Over at Cocktails and Records, it seems I have been challenged--in what the youngsters I believe are calling a "meme"--to come up with a song which makes me smile and to share it with the many hundreds of individuals who regularly log on to this here blog. Thanks for your kind words, Cocktails. You're absolutely right. I can't say I'm proud of it, but I can't justifiably deny my occasional penchant for tuneful soft rock.
Not wanting to disappoint on that score then, might I respectfully point you towards the Doobie Brothers, very much in a similar vein to Steely Dan who as you say I hold dear to my heart. Indeed the two bands have shared at least two band members during the course of their respective careers: mighty solo guitar wizard Jeff "Skunk" Baxter--of "Reeling in the Years" fame--and Michael McDonald, backing vocalist on The Dan's Aja and Katy Lied albums and later lead singer, keyboardist and songwriter for the Doobies.
Sadly, neither of these two feature in this 2004 footage of my favourite Doobies song, McDonald having recently been busy peddling unnecessary Motown covers and Baxter as long ago as the mid 1980s having gone on to great things as consultant to the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency. As you do...
Enough blathering then. There was a pointless drum-machine-heavy remix in 1993 and apparently, Lord help us, a Bananarama cover two years earlier, but this is the definitive Doobies version of the song. There's a certain amount of stadium rock posturing in this clip as is sometimes the way with men in late middle age attempting to recreate the glory days of their youth, but the playing is pretty spot on and that guitar riff just gets my toes a-tapping every time. Enjoy...
6 comments:
Oh that is a good choice (although I could probably live without the extended ending in the clip). Can't go wrong with a bit of Long Train Running can you?
And as usual you've peppered your post with some 'oh,really!' type facts. Jeff Baxter is a missile consultant?!
I remember once hearing Shaun Rowley saying that in his dream superband, Michael McDonald would be singing back-ups. He might be in mine too, just because of What A Fool Believes and Christopher Cross's 'Ride like the Wind'. Now, THAT is a Song of the Week selection too.
PS. Just watched the clip of Reeling in the Years - I hope Jeff's cut his hair for his new job with the straights.
Thanks Cocktails. Believe it or not I actually first heard the Jeff Skunk Baxter fact on Never Mind The Buzzcocks!
A quick dekko on Google Images reveals that he has in fact sported a shorter haircut in more recent years although his walrus moustache remains majestically intact!!
Re Michael McDonald, I did consider posting Taking It To The Streets which I think is not as good as a song, but does feature both the ex-Dan men in all their hirsute glory (and a nicely understated guitar solo from the missile man!)
I like that one too, but you're right Long Train Running is the better one.
Have you ever seen the Yacht Rock series? It is non-stop Doobies, Steely Dan, Kenny Loggins and Eagles references.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZBXNtMKJp4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb_XEwgfmDk&feature=related
Some of them are quite good, but unfortunately many episodes have had their soundtrack removed...
Liking your Yacht Rock clips. I'm sure it was just like this in the seventies with the Eagles and Steely Dan engaged in some sort of West Coast AOR-rock gang warfare.
...And welcome to Twitter by the way! You finally caved in! I try and kid myself I know all these cool music journalists by following them. Also, I can recommend DrSamuelJohnson.
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