Livin' on the Fault Line is the seventh studio album by the American rock band the Doobie Brothers. The album was released on August 19, 1977, by Warner Bros. Records. It is one of the few Doobie Brothers albums of the 1970s which did not produce a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 (although "You Belong to Me" was a hit as recorded by co-author Carly Simon). Tom Johnston (guitar, vocals) left the band early in the sessions. He is listed as part of the band (appearing in the inside group photo) but appears on little or none of the actual album. He wrote and sang five songs during the sessions for the album, but subsequently quit the band and withdrew his permission for the Doobie Brothers to use these songs. The track "Little Darling (I Need You)" is a remake of the Marvin Gaye 1966 hit.
Reception
Rolling Stone said, "This half-effort lacks the energy of their previous albums. The Doobie Brothers continue to produce smooth, adult rock (more consistently than before, in fact), but without the threat of at least a little bite, their music slips too easily into the background."
Track listing
Personnel
The Doobie Brothers Pat Simmons – guitars, lead vocals (2, 5, 7), backing vocals Michael McDonald – piano, keybords, organ, clavinet, synthesizer, lead vocals (1, 3–8), backing vocals Jeff Baxter – guitars, Roland guitar synthesizer Tiran Porter – bass, lead vocals (9), backing vocals Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, backing vocals John Hartman – drums, percussion
Tom Johnston is listed as a band member in the credits but does not play on the album.
Additional musicians Bobby LaKind – congas, backing vocals Dan Armstrong – electric sitar solo (9) Randy Brecker – trumpet solo (4) Norton Buffalo – harmonica (8) Victor Feldman – vibes (5) Rosemary Butler – backing vocals (3, 4, 8) Maureen McDonald – backing vocals (1) Ted Templeman – percussion David Paich – string and horn arrangements (1, 3, 4, 8), string arrangements (6)
Technical Produced by Ted Templeman Engineered by Donn Landee Production coordination – Beth Naranjo Second engineer – Kent Nebergall Cover photography and album design – Bruce Steinberg Inner sleeve photo – Michael Zagaris Aerial photo pilot – Roger Glenn Hand-tinting – Kristin Sundbom Management – Bruce Cohn
Charts Chart (1977)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)16UK Albums (Official Charts)25US Billboard 20010
References