1970s

Some bands release solid songs. Others release melodious experiences that define one generation and teach the next what real music sounds like. The Doobie Brothers did the latter when they gifted the world with “Listen to the Music,” the title of their first major hit and, coincidentally, with advice we’ll gladly follow for another 50 years. “Listen to the Music” formally hit the airwaves in ‘72 for the band’s second album, Toulouse Street, though it was technically recorded the year prior. On-again, off-again bandmate Tom Johnston contributed heavily to its composition and poured in just the right ingredients to put the Doobie Brothers on the map for good. The band gets their first big hit “Listen to the Music” by the Doobie Brothers ranks high in the list of songs that, if everyone just sat down and listened to it together, the world would be better off. Part of that is because that very mood was poured into the heart of the track. RELATED: Doobie Brothers Celebrate 50th Anniversary With Exciting Updates “The chord structure of it made me think of something positive,” Johnston mused, “so the lyrics that came out of that were based on this utopian idea that if the leaders of the world got together on some grassy hill somewhere and either smoked enough dope or just sat down and just listened to the music and forgot about all this other b—t, the world would be a much better place.” He added with a laugh, “It was very utopian and very unrealistic. It seemed like a good idea at the time.” The song was released on their second album but it was this single track, rather than the collection of others, that elevated Toulouse Street to greater heights. By November 1972, “Listen to the Music” peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s easy to listen to the music the Doobie Brothers put out 50 years later THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, ca. 1980s / Everett Collection “Listen to the Music” ended up a siren song that fans are still heeding to this day. Cash Box credits it with putting the Doobie Brothers on the charts and it would enjoy a surge of popularity again and again over the years. Just this month, the track burst right back onto the Spotify chart at #174. Everywhere else music can be played, we find similar results. Just one of the many versions on YouTube has over 35 million views, and the recent positive comments show that this song is still a hit with fans old and new alike. In fact, it has some listeners feeling downright envious. The Doobie Brothers secured international acclaim with Listen to the Music / YouTube screenshot “As a Millenial, kinda bummed I missed this whole vibe - so dang chill man,” one listener admitted, adding that they are “Thankful to have a parent raise me on these tunes though.” “Over 50 years old and this tune is still as prominent and meaningful as it was back then,” another praised, rightfully calling it “a timeless classic.” “This is not a song,” reads perhaps the most perfect description of this track, “it's a generation's anthem! So glad to have grown in the 70s and 80s. Nothing compares to it.” Toulouse Street / Amazon