The Doobie Brothers: John McFee (vocals, guitar, pedal steel guitar, dobro, mandolin, violin, harmonica); Patrick Simmons (vocals, guitar, banjo, flute, synthesizer); Tom Johnston (vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, synthesizer); Cornelius Bumpus (vocals, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, organ); Michael MacDonald (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer); Tiran Porter, Dave Shogren (vocals, bass guitar); Keith Knudsen (vocals, drums, percussion); Bobby LaKind (vocals, percussion); Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (guitar); Chet McCracken (vibraphone, marimba, drums); Michael Hossack (drums, congas, timbales, percussion); John Hartman (drums, percussion).

Recording information: 1972 - 2000.

From their early recipe of country harmony, funk, guitar grit, and gospel power to their morphing into a first-rate adult contemporary R&B band, the Doobie Brothers' arc in the '70s and early '80s mirrors that of early FM radio itself. The band has already documented this period on several greatest-hits collections, all of varying degrees of depth. Stretching out over 33 tracks THE VERY BEST OF THE DOOBIE BROTHERS offers all of the hits, such as "China Grove," "Listen to the Music," "Jesus is Just All Right," and "What A Fool Believes," while there are enough deep cuts such as "Sweet Maxine" and their reunion hit "The Doctor" to keep avid fans happy. Two discs is a whole lot of Doobies, and this collection may overstay the welcome of the undecided with its focus on the comeback era of the mid '80s. Otherwise, this is a solid place to get a broad view of this classic band.