At the time of its release, the British music press was somewhat harsh on this album: "Doobies' Habits are now Vices" was the typical 1975 headline from reviewers who were still hoping for another CAPTAIN & ME.

But posterity has been fair to the Doobies. Listening to this 26 years on, it sounds almost as fresh as the day it was cut. The trouble is that I know this album too well -- over the years, I have worked too often with it in the background -- so it's impossible to give it an objective review.

There is clearly a group sense that the band is going through some trauma -- 'Slat Key Soquel Rag' and 'Precis' are two gorgeous solo guitar pieces respectively by Simmons and Baxter which probably wouldn't have made it onto earlier albums. But this was Johnston's farewell to Doobies Phase 1 -- he needed to fight his personal demons away from the group context -- and this enabled other members of the band to flourish. For once, the piano of Little Feat's Bill Payne gets a lead role. It even opens the album.

I have always felt that Pat Simmons' beautiful composition 'I Cheat the Hangman' was the finest song on the album and certainly one of the Doobies best five songs, period. Pat Simmons is one of the most unacknowledged composers in the rock world, and he provided the bulk of the continuity needed for the invasion of Michael McDonald.

STAMPEDE was an album that for some reason I had to pick up. Nothing noteworthy out of my research seemed to make this album stand out over any others that the Doobie Brothers made, other then it was the last to feature for a while anyway lead singer Tom Johnston. Finally getting ahold of it, it is now my favorite Doobie Brothers album of the ones I own. An album that you can listen to straight through is always good because you don't know how good the next track is going to be, and when you go back and replay the tracks you liked they are even better.

This album also has some of my favorite pieces of their music. NEALS FANDANGO one of my absolute favorites, has a great driving sound and is about being stuck somewhere you don't want to be but have the drive to want to go back home. TEXAS LULLABYE is probably Tom Johnston at his most laid back and mellowest in a tune about good ol' days in the fields and living a simplar life with friends and family. I CHEAT THE HANGMAN is the best Doobie Brothers song you haven't heard with a haunting, quiet opening track that halfway through ends the song with a jarring instrumental session and is one of their best, and Jeff Baxter's instrumental piece PRECIS is the perfect lead in as the next track.

STAMPEDE is the kind of album that you will want to remain in your CD player for days on end simply because the music is just that great and fun to listen to. Definitly one of my favorite CD's.

As I always say, I have a list of albums that I would have to have with me on a desert island should I become abandoned [not that *Survivor* will ever enlist me--I am from the Gilligan's Island Generation!]--this is one of the ones at the top of the list.

I have always loved the Doobs, but this album is one of their best. I am of the personal opinion that Michael McDonald, although he has a great voice, ruined the Doobs. It brought them into the *beebop* era....a place that is not theirs.

They have always been one of those bands that has it all and can play it all. You'll find it here in this album, pre Michael McDonald. They are adept at stirring up the country, latin, rock and blues side of music. They have an uncanny ability to tap into every classical area of music. STAMPEDE won't disappoint you. It is one of those albums that will remain in your CD player for years [off and on] as it has for me.

Another absolutely fantastic album is *The Captain & Me* [also pre Michael McDonald]. Talk about a wide range of music strains! Wonderful!

Anyway, Stampede is an album that is one of life's simple pleasures. Do yourself a favor, listen and enjoy it!

The Japanese imports of the Doobie catalog are remastered.

Warner Brothers here in the U.S. is still selling the old LP-EQ'd, terrible-sounding masters they released on CD in 1990.

If you love these albums, get a set of the Japanese editions. They cost more, but they're worth it.

Here is the link to the Japanese remaster of Stampede.

Stampede is a semi-concept album from The Doobie Brothers. There isn't a running theme to the album, but most of the songs conjure up the feeling of life on the open range. The album also marks the first appearance of the indominantable Jeff "Skunk" Baxter as a full-time member and the band's founder, Tom Johnston's last full effort. Although he would appear on the follow-up, Takin' It To The Streets, Stampede was Mr. Johnston's finest effort with the band. The songs on the album are all first rate including a rollicking version of the Motown standard, "Take Me In Your Arms". "Slat Key Soquel Rag" and "Precis" are strong instrumentals while "I Cheat The Hangman" has a tense, jittering sound. "Sweet Maxine", "Texas Lullaby", "Music Man" and "Neal's Fandango" are all excellent cuts. Despite no big hits from the album, it became the band's highest charting album to date, peaking at number 4 in 1975.