Stampede - THE DOOBIE BROTHERS*****

Sweet Maxine/Neal's Fandango/Texas Lullaby/Music Man/Stat Key Soquel Rag/Take Me In Your Arms/I Cheat The Hangman/Précis/Rainy Day Crossroad Blues/I Been Workin' On You/Double Dealin' Four Flusher

Stampede was the final Doobie Brothers to feature a major songwriting role for Tom Johnson. They would come under the influence of Michael Macdonald and transform from a hard rocking band to a bland soul outfit. (US:4 UK:14)

“A very nice classic rocker, the Doobies had a great sound, very smooth and bluesy. This was a concept album of sorts, and you can hear that they ran with the theme quite nicely. These guys are just easy breezy listening, and sometimes that's just what the doctor ordered. I Cheat The Hangman is the standout here.”

“Despite the lack of any really distinctive original material I think that this final album by the original Doobies' is perhaps their best. The band seem to have a bit of an identity crisis coming across at times like a Southern boogie band and then at others like a CSN clone.”

“This is an under-rated album with solid musicianship through and through. Good electric and acoustic guitar, some great driving music and wonderful ballads.”

“I have always loved the Doobies, but this album is one of their best. In my personal opinion Michael McDonald, although he has a great voice, ruined the group. It brought them into the bland soul era, a place where they should never have been.”

“For those who disliked what would become of the Doobie sound, dominated by the hazy rock-jazz-funk feel of Michael McDonald, Stampede will forever stand as the last gasp of Tom Johnston, though he did hang around for several albums in a lesser role. I think the Johnston-era Doobies were better than what came later.”

“The Stampede album would have to be one of the best Doobie Brothers albums ever, and the last to feature lead singer/guitarist Tom Johnston before he was forced, rather against his will, to make way for Michael McDonald."

“This one was pretty close to perfect, there is some great music on here. You have several of their trademark crunchy rockers, a cool cover of a soul classic, some interesting longer tunes with a somewhat lonesome folk vibe, and a delicious little instrumental. All in all, a very solid, underrated album that still sounds great today.”