In a Nashville rehearsal studio, the Doobie Brothers are getting ready for another summer tour, playing "Long Train Runnin'." More than 50 years in, and 48 million albums sold, they still want to be sure they sound sharp, even on hits they've played thousands of times.It was 1973, when co-founder Tom Johnston wrote down words for a riff they'd been jamming to for years in bars and clubs.Down around the corner Half a mile from here See them long trains runnin' And you watch 'em disappear Without love Where would you be now? (Without lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ve)How long did it take for him to come up with the words? "I would like to say it was a labor of love, but it wasn't; it was about 20 minutes in the bathroom using the tile to sing with," Johnston said.Which tells us something when it comes to the Doobie Brothers' songwriting: As much as their hits are a triumph of technique and theory (as Michael McDonald shared with "Sunday Morning" a few years back, detailing the writing of "Takin' It to the Streets"), sometimes, says Patrick Simmons (who wrote the band's first #1 hit, "Black Water"), it's a lot less complicated.
"Accidents happened," Simmons laughed."A lot of things kind of fall out of the sky and hit you on the head, you know?"The Doobie Brothers sing "Long Train Runnin'":But you can't argue with their methods.
This week, Johnston, McDonald and Simmons will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. John McFee has been a member of the Doobies for the last 38 years.Asked about Johnston, McDonald and Simmons' songwriting, McFee laughed, "There's a reason for the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction.
I'm a writer, and I've had songs nominated for Grammys.I'm a member of the band.
I'm not included in the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction.That's how good these guys are!"The Doobie members are joining such legendary songwriting teams as Lennon and McCartney, John and Taupin, and Holland-Dozier-Holland.
"I think we all feel honored by it," said...