The Doobie Brothers will soon have new content gracing the airwaves, and what’s more, they’ll be working once again with Michael McDonald, who famously lent his soulful voice to the band in the ’70s and ’80s. The band recently confirmed that they are close to finishing a brand new album due out later this year.
On top of that, the band will also be reassembling for rehearsals later this spring, which in turn is in preparation for a tour that will correspond with the new album. “I’m hoping we’ll be able to debut a few of our new songs [on the tour],” teased Pat Simmons in a social media announcement.
The Doobie Brothers announce a new album with vocalist Michael McDonald
Fans of the Doobie Brothers were treated to a Facebook announcement earlier this week revealing a new album made with their old keyboardist and vocalist Michael McDonald. “We are very close to finishing up an album’s worth of new songs,” said Simmons through the band’s Facebook page.
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“We’re lucky once again to have John Shanks producing and Michael McDonald joining in with us on this one! Tom, Michael, John and myself have composed a great bunch of songs that we’re really proud of and John McFee is really a stand out on the tracks. It’s the first time in 40 years that Michael has recorded a whole album with the band and in my humble opinion it’s turning out to be some of the best music we’ve ever made together! We’re shooting for a Spring/Summer release.”
Lots to celebrate among the Doobie Brothers
Technically, the Doobie Brothers dissolved in 1982, though this has been informal and impermanent, and even McDonald, today , has sung with them as a guest performer since that ’80s dissolution. Most recently, he rejoined their ranks for the band’s 50th-anniversary celebration; the tour was originally slated for 2020 but ended up pushed to the following year due to the pandemic.
Their history of working together may be recent, but McDonald creating a new album with the Doobie Brothers is less so. The last time fans were treated to that collaboration was with One Step Closer in 1980. On top of that, notes Billboard, this latest work in progress will be the first new album featuring McDonald, Tom Johnston, and Patrick Simmons since 1975’s Takin’ It to the Streets.
Will you or have you seen the Doobie Brothers on tour?
