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Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000

The Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000 Audio CD

A fair review of the The Doobie Brothers "Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Doobie Brothers reviews here, or go back to the The Doobie Brothers tabs.

Band: The Doobie Brothers
Title: Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000
Rating:

Release Date: 1999-09-28
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Nobody [Single Version] 2: Slippery St. Paul 3: Listen to the Music [Single Version] 4: Rockin' Down the Highway [Single Version] 5: Toulouse Street 6: Cottonmouth 7: Jesus Is Just Alright 8: White Sun 9: Natural Thing 10: Long Train Runnin' 11: China Grove 12: Dark Eyed Cajun Woman 13: Clear as the Driven Snow 14: South City Midnight Lady 15: You Just Can't Stop It 16: Spirit 17: Pursuit on 53rd St. 18: Black Water 19: Eyes of Silver 20: Down in the Track 21: Another Park, Another Sunday 22: Sweet Maxine [Single Version] 23: Neal's Fandango 24: Music Man 25: Slack Key Soquel Rag 26: Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me) 27: Texas Lullaby 28: I Cheat the Hangman 29: Wheels of Fortune [Single Version] 30: Losin' End 31: Takin' It to the Streets 32: It Keeps You Runnin' 33: Echoes of Love 34: Nothin' But a Heartache 35: Chinatown 36: There's a Light 37: Little Darling (I Need You) 38: You Belong to Me 39: Open Your Eyes 40: Minute by Minute 41: Dependin' on You 42: Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels 43: What a Fool Believes 44: Here to Love You [Single Version] 45: Dedicate This Heart 46: Real Love 47: No Stoppin' Us Now 48: One Step Closer 49: Keep This Train A-Rollin' 50: One by One 51: Wynken, Blynken and Nod 52: Doctor 53: South of the Border 54: Time Is Here and Gone 55: Need a Little Taste of Love 56: Dangerous 57: Excited 58: This Train I'm On 59: Rollin' On 60: Little Bitty Pretty One 61: Daughters of the Sea [Demo Version] 62: Armadillo Death Chant 63: Osborne (Long Train Runnin') 64: Four Days Gone 65: Spiel 66: Lovin' My Way Back Home 67: Pat's Song 68: Blue Jay 69: Peace in the Valley 70: Mambo Waltz 71: Outside of Barstow 72: Argentine Grape (Sweet Maxine) 73: Shuffle (Double Dealin' Four Flusher) 74: Takin' It to the Streets [Demo Version] 75: We Would Sail Away (St. Paul) 76: Jesus Is Just Alright [Unissued Live Version, 1982] 77: Olana [Studio Version]

What's not to love?
So much fun and so many memories are tied to these songs. I saw the Doobies with Chicago in 2008 and fell in love with them all over again. It's like a wonderful trip back in time.

Who is this for?
The 4th disc, with the rarities, is definitely for the hardcore fan. The first 3 discs are sort of a "best-of" collection, with a little too much stuff (and not necessarily the best-chosen songs) for the casual fan. I own pretty much everything else by the Doobies, so I would have liked to have been able to just get the rarities. I guess that kind of thing wouldn't be expected to sell well enough on its own, though. (BTW, disc 3 also features a couple of "rarities" as well: "Wynken, Blynken & Nod," which was the only decent track on a various-artists kids' songs LP, and the awesomely fun, brand-new cover of "Little Bitty Pretty One. ")

Since my interest lies in the rarities, I haven't concerned myself with the other tracks (except for the fact that this set frustratingly misses the opportunity to restore "Neal's Fandango" to the full length version that was on the original STAMPEDE LP but not the CD).

The rarities are often fascinating, and worthwhile beyond their historical interest. Between Disc 4 here and the various unauthorized editions of a set of early demos that exist (EXCITEMENT, ON OUR WAY UP, etc. ), it's clear that the Doobies' debut album did not include the best material they had available. Songs like "Four Days Gone" and "Bluejay" are not just good by reject standards -- they're good, period.

Another interesting rarity is the studio version of "Olana. " I would have thought the band was breaking up before this would have been recorded. It falls short of the FAREWELL TOUR version (where's that keyboard riff that drives the chorus?), but it almost makes it possible to imagine the Doobies continuing post-Pat Simmons. (Note that I say "almost. ")

My only issue with what is and isn't included on the rarities disc is that the so-called "unissued live version" of "Jesus Is Just Alright" is actually the version from the FAREWELL TOUR album.
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Nice box set for the critical underdogs of rock
This collection gathers up a healthy sampling of their singles, best album tracks and rarities in a four disc set. Although they never garnered the critical praise of The Band, Mott the Hopple, CCR there were few bands that could hold a candle to the hit making strength of The Doobie Brothers. While I would have paired back the selections from the band's weakest albums (including the awful "One Step Closer") (hence 4 stars), this collection doesn't skimp on the band's worthwhile output from their peak years.

Sound quality is exceptional with a crisp detailed sound not heard before. Since fans will probably be familair with the bulk of the tracks here I'm only going to focus on the fourth disc with the bonus tracks. We get a number of good demos including Pat Simmons' "Daughters of the Sea","Four Days Gone", "Pat's Song"; Tom Johnston's "Osborne" (an early version of "Long Train Runnin'), "Lovin' My Way Back Home", "Peace in the Valley" all of which are strong tunes. "Bluejay" is also quite good and with "Peace in the Valley" one of the highlights here. It's a pity these songs never showed up on an album before now. "Armadillo Death Chang" is interesting as well--Johnston appears to have had a problem with song titles much like George Harrison in many cases as the title has absolutely nothing to do with this rockin' tune.

"Outside of Barstow" is a demo with just Johnston and his guitar and, again, is a terrific little song that should have been revisited. "Spiel" is a John Hartman composition (the only solo composing credit the drummer received)that's really more of a joke track. I haven't listened to "Olana" in a while but this studio version of the Michael McDonald track is better than the live version from the 1983 final tour recording.
The rest of the material was released in one form or another and these are either demos or alternate versions of the final tracks. We also get demos for "Sweet Maxine", "Shuffle" two demos from Michael McDonald "Takin' It To The Streets", "We Would Sail Away" both of which are strong demos. A Live version of "Jesus is Just Alright" from the live album sessions in 1982.

The booklet has lots of rare photos, interviews and features the band discussing the changes over the years. If you purchased the most recent greatest hits release (2001)the text and photos from the booklet are the same. I was disappointed that there wasn't a DVD (much like the recent Pretenders set) as these guys in their prime were a powerhouse on stage. The four stars reflects the fact that the there could have been more previously unreleased material. I was hoping that the four tracks that Tom Johnston completed for "Livin' On The Fault Line" but withdrawn from the album would have been included but no such luck. .

Great for work...
There isnt a ton of gold to mine (even Michael Macdonalds 'You belong to me' is already on their expanded 20 track Greatest Hits. I found this at a wherehouse club for $38. ) I am a big fan of box sets and always ready to listen and learn. Its a good overview including the Michael Mcdonald songs from the 1976 Takin' It To The Streets album and a healthy sampling from Minute By Minute and One Step Closer. .

Missing track
But overall a great selection of all their classics and more. Just a quick complaint about a great box set of Doobie magic,one of my fave tracks "Without You" ain't on it, was so disappointed!.

You can see a complete list of all The Doobie Brothers discography, or go back to the The Doobie Brothers tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.