Doobies phone it in on ‘Southbound’

Collaborations between contemporary country artists and classic rock stars have become commonplace over the years. But the Doobie Brothers, with their accent on catchy choruses, close harmonies and traditional influences, match up particularly well with Nashville stars.

The Doobies’ new album, “Southbound,” features country stars such as the Zac Brown Band, Sara Evans, Hunter Hayes, Toby Keith and Black Shelton joining the band on new versions of its best-known songs. However, the tracks were recorded by Nashville studio pros, with the Doobies — Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, John McFee, Patrick Simmons — and their guests providing lead vocals and harmonies.

The result sounds like what it is: talented folks recording on the fly and reading their parts. The songs come across as pieced together because they were.

Michael McCall, Associated Press