Book Review: What A Fool Believes

Doobie Brothers. Steely Dan. Chart topping soloist. Across a half-century of American music, Michael McDonald’s unmistakably smooth baritone voice defined an era of rock and R&B with hit records like “What A Fool Believes,” “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “I Keep Forgettin’,” “Peg,” “It Keeps You Running,” “You Belong to Me,” and “Yah Mo B There.”

In his candid, freewheeling memoir, written with his friend, the Emmy Award-nominated actor and comedian Paul Reiser, Michael tells the story of his life and music. A high school dropout from Ferguson, Missouri, Michael chased his dreams in 1970’s California, a heady moment of rock opportunity and excess. As a rising session musician and backing vocalist, a series of encounters would send him on a wild ride around the world and to the heights of rock stardom—from joining Steely Dan and becoming a defining member of The Doobie Brothers to forging a path as a breakout solo R&B artist.

Patti Austin - Patti Austin

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of the self-titled, fifth studio album from American R&B singer Patti Austin. This one spent eighteen weeks on the US Billboard Album chart, peaking at number 87.

Doobie Brothers - Minute By Minute (35th anniversary)

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Sunday.

Today (December 1st) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of the release of Minute By Minute, the eighth studio album from the Doobie Brothers.

Please click here to read my full review of the album.

Kenny Loggins - Nightwatch

Today (July 12th) marks the thirty-fifth anniversary of Nightwatch, the second solo studio album from Kenny Loggins. This Platinum seller from 1978 peaked at number 7 on the US Billboard Hot 200, his highest charting album to date and since.

Diana Ross - Ross

Following 1982’s Silk Electric (click here for that review), Diana Ross came out with Ross in 1983. This was actually the second time she used just her last name for an album title - the first time being in 1978. This album went to number 59 in Australia, number 57 in Canada, number 44 in the UK, number 32 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 27 in the Netherlands and number 14 on the US Billboard R&B chart.

Christopher Cross - Another Page

After his phenomenal hit selling, self-titled debut record from 1979 (click here for that review) and a number 1 hit song with the title theme from the 1981 film Arthur, Christopher Cross had a lot riding on his follow up album. Today (January 31st) marks the thirtieth anniversary of the release of Another Page, his second studio album.

The record went Gold in both the US and the UK. Chart-wise, it climbed all the way to number 12 in Sweden, number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 200, number 9 in New Zealand, number 7 in the Netherlands, number 6 in Australia, number 4 in the UK, number 2 in Germany and number 1 in Japan.

Kenny Loggins - High Adventure

This month marks the thirtieth anniversary of High Adventure, the fourth solo studio album from Kenny Loggins. The 1982 release came out three years after his previous album; despite a long time away from the charts it still managed to climb all the way to number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 200. The sales in the US earned him a Gold certification for the disk.

Michael McDonald - If That's What It Takes

Today (August 9th) marks the thirtieth anniversary of If That’s What It Takes, the solo debut album of Michael McDonald. The American singer and songwriter had been a member of Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers in the 1970’s. After the later group’s first farewell tour, McDonald started working on the tracks that would eventually be part of his August 1982 release.

The album went Gold in sales, reaching number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 200 and number 10 on the US Billboard R&B charts. It generated two charting singles, including one Top 10 smash. McDonald wrote two of the ten tracks solo and collaborated on seven others.

The Doobie Brothers - Minute By Minute

Welcome to another edition of Seventies Saturday.

The American rock band out of San Jose, California, known as the Doobie Brothers have been making music since 1970. Their sound has been labeled things like “roots rock”, “country rock” and “swamp rock”, but to me it is all good music. Their mix of rich music and great harmonies are their trademark.

I know that the band was somewhere in that musical backdrop as I went through my elementary school days of the early to mid-70’s. Their songs were played on the radio that we listened to in the car or around the house. But it took their appearance on a two-part episode of the ABC sitcom What’s Happening in 1978 for me to get my first visual look at the Doobies. Remember, this was the days long before music television. The only place to see bands were on afternoon or late evening talk shows, the occasional variety show appearance, or possibly on American Bandstand.