It seems like a pretty obvious thing to say that a band takes on the musical identity of their members. Still, it can be jarring when members of a band change, and then the band’s sound changes in kind. Luckily for The Doobie Brothers, they managed just such an alteration smoothly, as evidenced on their 1978 hit single “Minute by Minute.”
What is the song about? How did the band represent the band’s shifting sonic approach? And what other band that songwriter Michael McDonald knew well influenced its creation? Here is the story of how The Doobie Brothers brought “Minute by Minute” to life.
Same Band, Different Sound
The Doobie Brothers earned their reputation as a band that could rev up the hard rock, dabble in folkier acoustic songs, and even do a little boogeying when the mood struck them. The artistic vision was driven to a large degree by Tom Johnston, who wrote and sang lead on durable hit singles like “Listen to the Music,” “China Grove,” and “Long Train Runnin’.”
But by the middle of the decade, health problems caused Johnston to take a break from the band. In search of someone who could sing and play keyboards, they looked to Michael McDonald. McDonald was already known as a session player and vocalist of note, and his experience with Steely Dan was a major draw.
Although McDonald joined the band on a temporary basis, it wasn’t long before the others saw what he brought to the table, especially as Johnston struggled to fully recover. McDonald was a full-fledged member for the 1976 album Takin’ It to the Streets, and his writing and singing of the title track gave the Doobies another hit single. That convinced the band to follow his lead going forward.
Every “Minute” Counts
By 1978, The Doobie Brothers had largely transformed their sound thanks to McDonald’s influence. His background in soul music, coupled with his elastic vocals, naturally made them push in that direction. Their 1977 record Livin’ on the Fault Line was a kind of test run for that sound, although it lacked any hit singles.
With McDonald leading the charge, the 1978 follow-up struck gold. Lead single “What a Fool Believes” soared to No. 1. And “Minute by Minute,” which McDonald wrote with Lester Abrams, became the album’s title track and made its way into the Top 20. McDonald explained to Vulture the song was an attempt to capture the vibe of the genre-mixing Steely Dan album on which he had performed:
“Where Pretzel Logic had those major suspensions in the chord progression disguised as minor blues chords, it came out as jazz. It created a whole different harmonic ambience to what was really just a blues song. ‘Minute by Minute’ had the same idea in mind.”
What is the Meaning of “Minute by Minute”?
The lyrics to “Minute by Minute” describe the tenuous position of the narrator in his current relationship. But instead of railing against it, he’s come to accept his status: I know I could turn, blink and you’d be gone / Then I must be prepared any time to carry on.
The song also acts as a warning to the girl that she can’t simply expect him to always be there enduring her slights: Can’t stop the habit of livin’ on the run / Take it all for granted like you’re the only one. He can foresee a different fate in the future: Livin’ on my own / Somehow that seems nice. By then, she might have missed her chance: Just my luck, you realize / You should spend your life with someone.
Minute by minute by minute by minute / I’ll be holdin’ on, McDonald bellows in the chorus. “Minute by Minute” epitomized the sound of the new Doobie Brothers. One thing they had in common with the former version: the ability to capture the hearts of their listening audience.
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