1980's One Step Closer ended the Michael McDonald era of the band. Following the monster success of Minute By Minute, Mr. McDonald took creative control of the band on this release. The album is essentially a solo album for him. One Step Closer isn't a bad album, it just isn't anywhere as good as the previous effort. "Real Love" is a brilliant song and is as good as anything the band has ever done. The song was a top ten hit (peaking at number 5) and nothing else on the album compares to it. After a final tour, the band broke up and went their separate ways. They reunited in 1989 (sans Mr. McDonald) for the Cycles album.

How anyone could find The Doobie Brothers' 1980 album "One Step Closer" a disappointment is absolutely incredible to me. It's true that, to a large extent, they're treading familiar territory here, both stylistically & sonically, with basically the entire album having a 'jazzy' soft rock sound that screams out "late 70s"/"early '80s". However, "Takin' It To The Streets" and "Livin' On The Fault Line" are each MUCH weaker albums than "One Step Closer". This album shows that you can make music that is very relaxed without being dull--the lush sound, the sophisticated creativity and catchiness of the compositions, & the spirited performances make for an album that is compulsively listenable & immensely satisfying. Certainly it's very professional, and there are a bunch of different people who contributed to the songwriting (each track features a different songwriting battery), but it's unfair and inaccurate to say that the album is uninspired or that it is merely workmanlike. "Real Love" is a dramatic song about the toll empty relationships can take on people, & it features an incredible, soulful vocal from Michael McDonald who's in peak vocal form throughout the album. The late Cornelius Bumpus, who had joined the band by this point, sounds great as well--he shares the lead vocals with McDonald on the title track, & gets in a solo composition with the superb "Thank You Love" which mixes wondrous, contemplative music with feel-good lyrics (and is additionally punctuated by some great vibraphone). McDonald & Patrick Simmons both offer one solo composition apiece with "Keep This Train A-Rollin'" & "Just In Time" respectively (with Simmons doing a highly amusing Steven Tyler soundalike at 1:23 on the latter), & both are funky, hook-filled tunes that are impossible to resist. Also irresistible is the ingeniously crafted and infectious "Dedicate This Heart", which is kinda like an upbeat, bouncier variation on "Real Love", and features another marvelous McDonald vocal performance. The feel-good title track is admittedly a tad sugary, but it's so undeniably catchy it's impossible not to be forgiving. I'll admit that the last two tracks are a bit filler-ish--the instrumental "South Bay Strut" is somewhat aimless, & the upbeat "One By One" feels a tad underdeveloped, but they're still both quite good & enjoyable. All in all, not a lot to complain about with this album whatsoever--with the intricate detail that's packed into track after track, the album is simply brimming with catchiness. Chalk up another great production job for Ted Templeman who produced many records by Warner Bros. artists during this time, including Nicolette Larson who appears on this album as a background vocalist. If you're into 'jazzy' soft rock of this era such as Steely Dan, George Benson, & Grover Washington Jr., you can't go wrong with this superb album by The Doobie Brothers.

This was another great smooth mellow cd from the Michael McDonald led era of the Doobie Brothers. This album was released in the fall of 1980. The hit single "Real Love" is one of there best songs ever in my opinion. The second hit single was "One Step Closer" with Cornelius Bumpus and McDonald sharing the lead vocals. The instrumental song "South Bay Strut" and McDonald's "Dedicate This Heart" and "Keep This Train Rollin" are also standout songs. The whole cd is pretty good lite rock. There is more saxophone on this cd with the addition of Cornelius Bumpus to the band. This was also the Doobies first album with John McFee on guitar replacing Jeff Skunk Baxter and Chet McCracken on drums,replacing John Hartman.

Over the years there's been a train of thought that once Michael McDonald joined the band they increasingly became a backup band for his writing and Pat Simmons took a back seat musically. The answer of course is....not really. Michael joining the band only allowed the band to put his jazzy funk stylings within the bands already finely honed Southern Rock boogie style.After three albums of getting all of this together the Doobie's,already having perfected their sound from this era,seem to have totally integrated that style here-what turned out to be their final album.The presense of sax player Cornelious Bumpus in the band really did them good in many places.The rhythms the band provided to the carnivalesque jazz/funk-pop of "Dedicate This Heart","No Stoppin' Us Now","Just In Time" and "One By One" really show how so much of what was called "soft rock" or "blue eyed soul" was often enough some form of funk or jazz-funk in disguise.There's still time to throw down another pop smash in "Real Love";it is one of the poppier tunes on this set but it's still plenty heated up. A bit of the old booging style shows itself on the title track and especially on the gutsy "Keep This Train A-Rollin".The instrumental "South Bay Strut" not only keeps the California funky jazz-pop thing rolling along but gives Bumpus as real time to shine too. This is not the hardest rocking of the Doobie albums by any means.But for lovers of funk or early 80's pop-jazz will find this is full of treasures and for those Doobie fans who can appreciate those attitudes and musical styles will find a lot here to soak up.

I have read all 13 reviews of this album and believe you me, if it was not for Michael McDonald and his singing and musical talents, this album would be down the drane!!!
Every track on this album is perfect. I would not have bought this album if I had not heard the song, "Real Love". I just purchased the MP3 album. This whole album shimmers like glass. Nothing against the original members of the Doobies, but with McDonald on board, "This Train
is gonna Keep on Rollin"!!! Way to go, Michael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!