 1975, and was replaced with Michael McDonald whose interest in soul music changed the sound of the band until they broke up in 1982.
The Doobie Brothers reformed in 1987 with Johnston back in the fold and are active to the present with occasional contributions from McDonald. Every incarnation of the group emphasized vocal harmonies from the band’s members.
The Doobie Brothers were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.

Rockin’ Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert is the second double live album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1996.
In the spring of 1996, the Doobie Brothers performed a benefit concert for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which was captured on the double-disc live album, Rockin’ Down the Highway.
During the show, all three of the group’s lead vocalists — Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons — performed with the group, which was a first in the band’s history. Fittingly, the Doobies used the concert to celebrate their past, playing hits like “Black Water,” “China Grove,” and “What a Fool Believes,” but they also decided to showcase two new songs, which were never released on any previous album. Unsurprisingly, these songs pale in comparison to the hits, which the band play with affection, if not overwhelming energy.
And since the group is laidback and nostalgic throughout Rocking’ Down the Highway, the album is best-suited for fans who are also nostalgic for the band’s glory days. In other words, it’s pleasant, but entirely unnecessary.

The album marked the first appearance on a Doobie Brothers album of guitarist John McFee and drummer Keith Knudsen since rejoining the group in 1993 after an eleven-year absence. Two other former members also appeared – keyboardist/singer/songwriter Michael McDonald performed on three tracks he had written and sung during his time with the group while saxophonist/keyboardist Cornelius Bumpus, who had been a member in the early 1980s, featured as a sidesman.
Two tracks had not previously appeared on the group’s albums.
Slow Burn was a new track while Wild Ride had been on Patrick Simmons‘ solo album Take Me to the Highway released the same year.

Disc 1

  1. “Dangerous” (Simmons) – 5:58
  2. “Jesus Is Just Alright” (Arthur Reid Reynolds) – 4:51
  3. “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)” (Holland-Dozier-Holland) – 3:48
  4. “Slow Burn” (Johnston, McFee, Knudsen, Hossack) – 4:44
  5. “Dependin’ on You” (Simmons, McDonald) – 4:13
  6. “Another Park, Another Sunday” (Johnston) – 5:04
  7. “The Doctor” (Johnston, Midnight, Schwartz) – 4:31
  8. “Slack Key Soquel Rag [instrumental]” (Simmons) – 1:59
  9. “South City Midnight Lady” (Simmons) – 5:37
  10. “Eyes of Silver” (Johnston) – 3:12
  11. “Black Water” (Simmons) – 4:32
  12. “Takin’ It to the Streets” (McDonald) – 4:42

Disc 2

  1. “Rockin’ Down the Highway” (Johnston) – 3:28
  2. “Minute by Minute” (McDonald. Lester Abrams) – 4:22
  3. “Wild Ride” (Simmons. Midnight) – 3:54
  4. “China Grove” (Johnston) – 4:02
  5. “Dark Eyed Cajun Woman” (Johnston) – 5:58
  6. “Neal’s Fandango” (Simmons) – 3:27
  7. “Without You” (Johnston) – 6:45
  8. “Clear as the Driven Snow” (Simmons) – 5:22
  9. “Excited” (Johnston, J. L. Williams) – 5:30
  10. “What a Fool Believes” (McDonald, Kenny Loggins) – 3:54
  11. “Long Train Runnin’” (Johnston) – 5:55
  12. “Listen to the Music” (Johnston) – 5:29

The Doobie Brothers

Additional personnel

  • Guy Allison – keyboards
  • Cornelius Bumpus – saxophone, keyboards, vocals, lead vocal on “Jesus Is Just Alright”
  • Carlos Guaico – background vocals
  • Danny Hull – saxophones, harmonica, keyboards, vocals
  • Buck Johnson – background vocals
  • Dale Ockerman – keyboards, guitar, vocals
  • Skylark – bass, vocals

Production

  • Producers: Charlie Midnight, The Doobie Brothers
  • Executive Producers: Jeff Jones, Andy Kadison
  • Engineer: John Harris
  • Assistant Engineer: Tom Cadley
  • Mastering: Gavin Lurssen, Doug Sax
  • Mixing: Joel Soyffer
  • Mixing Assistant: Joe Warlick
  • Photography: Danny Clinch
  • Design: Erwin Gorostiza
  • Art Direction: Erwin Gorostiza

Notes
Release date: July, 1996
Recorded: May 6, 1996 New York, NY – May 11, 1996 Nashville, TN
Genre: Rock
Length: Disc 1 53:16
Length: Disc 2 58:13

Label – Sony Records