Let the Music Play (2012)

The Doobie Brothers have been always been one of my favorite bands. Like most people my age, my first exposure to them was on the radio back in the seventies. Recently I had been reading a lot of rock biographies and was very disappointed to learn that no one had taken it upon themselves to write the fascinating story of one of the most successful rock bands ever. I had to settle for a VHS copy of a documentary called Listen to the Music, which had been produced in 1989 after the group’s reformation with Tom Johnston. In actuality it’s a very good documentary with lengthy performances of their hit songs, something that most music documentaries inexplicably tend to slight, preferring narration over the music. That, in combination with the absolutely stunning concert from Wolf Trap would have to suffice. That is, until now.

The recently released Let the Music Play: The Story of the Doobie Brothers is a wonderful new documentary that is now the most complete history of the band until a book comes along. It has new interviews with surviving members Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, Tiran Porter, John McFee and Michael McDonald, as well as manager Bruce Cohn, producer Ted Templeman, and rock critic Joel Selvin. And while some of the music performances are truncated in the film, there is a nice bonus section of live performances of songs in their entirety. The new film takes the story beyond where the earlier film left off at the first reunion and new album after the Michael McDonald years, and brings the story of the band up to the present. It also has a fascinating section near the end that talks to family members of the band and what their experiences were like growing up with famous fathers and spouses and what a great atmosphere the band provided, unlike than some of the negative images of rock musicians from the seventies.

Of course, The Doobie Brothers were also heavily into charity, not only gathering at the Ronald McDonald House and the Stanford Children’s Hospital every Christmas, but the many shows and tours that they performed in their career, including the one for Vietnam veterans spearheaded by Keith Knudsen that brought the band back together with Tom Johnston and has continued to the present day. The Doobies are a class act, not only one of the most successful groups in rock history, but full of excellent musicians and an ethos that allows for change, progress, a return to roots and, most important of all, a genuine love for the music that has resulted in an appreciative and dedicated fan base. Let the Music Play: The Story of the Doobie Brothers is a testament to one of the greatest bands of all time and comes highly recommended to anyone who wants to know more about them.