The Doobie Brothers – Best Of The Doobies: Volumes 1 & 2 (2xLP)

The Doobie Brothers' Best Of The Doobies: Volumes 1 & 2 brings together two major greatest-hits sets in one 2xLP package, tracing how the band moved from the guitar-led California rock of the early 1970s into the smoother, more soulful late-'70s Michael McDonald era. That arc matters: the original Best of the Doobies from 1976 sold more than 12 million copies, while the group's wider catalogue includes No. 1 singles such as "Black Water" and "What a Fool Believes."

The first volume works as a tight summary of the band's 1971-1976 run, built around radio staples including "Listen to the Music," "Long Train Runnin'," and "Takin' It to the Streets." As AllMusic notes, that original collection captures the group's best-known early songs before their sound shifted further toward blue-eyed soul, which makes this paired edition especially useful: you hear the rootsy, harmony-rich lineup alongside the sleeker, keyboard-led material that pushed the band to even bigger commercial heights.

Volume II broadens the picture with later favorites such as "You Belong to Me," "Minute by Minute," and "What a Fool Believes," showing why the Doobies could thrive across lineup changes without losing their knack for melodic, highly singable songwriting. Rather than a stopgap compilation, this set works as a compact history of a band whose hits reached from boogie rock to polished late-'70s pop-soul.

Features

• 2xLP, Black Vinyl
• Combines Best of the Doobies and Best of the Doobies Volume II in one collection
• Slipcase packaging

Reviews

• For most casual fans, The Best of the Doobie Brothers is the perfect summation of the group's early career. - AllMusic.com