1.) The Doobie Brothers – Livin' On The Fault Line Vinyl, LP, Album - 1st Japanese Pressing - 19èè - Japan - Warner Bros. Records – P-10326W Media: NM / Sleeve & Insert : EX to NM A1 You're Made That Way 3:30 A2 Echoes Of Love 2:57 A3 Little Darling (I Need You) 3:24 A4 You Belong To Me 3:04 A5 Livin' On The Fault Line 4:42 B1 Nothin' But A Heartache 3:05 B2 Chinatown 4:55 B3 There's A Light 4:12 B4 Need A Lady 3:21 B5 Larry The Logger Two-Step 1:16 Livin' on the Fault Line fell between two of the Doobie Brothers' biggest-selling records. The album had no hit singles, and one-time leader Tom Johnston kept a markedly low profile (this would be his last record with the group, not including a later reunion). Despite this, Livin' on the Fault Line contains some of the most challenging and well-developed music of the band's career, with Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald really stepping to the fore. There's a vague mood of melancholia running through the songs, as well as a definite jazz influence. This is most obvious on the title track, which has several instrumental passages that showcase the guitar abilities of Simmons and Jeff Baxter. Similarly, "Chinatown" is a spooky mood piece not unlike the smooth fusion of late-period Steely Dan or Little Feat. But "Echoes of Love" and "Nothin' But a Heartache" are both intelligent, glistening pop songs that confirm Simmons and McDonald as first-rate tunesmiths. The record slips a little at the end, with a plodding R&B song and a Piedmont guitar instrumental thrown in as filler. Overall, though, this is a chapter in the Doobie Brothers' history that deserves a second look. 2.) The Doobie Brothers – The Captain And Me Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold - Japanese Pressing - 1973 - Japan - Warner Bros. Records – P-8325W Media: VG+ / Sleeve, Insert & OBI: EX to NM A1 Natural Thing 3:17 A2 Long Train Runnin' 3:25 A3 China Grove 3:14 A4 Dark Eyed Cajun Woman 4:12 A5 Clear As The Driven Snow 5:18 B1 Without You 4:58 B2 South City Midnight Lady 5:27 B3 Evil Woman 3:17 B4 Busted Down Around O'Connelly Corners 0:48 B5 Ukiah 3:04 B6 The Captain And Me 4:53 The Doobie Brothers' third long-player was the charm, their most substantial and consistent album to date, and one that rode the charts for a year. It was also a study in contrasts, Tom Johnston's harder-edged, bolder rocking numbers balanced by Patrick Simmons' more laid-back country-rock ballad style. The leadoff track, Johnston's "Natural Thing," melded the two, opening with interlocking guitars and showcasing the band's exquisite soaring harmonies around a beautiful melody, all wrapped up in a midtempo beat -- the result was somewhere midway between Allman Brothers-style virtuosity and Eagles/Crosby & Nash-type lyricism, which defined this period in the Doobies' history and gave them a well-deserved lock on the top of the charts. Next up was the punchy, catchy "Long Train Runnin'," a piece they'd been playing for years as an instrumental -- a reluctant Johnston was persuaded by producer Ted Templeman to write lyrics to it and record the song, and the resulting track became the group's next hit. The slashing, fast-tempo "China Grove" and "Without You" represented the harder side of the Doobies' sound, and were juxtaposed with Simmons' romantic country-rock ballads "Clear as the Driven Snow," and "South City Midnight Lady." Simmons also showed off his louder side with "Evil Woman," while Johnston showed his more reflective side with "Dark Eyed Cajun Woman," "Ukiah" and "The Captain and Me" -- the latter, a soaring rocker clocking in at nearly five minutes, features radiant guitars and harmonies, soaring ever higher and faster to a triumphant finish. ______________________________________ These records have been cleaned with a professional ultrasonic machine. New inner and outer sleeves included. Fast & careful shipping.