The Doobie Brothers-Minute By Minute (1978)
Artist: The Doobie Brothers
Catalog Number: BSK-1393
Year of Release: 1978
Country and Year of Edition: US 1978 Winchester Pressing
Sell Price: $3.95
Sell Date: 3/13/24
Condition: VG+/VG+
Discogs Last Sold 3/11/24 VG+/VG+ $4.00
Low: $0.99 VG/VG 3/5/24
Median: $3.98
Average: $4.05
High: $9.77 1/7/24 VG+/VG+
Current low price: $2.00 NM/VG+
Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 66
Have/Want: 1636/120
Where Sold: White Cloud, MI
Time It Took To Sell: 9 years
Where and When Bought: Worcester Albums used $3.99 1980
Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: C
Sad To See It Go: No
Although this is one of the first used albums I've ever bought when Al Bums in Worcester was on Park Ave. and put a massive 3" x 3" square sales sticker slapped on the covers that often tore them if the paper wasn't glossy. Glossy like the Doobie Brothers themselves on this album. That sticker came off, but I see the ever so slight sign of glue remnants on the cover.
When Minute By Minute came out in late 1978, they were catapulted into their absolute commercial peak (What's Happening 2-part "Which Doobie You Be" anti-bootleg episode from that year notwithstanding) with the number one single "What A Fool Believes" in early 1979. There was something about that song I didn't dislike, perhaps always respected if not actually liked. Hands down the song on the album although I always liked the title track follow up hit a little better. "Depending On You" was the other single and that one always seemed like MOR background music to me.
The problem I had with the album as a kid was all the hits were on side 1 and side 2 seemed boring. It was very rare that I didn't purchase an album and play it to memorization, but even though I bought this before a flood of paper route money earned 8 used records a week, I did not put much time into Minute By Minute. In fact, the three listens I've given it before writing this to get a handle on it is probably more than I've given in the 40someodd years I've owned this copy. Repetition didn't make those songs much more interesting. I don't think I'm that far off despite the 1979 Grammy for album of the year nomination that was ultimately defeated by Billy Joel's 52nd Street, another album that tailed off on the second side. The songs that stood out were mostly the songs the band played live save for a few one offs and a couple years doing the side one closer "Don't Stop To Watch The Wheels."
The non-hit song that I remembered slightly was the opener "Here To Love You." I'm a little surprised that or the Nicolette Larson sweetened "Sweet Feelin'" on side 2 didn't become a 4th single. There is a cool Country instrumental, "Steamer Lane Breakdown" plopped in the middle of the second side that seems out of place with all the Michael McDonald led 70's blue eyed Soul slickness, although it followed a Patrick Simmons led track, the aforementioned "Sweet Feelin'." Steamer made it into their live show over the years more than any other songs on side two so I guess the band feels the same way. It sounds in some ways like band politics made for some issues. There was a Rock 'n Roll history in albums past and this 8th album was not that. They kept the Rock 'n Roll to the big fat joint on a side of the inner sleeve.
Which Doobie you be?
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