Artist:The Doobie Brothers
Song:What a Fool Believes
Album:Greatest Hits
The Doobie Brothers were very popular in the early 70s. When original lead singer Tom Johnston had health problems, it looked like they might be through. But his replacement Michael McDonald revitalized them and the 1979 single What a Fool Believes topped the charts. It's their biggest hit. The change began when former Steely Dan guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter joined The Doobie Brothers. While the single Black Water topped the charts, Tom Johnston was having health problems that forced him to miss some shows. After Johnston was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer, Baxter suggested that Michael McDonald, another former Steely Dan member, could replace Johnston temporarily. After the tour, the band needed to do something more permanent for their next album. So they asked McDonald to bring some demos and they might use some of his songs. Warner Bros. was jittery about McDonald. But when McDonald's Takin' It To the Streets was a hit, they were happy. McDonald wrote and sang four songs on the album. Johnston left The Doobie Brothers after the 1977 album Livin' on the Fault Line and released a 1979 solo album. With the 1979 album Minute by Minute, McDonald became the main lead singer. So The Doobies became a blue eyed soul band. What a Fool Believes was the first single. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 and is The Doobie Brothers' biggest hit. The album was certified 3XPlatinum. McDonald wrote What a Fool Believes with Kenny Loggins and Loggins recorded it on his 1978 album Nightwatch. It was not released as a single. Bill Payne of Little Feat played the synthesizers. So it was a great success. But McDonald wasn't getting along with Baxter. Baxter left and so did drummer John Hartman. He was replaced by session drummer Chet McCracken and Baxter was replaced by John McFee of Clover. When the 1980 album One Step Closer was unsuccessful, that led to the end of The Doobie Brothers in 1981. Patrick Simmons clashed with McDonald over McDonald's activities outside The Doobie Brothers. McDonald left and launched a successful solo career. This 2001 comp is considered to be the best Doobie Brothers comp. They reformed in 1987 and a version of the band with Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, Michael McDonald and John McFee still records and tours. Here's the video for What a Fool Believes by The Doobie Brothers.
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