The Doobie Brothers – Toulouse Street – Mobile Fidelity Stereo Hybrid SACD UDSACD 2041, 36 minutes ****:
The Doobie Brothers are Tiran Porter (vocals, bass), Pat Simmons (vocals, guitar), John (little John) Hartman (drums, percussion), Tom Johnston (vocals, guitar) and Michael Hossack (drums). The Doobie Brothers had an album a year before this one in 1971, but it was Toulouse Street that put them on the map with hit songs “Listen to the Music” (#11 Pop Singles) and “Jesus Is Just Alright” (#35 Pop Singles). Also on this record is the heavily-played track “Rockin’ Down the Highway.” The album itself reached #21 on the Pop Album chart in 1972. The band is somewhat of a rock ‘n’ soul group with vocal harmonies, but with more of a blues influence rather than a country influence like The Eagles.
I was a little surprised when I received this disc simply for the fact that most of Mo-Fi’s recent releases have been gold CDs or vinyl and not SACDs. One of the songs that may not be known to the radio listening crowd, but is worthwhile is track five. It grooves, it funks, it grinds. The sound of the record as a whole is undeniably the Doobies as the country-ish transition on track six goes right into the wild and woolly “Jesus Is Just Alright.” Many of the tracks utilize extensive acoustic guitar work and although the last track is short, it packs a healthy sonic punch.
I didn’t have the original CD for comparison, but do own the DCC version of the Doobie Brothers greatest hits. I was listening for an huge improvement in sonics, but it wasn’t there. There is a somewhat “chunky” quality in the midrange that prevents this disc from sounding even like better CDs. Noise level is low, as you would expect from SACDs. Track four would be a good comparison track as it starts with an excellent, melodious guitar solo before a vocal harmony starts. If you don’t already own this disc, then it is a contender, otherwise you may want to think twice. Sound B+/A-, Music A-.
TrackList: Listen to the Music; Rockin’ Down the Highway; Mamaloi; Toulouse Street; Cotton Mouth; Don’t Start Me to Talkin’; Jesus Is Just Alright; White Sun; Disciple; Snake Man.
– Brian Bloom
