The Doobie Brothers prep ‘Quadio’ box set

Blu-ray Audio box spotlights four of the band’s essential early albums with quadrophonic and high-res stereo mixes

The Doobie Brothers celebrate two major milestones this year as the band marks its 50th anniversary and its induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November. The 50th Anniversary Tour that was also planned for this year has been rescheduled for 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. This will be the first time that principal band members Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, Pat Simmons and John McFee have toured together in more than 25 years.

Before the band is welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rhino will release a new boxed set that highlights some of the music that helped make the Doobie Brothers one of the most popular bands of its generation. The Doobie Brothers Quadio will feature quadraphonic mixes of Toulouse Street, The Captain & Me, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, and Stampede. The four Blu-ray Audio discs come in replicas of the original vinyl record sleeves and are all packaged together in a clamshell box. The set will be available on September 4th.

For this collection, all four albums have been mastered using the original four-track Quad mixes. The set includes both the quadraphonic and high-resolution stereo (19224 DTS-HD Master Audio) mixes for each album. To enjoy the Quadraphonic mix as intended, the Blu-ray Audio discs should be played using Surround Sound.

The set brings together four essential albums from the band’s early days. It begins with the group’s second album, Toulouse Street, which was released in July 1972. The record achieved platinum status and launched the group to stardom with the hits “Listen to The Music,” “Rockin’ Down the Highway” and “Jesus is Just Alright.”

The following year, the band returned with The Captain & Me, which was certified double platinum on the strength of hits “Long Train Runnin’” and “China Grove,” as well as fan favorites “South City Midnight Lady” and “Without You.” These back-to-back classic albums represent one of the greatest one-two vinyl punches of the 1970s. Many songs from the albums are still played every day on the radio, a testament to the timelessness of the music.

In 1974, the Doobie Brothers released the group’s fourth album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. The record peaked at No. 4 on the albums chart and was certified double platinum. It also featured the band’s first No. 1 hit, “Black Water,” which was originally released as the B-side to “Another Park, Another Sunday.”

Stampede is the final studio album featured in Quadio box. Released in April 1975 and certified gold, it also peaked at No. 4 on the albums chart. It includes the Top 40 hits “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)” and “Sweet Maxine.” Stampede would be The Doobie Brothers’ last studio album with original singer/guitarist Tom Johnston until he re-joined the band in 1989.

Disc 1: Toulouse Street (Blu-ray Audio)

1. Listen To The Music
2. Rockin’ Down The Highway
3. Mamaloi
4. Toulouse Street
5. Cotton Mouth
6. Don’t Start Me To Talkin’
7. Jesus Is Just Alright
8. White Sun
9. Disciple
10. Snake Man

Disc 2: The Captain & Me (Blu-ray Audio)

1. Natural Thing
2. Long Train Runnin’
3. China Grove
4. Dark Eyed Cajun Woman
5. Clear As The Driven Snow
6. Without You
7. South City Midnight Lady
8. Evil Woman
9. Busted Down Around O’Connelly Corners
10. Ukiah
11. The Captain And Me

Disc 3: What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (Blu-ray Audio)

1. Song To See You Through
2. Spirit
3. Pursuit On 53rd St.
4. Black Water
5. Eyes Of Silver
6. Road Angel
7. You Just Can’t Stop It
8. Tell Me What You Want (And I’ll Give You What You Need)
9. Down In The Track
10. Another Park, Another Sunday
11. Daughters Of The Sea
12. Flying Cloud

Disc 4: Stampede (Blu-ray Audio)

1. Sweet Maxine
2. Neal’s Fandango
3. Texas Lullaby
4. Music Man
5. Slack Key Soquel Rag
6. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)
7. I Cheat The Hangman
8. Précis
9. Rainy Day Crossroad Blues
10. I Been Workin’ On You
11. Double Dealin’ Four Flusher

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com