Title: Just A Shade Below Their Best ...
Review: which was "Vices". Was in high school when this album was released and the Doobies toured in support(remember this was the tour with the Memphis Horns), so went right out and bought Stampede. Will admit my opinion is coloured by my love for Sweet Maxine. Bill Payne's intro piano is a real contrast to the rest of the song, which still blows out of the speakers. The other bookend, "Four Flusher", has almost as much energy. The rest of the album has quite a mix of styles. After hearing it for the first time a buddy thought the Doobies were from Texas! I still believe the Tom Johnson albums were much stronger than those dominated by Michael Macdonald, but the reunions have really confirmed to me the best Doobie line-up includes both.
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