Album of the Day

One of the great crossover promotions in TV history occurred on this day in 1978, when the Doobie Brothers appeared on the sitcom “What’s Happening.” Benefiting from the exposure was the band's seventh album, LIVIN ON THE FAULT LINE, which reached the Billboard Top 10. Though co-founder Tom Johnston participated in the recording sessions, at this point he's surrendered the reins to Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald, who rise to the occasion with such originals as the title track, “Echoes of Love” and “You Belong To Me” (co-written with Carly Simon). Jazz and R&B - including an outstanding Motown cover - are prominent throughout the 1977 Warner Bros. collection, which was produced by the estimable Ted Templeman. If you think of the Doobies as just a singles band, LIVIN ON THE FAULT LINE will shake up that preconception.