What Is the Doobie Brothers' Signature Song?

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Oatsdad, Sep 12, 2019.

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  1. Oatsdad

    Oatsdad Oat, Biscuits, Abbie & Mitzi: Best Dogs Ever Thread Starter

    Location:
    Alexandria VA
    A discussion of the Doobies' qualification for the Rock Hall spurred this thread.

    If you had to pick one Doobie Brothers song as their "signature", what would it be?

    To clarify, "signature song" means the song most closely identified with the artist.

    It's not your personal favorite or what you view as their best song.

    Feel free to discuss your rationale as well as "runner up" choices or other thoughts.
     
  2. OptimisticGoat

    OptimisticGoat Everybody's escapegoat....

    Listen To The Music. Not my favourite. It just is their signature song.
     
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  3. Listen To The Music is the song most people think of when it comes to the Doobie Brothers.
     
  4. plugmeintosomething

    plugmeintosomething Forum Resident

    Location:
    USA
    I voted What A Fool Believes. Seems to be the one I hear the most these days. Long Train Runnin is their best song.
     
    Szeppelin75 likes this.
  5. Greg Gee

    Greg Gee "I tried to change but I changed my mind..."

    Location:
    Oklahoma
    Absolutely!
     
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  6. Mickey2

    Mickey2 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Bronx, NY, USA
    Although not signature songs, my two favorites are not listed:

    Without You
    South City Midnight Lady
     
    Bluesman Mark likes this.
  7. pool_of_tears

    pool_of_tears Searching For Simplicity

    Location:
    Midwest
    I’d have to agree. It’s a bit worn out, though, and very much like Hey Jude, the coda ought to have faded sooner.
     
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  8. ippudo

    ippudo Forum Resident

    Location:
    Berlin, Germany
    I was hesitating between LTTM and LTR and went with the former as it is the more melodic of the two - LTR is the better song though. I guess a case could also be made for Fool, if only for its more modern sound, which European radio stations seem to prefer.
     
    sjaca likes this.
  9. Humbuster

    Humbuster Staff Emeritus

    agreed.

    favorite is Long Train Running.
     
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  10. jwb1231970

    jwb1231970 Ordinary Guy

    Location:
    USA
    Tough one
     
  11. Zack

    Zack Senior Member

    Location:
    Easton, MD
    I remember when Black Water was a hit single like it was yesterday. I was in the fifth grade. I also love the opening riff to Long Train Runnin'. But I digress. I hope the answer is Listen to the Music, not Fool Believes.
     
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  12. GregM

    GregM The expanding man

    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Easily China Grove. Even people who claim to never have heard DB or Listen to the Music will be caught singing and playing air guitar to China Grove.
     
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  13. Picca

    Picca Forum Resident

    Location:
    Modena, Italy
    In Italy: Long Train Running. Every bar band plays it.
     
  14. christian42

    christian42 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Lund, Sweden
    Long Train Running. It's the only track that I've heard.
     
  15. Phil12

    Phil12 Radiant Radish

  16. ggergm

    ggergm another spring another baseball season

    Location:
    Minnesota
    There is a real dichotomy between the posters and the poll. More people have said Long Train Running is their favorite than have voted for it. At this moment, Listen To The Music leads it 14 to 3.

    I voted with the crowd because Listen To The Music was the first song of theirs I heard on the radio.
     
    negative1 likes this.
  17. Dr. Funk

    Dr. Funk Vintage Dust

    Location:
    Fort Worth TX
    Listen To The Music...…….seems that song was played at every backyard BBQ during the 70's.
     
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  18. williamjoel

    williamjoel Spins At 33 1/3 RPM

    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    IMHO, there are two. Not sure what the signature song of the early period is - several are choices listed above - but 'What A Fool Believes' seems to me to be the signature song of the later period.
     
  19. Grant

    Grant Life is a rock, but the radio rolled me!

    In the early 70s, I would have said "Listen To The Music". Then I would have said "China Grove". Later, I would have said "What A Fool Believes". Nowadays, I would say "Black Water". Maybe they're all signature songs and we should stop trying to pick just one.


    Seems like The Doobies haven't gotten much attention in Europe. But, "Long Train Running" happens to be my favorite Doobies song.
     
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  20. PacificOceanBlue

    PacificOceanBlue Senior Member

    Location:
    The Southwest
    Two eras:

    Pre-McDonald: Listen To The Music
    McDonald: What A Fool Believes
     
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  21. Abbagold

    Abbagold Working class hero

    Location:
    Natchitoches, LA
    Gotta agree with this one!
     
  22. Two Sheds

    Two Sheds Sha La La La Lee

    Agreed. I can't decide between the two songs.
     
  23. negative1

    negative1 80s retro fan

    Location:
    USA
    listen to the music.

    its what defined the band.

    no contest.

    later
    -1
     
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  24. Monosterio

    Monosterio Forum Resident

    Location:
    South Florida
    For the McDonald era, definitely “WAFB.” For the earlier Doobies, :shrug:. (It’s a toss-up between “China Grove,” “Listen” and “Black Water,” IMO.)

    So I picked “Fool.”
     
  25. Dr. Bogenbroom

    Dr. Bogenbroom I'm not a Dr. but I play one on SteveHoffman.TV

    Location:
    Anchor Point
    Agreed there should be a pre and post McDonald, but I'll disagree with the pre. To me it's Black Water. Different enough to catch people's attention, and catchy enough to keep 'em interested.
     
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