Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000 [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One would be hard-pressed to find a band more perfectly symbolic of the good-times politics-be-damned esprit de cannabis that symbolized a good chunk of 70's rock. While the Beach Boys were busy becoming an anachronism, the Doobs effectively took their mantle, fusing an array of musical Americana--be it blues, country, folk, or gospel (they saved jazz and funk for their Michael McDonald-fronted incarnation)--into a remarkably popular string of albums and radio hits by simply asking not much more of us than to "Listen to the Music." And if they didn't get much more controversial than to declare "Jesus Is Just Alright," well, that was kind of the point. This Rhino anthology is typically exhaustive. All the familiar radio hits are here, as well as a good sampling of deep catalog from the band's various line-ups, not to mention a few standout Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons solo outings. Hardcore Doobie Bros. fans should be especially pleased by the fourth disc, which contains a wealth of outtakes and demos from the band's early '70s and '80s prime. --Jerry McCulley

Tracks:

Nobody (Single Version)
Slippery St. Paul
Listen To The Music (Single Version)
Rockin' Down The Highway (Single Version)
Toulouse Street
Cotton Mouth
Jesus Is Just Alright
White Sun
Natural Thing
Long Train Runnin'
China Grove
Dark Eyed Cajun Woman
Clear As The Driven Snow
South City Midnight Lady
You Just Can't Stop It
Spirit
Pursuit On 53rd St.
Black Water
Eyes Of Silver
Down In The Track
Another Park, Another Sunday

Tracks:

Sweet Maxine (Single Version)
Neal's Fandango
Music Man
Slack Key Soquel Rag
Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)
Texas Lullaby
I Cheat The Hangman
Wheels Of Fortune (Single Version)
Losin' End
Takin' It To The Streets
It Keeps You Runnin'
Echoes Of Love
Nothin' But A Heartache
Chinatown
There's A Light
Little Darling (I Need You)
You Belong To Me
Open Your Eyes
Minute By Minute
Dependin' On You
Don't Stop To Watch The Wheels

Tracks:

What A Fool Believes
Here To Love You (Single Version)
Dedicate This Heart
Real Love
No Stoppin' Us Now
One Step Closer
Keep This Train A-Rollin'
South Bay Strut
One By One
Wynken, Blynken And Nod
The Doctor
South Of The Border
Time Is Here And Gone
Need A Little Taste Of Love
Dangerous
Excited
This Train I'm On
Rollin' On
Little Pretty One (New Recording)

Tracks:

Daughters Of The Sea (Demo)
Armadillo Death Chant
Osborne (Long Train Runnin')
Four Days Gone
Spiel
Lovin' My Way Back Home
Pat's Song
Bluejay
Peace In The Valley
Mambo Waltz
Outside Of Barstow
Argentine Grape (Sweet Maxine)
Shuffle (Double Dealin' Four Flusher)
Takin' It To The Streets (Demo)
We Would Sail Away (St. Paul)
Jesus Is Just Alright (Unissued Live Version, 1982)
Olana (Studio Version)

Amazon.com

One would be hard-pressed to find a band more perfectly symbolic of the good-times politics-be-damned esprit de cannabis that symbolized a good chunk of 70's rock. While the Beach Boys were busy becoming an anachronism, the Doobs effectively took their mantle, fusing an array of musical Americana--be it blues, country, folk, or gospel (they saved jazz and funk for their Michael McDonald-fronted incarnation)--into a remarkably popular string of albums and radio hits by simply asking not much more of us than to "Listen to the Music." And if they didn't get much more controversial than to declare "Jesus Is Just Alright," well, that was kind of the point. This Rhino anthology is typically exhaustive. All the familiar radio hits are here, as well as a good sampling of deep catalog from the band's various line-ups, not to mention a few standout Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons solo outings. Hardcore Doobie Bros. fans should be especially pleased by the fourth disc, which contains a wealth of outtakes and demos from the band's early '70s and '80s prime. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Nice box set for the critical underdogs of rock.......2006-07-05

Although they never garnered the critical praise of The Band, Mott the Hopple, CCR there were few bands that could hold a candle to the hit making strength of The Doobie Brothers. This collection gathers up a healthy sampling of their singles, best album tracks and rarities in a four disc set. While I would have paired back the selections from the band's weakest albums (including the awful "One Step Closer") (hence 4 stars), this collection doesn't skimp on the band's worthwhile output from their peak years.

Sound quality is exceptional with a crisp detailed sound not heard before. Since fans will probably be familair with the bulk of the tracks here I'm only going to focus on the fourth disc with the bonus tracks. We get a number of good demos including Pat Simmons' "Daughters of the Sea","Four Days Gone", "Pat's Song"; Tom Johnston's "Osborne" (an early version of "Long Train Runnin'), "Lovin' My Way Back Home", "Peace in the Valley" all of which are strong tunes. "Bluejay" is also quite good and with "Peace in the Valley" one of the highlights here. It's a pity these songs never showed up on an album before now. "Armadillo Death Chang" is interesting as well--Johnston appears to have had a problem with song titles much like George Harrison in many cases as the title has absolutely nothing to do with this rockin' tune.

"Outside of Barstow" is a demo with just Johnston and his guitar and, again, is a terrific little song that should have been revisited. "Spiel" is a John Hartman composition (the only solo composing credit the drummer received)that's really more of a joke track. I haven't listened to "Olana" in a while but this studio version of the Michael McDonald track is better than the live version from the 1983 final tour recording.
The rest of the material was released in one form or another and these are either demos or alternate versions of the final tracks. We also get demos for "Sweet Maxine", "Shuffle" two demos from Michael McDonald "Takin' It To The Streets", "We Would Sail Away" both of which are strong demos. A Live version of "Jesus is Just Alright" from the live album sessions in 1982.

The booklet has lots of rare photos, interviews and features the band discussing the changes over the years. If you purchased the most recent greatest hits release (2001)the text and photos from the booklet are the same. I was disappointed that there wasn't a DVD (much like the recent Pretenders set) as these guys in their prime were a powerhouse on stage. The four stars reflects the fact that the there could have been more previously unreleased material. I was hoping that the four tracks that Tom Johnston completed for "Livin' On The Fault Line" but withdrawn from the album would have been included but no such luck.

Great for work..........2006-01-31

I found this at a wherehouse club for $38. There isnt a ton of gold to mine (even Michael Macdonalds 'You belong to me' is already on their expanded 20 track Greatest Hits.) I am a big fan of box sets and always ready to listen and learn. Its a good overview including the Michael Mcdonald songs from the 1976 Takin' It To The Streets album and a healthy sampling from Minute By Minute and One Step Closer.

Missing track.......2005-03-04

Just a quick complaint about a great box set of Doobie magic,one of my fave tracks "Without You" ain't on it, was so disappointed!. But overall a great selection of all their classics and more.

A box full of good stuff.......2004-03-19

70's music has become my favorite period of music. In an era of great singers and bands like The Eagles, Carly Simon, Steve Miller Band, the Doobie Brothers are one of my favorites, and while they may not have been anything revolutionary with the genre, they did very well. No major politics or religous preachings, the Doobies were about good fun and good music. LONG TRAIN RUNN'IN is a Doobie Brothers box set with 4 discs full of music, a large booklet of info and pictures. The first 3 of 4 discs are divided up for the most part among the band periods. The first being the early rock n' roll with country mix thrown in, the second being the closing of their rock sound (which never sounded better again) and getting into more of a groove with Michael McDonald joining and the band reaching their highest point ever. The third album closes up the smooth sounds of Michael McDonald and repoens the group with almost the same lineup as they did on the Toulhouse St album + roadie turned conga player Bobby LaKind for what sadly could be called their two "bad 80's albums". (Hey, I like the Cycles album and Brotherhood is tolerable, but neither one touches Stampede or The Captain and Me, even on their best day). An addition at the end is only available on a japanese import of the Sibling Rivalry disc, which is their cover of "Little Bitty Pretty One" Some of the tracks on these discs denote a "single release" in which things like extra singers (HERE TO LOVE YOU) are added or the song is shorter, in the case of WHEELS OF FORTUNE much shorter.

As I said a fourth disc is included which is the true gem of the album which includes rare cuts, demos and unreleased songs mostly from the groups beginings. Many are recorded complete with mistakes and talk from a crew or band member. Others are real early concept songs for later albums. One noteworthy cut is Sweet Maxine without the piano playing! The crown jewel on the disc is the studio produced song OLANA which is a song that I think could have really spiced up the McDonald years, along with others like it. The only other way to get this baby is a live version on the imported farewell concert disc. ARMADILLO DEATH CHANT is another great one. Other note, the BLUE JAY track is different then the one on the elusive EXCITEMENT import disc.

Sadly there are a few marks off but not enough to change my opinion in saying that this is a fantastic collection, but here they are anyway.

1 No DAUGHTERS OF THE SEA on the fisrt disc, the demo that you get with the box is nice, but this is one of my favorite songs and it takes me to a better place when I hear it.

2 No HOW DOES THE FOOL SURVIVE on disc 3, Jeff Baxter's minute and a half guiter solo at the end is one of the best I've ever heard.

3 No RIO on disc 2. Another good one.

4 No inclusions of the 87 reunion concert in which EVERY band member (sans the original bass player) participated in. That would have been sweet to hear.

Most of those complaints are trivial since NO boxed set ever gets all of what somebody wants. It's sadly give and take. The rest of the set is awesome and even if you already have all of the albums, and the fourth disc is warrant enough to purchase. Great set. Too bad there probably won't be another

Outstanding.......2003-06-17

If you are a big fan of the Doobie brothers, you must get this box set (Unless of course you own all of their other albums). It includes almost all of my favorite Doobie Brothers songs. The only songs I missed that weren't included, were: Something you said, flying cloud, without you, tell me what you want (and I'll give you what I need), evil woman, Ukiah and the captain and me. Four of these can be found on the Captain and me cd, however. The Doobies were my favorite band in their hayday. I think a great job was done in selecting the best songs from each album. Usually most box sets omit many essential songs from albums. This is one of the best box sets that I've seen.

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