The Doobie Brothers got their start at the Chateau Liberte in Santa Cruz but they first met at the Gaslighter Theatre in Campbell California. It was the tail-end of the psychedelic era and the world was ready for a different sound.

Listen to the Music was their first hit in 1972. By 1974 they were so big they had to use a plane dubbed "The Doobieliner" to get to gigs. In 1975 the band recruited Michael McDonald as lead singer replacing the ailing Tom Johnston. Michael McDonald brought a different, less gritty rock sound to the band. This sound pushed the band away from the more biker-bong-boogie style that made them popular originally. However, the new sound made them a crossover pop-R&B-rock sensation, bringing them even more fans and chart presence.

Unfortunately the pressure of touring while recording and releasing an album each year had worn the members down. The triumph of the song "Minute by Minute" was bittersweet, however, because it coincided with the near-dissolution of the band. In 1982 they did a farewell tour stating that they had gotten too far away from the Doobie Brothers sound and with no original members left in the band they decided to call it quits. In the 80s they did a reunion tour with most of the original band members in attendance and this was met with surprising success. They were once signed with Capital records who did nothing to promote the album Brotherhood thinking that the Doobie Brothers were history. This DVD proves they are certainly not history.

This is an excellent history of a great and vital band. It also contains 48 minutes of live performances (as a bonus) that is sure to please.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012  Volume 6 at lulu.com/strangesound.