home

The Vinyl Press

  • Features
  • Records
  • Cleaning – Care
  • Editorials
  • Compendia
  • Ephemera
  • Phono
  • About
You are here: Home / Records / The Doobie Brothers- Toulouse Street

The Doobie Brothers- Toulouse Street

July 6, 2015 by Bill Hart

IMG_0119

 

I’m not breaking any new ground here by saying that this album stands the test of time- it was a hugely successful record when it was released and still sounds fresh more than 40 years later. It was, for most people, their first introduction to the band, which went through personnel and stylistic changes over the years (and is, as of this writing, out on tour); but Toulouse Street captures the band at their best: thick, textured guitar riffs, two drummers, a mix of great songs, including two radio hits, “Listen to the Music” and “Jesus is Just Alright with Me.”

It is also a killer recording and in my estimation, represents the best of what the Warner “green label” had to offer during the ascendency of the label: well-produced mainstream rock that really rocked. Ted Templeman and Don Landee did production and engineering duties—a team that would deliver some great records for Warner over the years (including for Van Morrison, Little Feat, Captain Beefheart, and later, for Van Halen).

 

IMG_0118

This record has it all: there is virtually no “filler” here- just one great track after another, played by a band that was tight and knew how to use changes in tempo, contrasts in dynamics and layers of acoustic detail combined with effortless vocal harmonies and tuneful bass. The recording quality is stunning. Very little gets lost in the mix; the vocals are clear without sounding bright; the drums and bass are very “there” and the guitars are crisp, as is the piano. When things get louder, the record doesn’t sound congested, something all too common (on music of all genres). It may be taking advantage of judicious amounts of compression to pull this off, but man, it sounds great!

You don’t need to search out some special copy, either. This record, as originally released on the green label, is a common “bin find” and your only concern should be condition. Mine is a copy I’ve had since the record was released; it’s a little tatty, and hardly perfect, visually, but the surfaces are quiet and the music just pops off the grooves. It’s a great listen, musically and sonically. In fact, when I put it on the turntable for this write-up, I was stunned by just how good a recording it is (and probably say this every time I’ve played it over the course of more than forty years).

The Doobies went on to even greater success but this record not only captures the best of the band, but also represents what makes the Warner “green label” era so enduring.

Filed Under: Records

In Brief:

Milt Ward Virgo Reissue Coming from Frederiksberg

Although I don't have all the details yet, I have learned that Frederiksberg Records, a small, eclectic label from New York, is in the process of reissuing the hard to find (and even harder to pay for) jazz obscurity, Milt Ward and Virgo Spectrum. You can find out more by keeping tabs on Frederiksberg's Bandcamp page, https://frederiksbergrecords.bandcamp.com   I'm told there is a bootleg out there so be careful. Frederiksberg is doing this project with the participation of the family of Milt Ward, which is to be applauded. Hopefully, this will give more access to a great jazz record at a reasonable price. The Roots album reissue from Frederiksberg (which is sold out on vinyl on the Frederiksberg Records bandcamp site) still appears to be available through some online retailers as a pre-order, so that's another one to jump on now if you can find it-- the original is extremely pricey and … [Read More...]

Clem Snide- Forever Just Beyond

Clem Snide- Forever Just Beyond With a name derived from a character in the same literary work as the band name so famously identified with the Walter Becker-Donald Fagen duo, Clem Snide has an extensive discography, typically cataloged as “alt country.” This latest release is the work of one of its founding members, Eef Barzelay, who was responsible for much of the songwriting and singing. According to his bio, Barzelay suffered some serious bumps in the road during the last decade, including a failing marriage and financial ruin. At the same time, he learned that Scott Avett was a fan and they found inspiration in each other, leading to this album- a collaboration of artistry where Avett and Barzelay share some writing credits and Avett produces. The result is a fresh, upbeat set of tunes that are appealing in their simplicity and refreshing in their sincerity. The band is first tier … [Read More...]

Muriel Grossmann- Reverence

Muriel Grossmann- Reverence Muriel Grossmann continues her quest for musical ascension on Reverence, which was released on vinyl in early December, 2019 on the RR Gems label as a 2 LP set. The compositions are Grossmann’s, and the band is much the same as the group of seasoned musicians with whom she has worked for some time (and detailed in the review of her Golden Rule), but for one notable exception: the addition of a keyboard player who brings that rich, woody Hammond B-3 sound to a series of compositions devoted to Africa. In some ways, Ms. Grossmann’s exploration of the roots of jazz deliberately eschews any superficial attempt to make African music. Instead, she draws inspiration from its influences, which are wide ranging and deep—you can hear rhythm and blues sounds mixed with more traditional African instrumentation and polyrhythms and come away with something that is both … [Read More...]

Stylus Life- StylusTimer

Stylus Life- StylusTimer Stylus life is a recurring question in audio discussions. Some serious attention was devoted to the subject here, in Mike Bodell’s “The Finish Line for Your Phono Stylus.” That article examined the issue from a number of perspectives, including early studies, claims by cartridge manufacturers and real-life experiences by users. It also generated a long, interesting thread on the Steve Hoffman forum that is worthwhile to read. The Hoffman thread also generated an experiment by Ray Parkhurst who documented the wear of a new stylus under certain controlled conditions, which included a microscopic examination of the stylus at various time intervals over long hours of repeated play. See https://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-finish-line-for-your-phono-cartridge-stylus-wear-by-mike-bodell.842572/#post-21292730.   Whether you lean toward more optimistic … [Read More...]

Incoming! (More Interesting Records)

Incoming! (More Interesting Records)  An "interesting record" to me offers something unexpected, whether it is a fresh take on a recognized genre, or something that opens a new way of experiencing instruments in combination. It does not have to be "strange" or challenging to listen to; in fact, I'm a sucker for a good melodic hook and enjoy technical prowess as much as anybody, but there has got to be something "more"-- an intangible that differentiates the record from the millions of others to which we all have access.   As mentioned in a recent editorial, a lot of records come in and not all get written up. It’s not an editorial decision or any reflection of the music or sonics; I only have so much time, and I tend not to write short blurbs, but longer (some may say ‘too long’) reviews. My “incoming” piles continue to grow as I publish. This series of short capsules is meant to … [Read More...]

Terms of Use ·  Copyright © 2020 The Vinyl Press.com ·  Privacy Policy
A service of Flying Reptile Media Group ·  Contact


Register | Login to Comment | Comments FAQ

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in