Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
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.
© Peter Kurtz /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Writer, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas - JEFF BAXTER, Writer
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Earl Randle, Writer - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - Ted Templeman, Producer, Percussion - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas - WILLIE MITCHELL, Writer
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas - Rosemary Butler, Background Vocals - Lamont Dozier, Writer - Eddie Holland, Writer - Brian Holland, Writer
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Carly Simon, Writer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas - Rosemary Butler, Background Vocals
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Victor Feldman, Percussion - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas - Norton Buffalo, Harmonica - Rosemary Butler, Background Vocals
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Writer - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Tiran Porter, Bass Guitar, Vocals - John Hartman, Drums - Donn Landee, Engineer - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Guitar - The Doobie Brothers, MainArtist - Pat Simmons, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - DAVID PAICH, Arranger - Keith Knudsen, Drums, Background Vocals - Kent Nebergall, AssistantEngineer - Bobby La Kind, Vocals, Congas
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Album review
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.
© Peter Kurtz /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:34:53
- Main artists: The Doobie Brothers
- Label: Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1977 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1977 Warner Records Inc.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.