"Real Love" by The Doobie Brothers

Top 10 Alert!

Song#:  0328
Date:  09/06/1980
Debut:  40

Peak:  5

Weeks:  16
Genre:  Soft Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul



Pop Bits:  The Doobies are one of those long-lasting groups that have different eras, usually typified by who is leading or writing for the group. This band has three eras - the original band era, the Michael McDonald era, and the post-McDonald era. Each era had their successes, but arguably the peak of their success was during the McDonald years. Prior to his joining, the Doobies were more of a roots country/rock boogie band and they had a good following that gave them hits like "Long Train Runnin'" (#8, 1973) and "Black Water" (#1, 1974). But personnel changes lead to McDonald joining in 1976 and the band's sound shifted towards a more sleek R&B/blue-eyed soul sound. It was successful and culminated in their Grammy-winning #1 album "Minute By Minute" in 1978. Unfortunately, the group was having internal struggles regarding direction and was splintering. They held it together for the follow-up album "One Step Closer," featuring this lead single, but it failed to replicate the success of the previous album. This would close out the second era of the group with a third incarnation yet to come late in the decade.

ReduxReview:  Warm chords, warm keyboards, comforting vocals singing about love - yep, it is Michael McDonald. This might as well have been a solo outing. Listening to this is like being wrapped up in a furry salt-n-pepper comforter. It feels cozy and nice at first, but then it kind of gets itchy and I gotta get up and move on.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  In addition to not performing or selling as well, "One Step Closer" failed to snare any major Grammy's like "Minute By Minute." However, the group did get one nomination for Best Pop Instrumental for the album track "South Bay Strut."

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