Album review: THE DOOBIE BROTHERS – Cycles, Brotherhood

BGO Records [Release date 25.06.21]

Two albums for Capitol by The Doobie Brothers, first released in 1989 (‘Cycles’) and 1991 (‘Brotherhood’), get a re-issue and digital remaster from BGO Records.

The Doobie Brothers officially split in 1982 but re-formed in 1987, with Cycles being their first post-reunion release. The band featured founder members Tom Johnston (guitars, vocals) and Patrick Simmons (guitars, vocals) – the only band member to appear on every album released by the band. Joining them were Tiran Porter (bass, vocals), John Hartman (drums, vocals), Michael Hossack (drums, percussion) and Bobby LaKind (percussion, vocals), who left the band after the ‘Cycles’ album due to illness.

Opening with a natural successor to the band’s 70’s classic ‘China Grove’, ‘The Doctor’ was a US Top Ten hit and rightly so. A lovely piece of mainstream rock with a huge chorus. Elsewhere the album saw the band carry on with their successful blend of southern rock and pop/soul, although with more focus on the guitar and rock, and less of the more soulful side of the band when Michael McDonald was involved (although his co-write ‘Tonight I’m Coming Through’ features on this album).

Plenty of easy on the ear, made for a lazy afternoon listening tunes including the Isley Brother cover ‘Need A Little Taste Of Love’, the aforementioned ‘Tonight I’m Coming Through’ and ‘Time Is Here And Gone’. If you like say Toto late 80’s output you’ll enjoy both of these albums.

1991’s Brotherhood was the band’s last for their then label Capitol, who dropped them after the poor sales performance of this album. Not sure why this didn’t continue the success they enjoyed with ‘Cycles’ as it is more AOR focussed, especially with Jim Peterik (ex-Survivor) involved in helping pen two songs. Perhaps the timing was not great as grunge was in the ascendancy, although the band certainly continued to enjoy great success on the road.

There are some great songs on here including the sassy ‘Dangerous’, the two Peterik co-writes, ‘Divided Highway’ and ‘Under The Spell’, which unsurprisingly sound like Survivor, and ‘This Train Is Right On Time’, a real hark back to their 70s sound and their glorious harmony vocals.

The band still tour, with Michael McDonald having re-joined the band in 2019. Two for one set that should be in anyone’s collection of southern rock/AOR. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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