Minute by Minute

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Minute by Minute
The Doobie Brothers - Minute by Minute.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedDecember 1, 1978
Recorded1978
Studio Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood, California and Sunset Sound, Los Angeles (mixing)
Genre Pop rock
Length36:16
Label Warner Bros.
Producer Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers chronology
Livin' on the Fault Line
(1977)
Minute by Minute
(1978)
One Step Closer
(1980)
Singles from Minute by Minute
  1. "What a Fool Believes" / "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels"
    Released: January 1979
  2. "Minute by Minute" / "Sweet Feelin'"
    Released: April 25, 1979
  3. "Dependin' on You" / "How Do the Fools Survive?"
    Released: July 25, 1979

Minute by Minute is the eighth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers, released on December 1, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. It was their last album to include members John Hartman (until Cycles ) and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

Contents

The album spent 87 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. In the spring of 1979 Minute by Minute was the best-selling album in the U.S. for five non-consecutive weeks. [1] It was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA. [2]

The song "What a Fool Believes" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1979 and became the band's biggest hit. The title track and "Depending on You" were also released as singles and reached the top 30.

Minute by Minute made the Doobie Brothers one of the big winners at the 22nd Grammy Awards. The album got the trophy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and received a nomination for Album of the Year. The single "What a Fool Believes" earned them three Grammys, including Song and Record of the Year.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Christgau's Record Guide B [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Great Rock Discography 7/10 [6]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

Rolling Stone concluded that, "with all the firepower this band has—one of rock's strongest rhythm sections, several writers and vocalists, an excellent lead guitarist and a remarkable lead singer—the Doobie Brothers shouldn't be content merely to skirt greatness." [8]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
1."Here to Love You" Michael McDonald Michael McDonald3:58
2."What a Fool Believes"
McDonald3:41
3."Minute by Minute"
McDonald3:26
4."Dependin' on You"
Patrick Simmons 3:44
5."Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels"
Simmons3:26
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Lead vocalsLength
6."Open Your Eyes"
McDonald3:18
7."Sweet Feelin'"
Simmons, Nicolette Larson 2:41
8."Steamer Lane Breakdown"Simmonsinstrumental3:24
9."You Never Change"SimmonsMcDonald, Simmons3:26
10."How Do the Fools Survive?"McDonald5:12

Personnel

The Doobie Brothers

Additional musicians

Production

Recorded at Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood; Mixed at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [19] Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [20] 3× Platinum3,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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References

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