Of course, no record is worth its salt without sharp songwriting. Fret not. What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits overflows with one memorable tune after another. It’s a true collective effort, with the material reflecting the musical strengths of each of the members. Picking up where the disbanded Creedence Clearwater Revival had left off, Tom Johnston contributes the rousing “Pursuit on 53rd Street” and “Down in the Track.” Patrick Simmons’ “Black Water” advances swamp rock, and gave the band its first Number One hit.
The Doobies also mine the country-rock vein like nobody’s business. “Tell Me What You Want (And I’ll Give You What You Need)” and “Another Park, Another Sunday” cross roots rhythms with edgy melodies. And the instrumental “Flying Cloud,” contributed by bassist Tiran Porter, finds the Doobies further expanding their sonic palette while remaining faithful to their loose, good-time themes. By every stretch, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits defies easy categorization yet soars on amiable vibes designed to satisfy the listener. Having reached #4 on the Billboard Album charts, it’s safe to say the public was indeed impressed.
Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab engineer Rob LoVerde had the same goals in mind when mastering this 70s rock classic for SACD from the original master tapes. And so the Doobie Brothers’ dual-drum approach now resonates with a punchiness it never previously possessed. Johnson’s high-pitched vocals no longer hit an artificial ceiling or lurk behind a veiled curtain. The Memphis Horns’ brassy accents carry, and the all-important midrange sounds immediate, transparent, and dynamic.
“…Even the least interesting tracks were a cut above much pedestrian Southern rock or what would become alt-country.”
–Ken Kessler, Hi-Fi News, September 2012, 88% Sound Quality rating
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