Farewell Tour is the first live album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1983. It documents the group's 1982 Farewell Tour and is a double album set.
By the early 1980s, the Doobie Brothers had evolved from the guitar-boogie sound under original band frontman Tom Johnston to a soulful keyboard-driven AOR sound under Michael McDonald. Despite the many personnel changes in the group, Patrick Simmons remained from the original incarnation of the group.
In 1982, Simmons decided to retire from the group after years of constant touring and recording. When the band decided to break up in light of his impending departure, Simmons encouraged the group to make one last tour during the summer of 1982 as a way of thanking the group's loyal fanbase. This tour became known as the "Farewell Tour."
The front cover shows drummer Keith Knudsen cutting the strings on John McFee's guitar as a symbolic gesture.According to a post at the forum (now retired) at the Doobie Brothers Official Website, by the Webmaster/Forum Administrator, who is John McFee's son. The last two songs on the album were recorded at the final concert of the tour in Berkeley, California, on September 11, 1982, with vocals by original lead vocalist and guitarist Tom Johnston. For a long time the album was available on CD only in Japan, but ultimately it was re-released on CD by Rhino/WEA on August 26, 2008. The reissue deleted approximately 1½ minutes of onstage talk from Patrick Simmons between 'Jesus' and 'Minute by Minute', including mentioning that the band were going to "light up a 'doobie'" during intermission, suggesting the audience do the same.
Track listing
"Can't Let It Get Away" and "Olana" are songs that the band had recorded in the studio but not released on albums. The studio version of "Can't Let It Get Away" was released only in Japan in 1981, while the studio version of "Olana" remained unreleased until it appeared on Long Train Runnin': 1970-2000.
Personnel Patrick Simmons – guitars, lead and backing vocals Michael McDonald – keyboards, synthesizers, lead and backing vocals John McFee – guitars, pedal steel (12, 13), violin (9), backing vocals Keith Knudsen – drums, tambourine (9), backing vocals, lead vocals (15) Chet McCracken – drums, vibraphone and marimba (10, 13) Willie Weeks – bass, backing vocals Cornelius Bumpus – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone (9), organ, synthesizers, backing vocals, lead vocals (3) Bobby LaKind – congas, percussion, backing vocals
Guests Tom Johnston – electric guitar and lead vocals (16, 17) Joe Crowley – harmonica (15)
Technical Produced by Ted Templeman Engineered by Jim Isaacson Management – Bruce Cohn Mastered by Bobby Hata at Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood Production coordinator – Joan Parker Publicity – David Gest & Associates Album recorded by The Record Plant Record Plant technicians – Jack Crymes, Mark Eschelman, Gary Singleman, Jim Scott Tour manager – Joe Crowley Assistant tour manager – Jeff Mills Production manager – Lol Halsey Assistant production manager – Rollie Clasen Live sound mixer – David Morgan Monitor mixer – Mike Kelley Stage manager – Mark Brown Technicians – Mark Brown (guitars), David Bowers (guitars, violin, pedal steel), Alan Bartz (keyboards), Greg Winter (drums) Live sound technicians (Innovative Audio) – Mark Drale, Alan Bonomo, Philip Ashley Lighting director – Martin Wolff Art direction and design – Jay Vigon Photography – Chris Callis Photography assistant – Michael Simpson
Charts Chart (1983)PeakpositionCanada Albums (RPM)87US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard)79
References