Recapturing the Magic

The Doobie Brothers play Sunday at Castaic Lake as part of the Love Ride 14 festivities. But, one could reasonably ask: Which Doobie Brothers band will show up?

The early 1970s unit, which had hits such as “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Running,” “China Grove” and “Black Water”?

Or the late 1970s group that hit gold with such songs as “Minute by Minute,” “Taking It to the Streets” and “What a Fool Believes”?

Many rock bands go through major personnel changes, but usually the music stays the same or remains similar. But not the Doobie Brothers. Seldom has a single rock band had two such distinct, yet successful musical personalities.

When the group came out of San Jose in the early 1970s, they played straight ahead, guitar-oriented rock, with prominent vocal harmonies. Later in the decade the group morphed into a heavily jazz-influenced, keyboard-based, R&B-funk; ensemble.

Keith Knudson was there for both incarnations. Throughout all the changes, the Doobies have always featured two drummers and, for over 20 years, Knudson has been one of them. He’ll be performing Sunday.

“I’ve been in the band since 1973,” Knudson said. “They can’t get rid of me.”

The current (since 1993) lineup of the band--Knudson, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, Michael Hossack, Guy Allison, John McFee, Mark Russo and Skylark--more resembles the original band, the group founded by Johnston and Simmons in 1970.

The stylistic change was initially prompted by the illness of lead singer-songwriter Johnston, who was unable to complete a 1975 concert tour. The band drafted keyboardist-singer-songwriter Michael McDonald, formerly of Steely Dan, to replace him.

Johnston’s illness lasted for more than a year, during which time McDonald assumed the lead vocals and most of the songwriting. The band recorded the album, “Taking It to the Streets.”

The new, R&B-flavored; Doobies sold even more records than the older, successful model. “We just did what came instinctively--which was recording the music that was coming up,” Knudson said.

With “Taking It to the Streets,” the change in musical styles also changed the band’s selling demographics, according to Knudson.

While both units had a strong California base, the early Doobies were very popular in the Southeast U.S. After the change, the band became more popular in the Northeast, but less popular in the South.

The group, with McDonald up front, continued for another seven years, then disbanded in 1982.

But like a lot of rock bands that never really die, the Doobies re-formed in 1993 with the current lineup, and Johnston and Simmons taking center stage.

“We’re fortunate we have a great fan base,” said Knudson. “I’m 50 years old and [next year] I’m eligible for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. What more could you want?”

McDonald still does occasional gigs with the band, but he’s not scheduled to play Sunday, and don’t expect the band to perform his material without him.

“It would be hard for us to re-create those songs without Michael,” said Knudson. “But we do all those songs when Michael does join us.”

Like the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac on the comeback trail ahead of them, are the Doobies trying to capture some of the old magic?

“Our creative juices are still flowing; we want to be better then we’ve been,” Knudson said. “If that stops, that will be the end.”

Last year as part of the band’s 25th anniversary, Sony Records released a CD box set of the Doobie Brothers’ greatest hits, recorded live.

Plans now are for the group to go into the studio in the first part of next year and record a CD of new material. They’ll be playing some new stuff and old favorites Sunday. They’ve even including a cover of the 1950s hit, “Little Bitty Pretty One” in their stage show these days.

They currently do five to seven dates a month, with touring in the summer and recording in the winter--a schedule that allows them to spend more time with their families.

“We want to do our new album, and of course, we want to be successful,” Knudson said. “But there’s not as much pressure today for us to have a hit record or a hit video. Right now, we’re at a point where we’re not pushing too hard, and that’s enough.”

BE THERE

The Doobie Brothers and Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts perform for Love Ride 14 participants Sunday at Castaic Lake Recreation Center. Event goes from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sacred Hearts play at noon; Doobie Brothers at 2 p.m. Take Lake Hughes Road exit off the Golden State Freeway. (818) 583-4321. Proceeds benefit Muscular Dystrophy Assn. $45.