Takin' It to the Streets - Doobie Brothers (1976) 7/12/22

In 1976, when the Doobie Brothers released "Takin' It to the Streets" (from the album of the same name), it started a whole new run of "Great Songs" from the band.

It was their first single featuring Michael McDonald singing lead, and the critics were impressed. (Michael wrote the song as well.)

Billboard Magazine loved its "soulful urgency." Cashbox called it the "best thing the Doobies have done to date." Others noticed the "Gospel feel" of the chorus, which was exactly what Michael wanted people to notice.

Fans and radio listeners were impressed as well, boosting the song to #7 in Canada and #13 in the US.

The title was inspired by an essay written by Michael's sister Maureen, and the lyrics were fleshed out after Michael and Maureen had a discussion about how poor and disadvantaged people were slipping though society's cracks.

An interesting overall result of the song was that politicians started using the phrase to describe grassroots-style campaigning--something that had rarely happened before.

So not only was "Takin' It to the Streets" by The Doobie Brothers a "Great Song of 1976," it had some tangible cultural impact as well!