The Very Best of the Doobie Brothers (CD - 2007)

The Doobie Brothers: Tom Johnston (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, synthesizer); Keith Knudsen (vocals); John McFee (pedal steel guitar); Tiran Porter, Dave Shogren (bass guitar); Chet McCracken, Cornelius Bumpus, Jeff Baxter, John Hartman , Michael Hossack, Michael McDonald , Patrick Simmons, Bobby LaKind.

Personnel: John McFee (vocals, guitar, dobro, mandolin, violin, harmonica); Patrick Simmons (vocals, guitar, banjo, flute, synthesizer); Cornelius Bumpus (vocals, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, organ); Michael McDonald (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer); Bobby LaKind (vocals, percussion); Tiran Porter, Dave Shogren (vocals); Jeff Baxter (guitar); Chet McCracken (vibraphone, marimba, drums); Michael Hossack (drums, congas, timbales, percussion); John Hartman , Keith Knudsen (drums, percussion).

Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Elliot Scheiner; Rodney Mills.

Audio Remasterers: Dave Schultz; Andrew Garver; Bill Inglot.

Audio Remixer: Donn Landee.

Liner Note Author: Barry Alfonso.

Recording information: A&R Recorders, New York, NY; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Curtom Studios, Chicago, IL; Earthwalk Studio, Agoura Hills, CA; Hyperbolic Sound, Maui, HI; Lizard Rock Studio, Solvang, CA; Pacific Recording Studios, San Mateo, CA; Record Plant, Sausalito, CA; The Burbank Studios, Burbank, CA; The Plant Recording Studios, Sausalito, CA; Tom Hall's Melody Line Studios, Maui, HI; United Sound Recorders, Detroit, MI; Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA.

Photographers: Michael Maggid; Michael Putland; Dan Fong; Henry Diltz; Andy Katz.

From their early recipe of country harmony, funk, guitar grit, and gospel power to their morphing into a first-rate adult contemporary R&B band, the Doobie Brothers' arc in the '70s and early '80s mirrors that of early FM radio itself. The band has already documented this period on several greatest-hits collections, all of varying degrees of depth. Stretching out over 33 tracks THE VERY BEST OF THE DOOBIE BROTHERS offers all of the hits, such as "China Grove," "Listen to the Music," "Jesus is Just All Right," and "What A Fool Believes," while there are enough deep cuts such as "Sweet Maxine" and their reunion hit "The Doctor" to keep avid fans happy. Two discs is a whole lot of Doobies, and this collection may overstay the welcome of the undecided with its focus on the comeback era of the mid '80s. Otherwise, this is a solid place to get a broad view of this classic band. minimize