The authorised story of one of America's most loved bands.
‘Let the Music Play’ is the authorised story of one of America’s most loved bands, The Doobie Brothers, from their beginning as a biker band in the 1970’s to worldwide success this is their story. All the past and present members weigh in with their thoughts about the band, how they met and got started, and what really struck me was how little dirt there was or internal conflicts when any members left the band. In fact only guitarist and singer Tom Johnston’s exhaustion and bass player Tiran Porter’s boredom are the only grounds of note for anyone leaving!
The DVD takes us through the early years with the breakthrough of ‘Listen To The Music’ in 1972, a song that really put the band on the musical map. As so much of this is from the pre video age most of the performances are from live shows or home movies, which show the band having fun on the road and in the famous Doobie Liner, their own personal jet plane. It is made clear that the entire band enjoyed their new found fame and all the perks that came with it, though much is left to the viewer’s imagination I am afraid.
It was in 1976 that the band made had their biggest success with the arrival of singer and keyboard player Michael McDonald, who as a songwriter offered the band a whole new direction. Michael talks about his time in the band and comes across as a humble musician who has fond memories of his time in The Doobie Brothers. Some of the live performance from this era are added as bonus tracks in full and are well worth watching indeed. The documentary takes us to the eventual break up in 1982 to the reformation in the nineties, and includes music from their last recording ‘World Gone Crazy’.
If you’re a long term fan you won’t be disappointed, and if you’re someone just curious there is plenty to recommend.
Ray Paul
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