The single comes from the forthcoming album World Gone Crazy, which will be available in stores September 28, 2010.

CONTACT: Elaine Schock or Meredith Louie
Shock Ink (818) 932-0001

DOOBIES WORLD GONE CRAZY EXTENDS BROTHERHOOD

Guests Include Willie Nelson, Fmr. Doobie Michael McDonald & More

(WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.) The Sept. 28 HOR Records release of the Doobie Brothers’ World Gone Crazy pushes the band’s already expansive palette of sounds even further with the help of some very special guests. For a band whose diverse influences may only be exceeded by their long list of current and former collaborators, the added contributions make perfect sense.

Founders and principal songwriters Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons have anchored the band throughout the past 40 years, but didn’t hesitate to reach outside when merited. And what could be more meritorious than a co-write and duet with American icon Willie Nelson on “I Know We Won.” Simmons explains, “I’d been talking to Willie for ages. He’s a fantastic person and perfectly captured the sentiment.”

Elsewhere, Johnston enlisted world class musicians for several sessions, including accomplished piano master Billy Payne, percussionist Karl Perazzo (Santana), Doobie sax man Mark Russo, Tower of Power horn legend Mic Gillette and A-list drummer Gregg Bissonette. “Billy is professor longhair twice removed and really the guy for the kind of stuff we wanted on the song ‘World Gone Crazy, ‘” Johnston says. “I was really going for that New Orleans feel. He also did a few other songs, bringing rich gospel sound to ‘A Brighter Day. ‘ We got a lot done in a three day period with all those guys. And that’s been the goal of all our records: To achieve that diversity but at the same time remain true to ourselves.”

For “Don’t Say Goodbye,” Simmons arranged for the inimitable vocal backing of former Doobie Michael McDonald. “He and I are still close friends,” Simmons says. “I got him, his wife Amy and a good friend of mine Gail Swanson to come in and sing background.”

World Gone Crazy has been in development for several years, enabling Simmons, Johnston, guitarist John McFee and drummer Mike Hossack to dial-in exactly what they wanted for the album. “We were able to reach out a little further, which in the past was not always the case,” Simmons says. “As you’re recording a song sometimes you realize it needs one or two other elements to make it come to life, and we had time for that. I had Cameron Stone come in and play cello on the track ‘Far From Home. ‘ It was a good feeling to be able to accomplish those things.”

• The Morning Call interview with The Doobie Brothers
• Leigh Valley Live interview with The Doobie Brothers

The single comes from the forthcoming album World Gone Crazy, which will be available in stores September 28, 2010.