The Doobie Brothers What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits (1974)

From dereksmusicblog.com

There was no rest for The Doobie Brothers. Having released The Captain And Me, they embarked upon another tour. Then when they weren’t on tour, they were writing and recording their fourth album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. 

Given their gruelling schedule, The Doobie Brothers hadn’t the time they would have liked to hone songs. Instead, some of the songs were written or completed in the studio. Principal songwriter Tom Johnston penned six tracks, and cowrote Road Angel with John Hartman, Michael Hossack and Tiran Porter. He also contributed Flying Cloud. Patrick Simmons wrote Black Water, You Just Can’t Stop It, Tell Me What You Want (And I’ll Give You What You Need) and Daughters Of The Sea. These twelve tracks were recorded at three studios.

Recording took place not just at Warner Bros. Studios, North Hollywood, but at Wally Helder Studios, San Francisco and Burbank Studios, in Burbank. Augmenting The Doobie Brothers were The Mempis Horns and backing vocals. Familiar faces included  Jeff Baxter on pedal steel and steel guitar, while Bill Payne played keyboards, organ and piano. As usual, Ted Templeman added percussion and more importantly produced What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. It was scheduled for release on 1st February 1974.

This meant that The Doobie Brothers were about to release two albums in eleven months. When critics heard What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, reviews were mixed. Classic rock, bluegrass, country, soft rock and A.O.R. shawn through on What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. There was a but though.

Gone was the overwhelming critical acclaim that accompanied their last two albums. Although some reviews were positive, some critics felt What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits lacked the quality of Toulhouse Street and The Captain And Me. Rolling Stone magazine and Robert Christgau were among the fiercest critics. This time, though, they were alone. A few critics wondered aloud of The Doobie Brothers were releasing too many albums in too short a space of time? Only time, and album sales would tell.

When What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits, was released, the AOR boom was about to begin. Especially amongst the generation who had just graduated university and had entered the workplace for the first time. With their disposable income, they bought albums by groups like The Doobie Brothers. As a result, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits reached number four in the US Billboard 200, and was certified double-platinum. Across the Atlantic, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits reached nineteen in Britain. This resulted in a silver disc for The Doobie Brothers. However, this wasn’t the end of the commercial success.

Another Park, Another Sunday reached number thirty-two in the US Billboard 100 in 1974. Eyes of Silver stalled at number fifty-two in the US Billboard 100. If The Doobie Brothers or executives at Warner Bros. were worried, they needn’t have been. Black Water, with its bluegrass influence  gave The Doobie their first number one on the US Billboard 100. Despite the disappointing reviews, 1974 had been the most successful year of their four album career. All they had to do, was do it again.