Doobie Brothers ~ Listen To The Music 1972 Disco Purrfection Version

The story of the Doobie Brothers begins when that of 60's group Moby Grape ends. Moby Grape was the first group where all five members were lead vocalists and songwriters who successfully merged folk, jazz, rock, country, blues and psychedelia. The Grape had broken up and were attempting a reunion in 1969 when drummer John Hartman met Skip Spence, the Grape's guitarist. He put him in touch with Tom Johnston and the two began jamming together. The following year, Patrick Simmons and Dave Shogren joined and they adopted the name Doobie Brothers, and performed live shows in California for the likes of Hells Angels and built up a strong reputation. The energy they displayed got them signed to Warner Brothers music in 1971, and they released their eponymously titled debut LP to little reaction. The record did not accurately reflect the band's performances. During the sessions for the second LP, "Toulouse Street" Shogren was released as bassist and Tiran Porter anointed by the bands new producer Ted Templeman. His direction and production style brought the band their first real pop hit the #11 single "Listen To The Music" and the Doobies were on their way. Johnston wrote and sang lead on the song which he describes as "a call for world peace". Frank Mastropolo reported that Tom felt that "The chord structure of it made me think of something positive, so the lyrics that came out of that were based on this utopian idea that if the leaders of the world got together on some grassy hill somewhere and either smoked enough dope or just sat down and just listened to the music and forgot about all this other bullshit, the world would be a much better place. It was very utopian and very unrealistic (laughs). It seemed like a good idea at the time." Tom, it is still a good idea, thank you for a classic party forget about your troubles song that now is 7 minutes of Doobie Brothers heaven! Detroit rock radio was playing the hell out of "Rockin' Down The Highway" at time. Still gives me goosebumps!