Album of the Day

The Doobie Brothers completed their transition from Northern California biker bar band to radio-friendly blue-eyed funk hitmakers with MINUTE BY MINUTE, released this month in 1978. While it still reflects the band's roots with the rocker “Don't Stop To Watch The Wheels” (sung by original frontman Tom Johnston) and the bluegrass-flavored instro “Steamer Lane Breakdown,” the Warner Bros. album is best remembered as the moment that Michael McDonald took center stage. The singer/keyboardist scored big time with the title track and “What A Fool Believes,” which topped the singles chart and went on to win Grammys for both Song and Record of the Year. The album itself went to No.1 on the chart, and the supremely listenable MINUTE BY MINUTE would become the Doobies' all-time top seller.