http://music.yahoo.com/news/michael-mcdonald-talks-doobie-brothers-country-album-old-144206994.html
I mean, "Black Water" was a #1 hit, and its songwriter, guitarist Patrick Simmons, also contributed the minor hit "I Cheat the Hangman" and live favorite "South City Midnight Lady," both of which have a definite folky feel. Guitarist Tom Johnston, who usually wrote in more of a rock/R&B vein, did pen the band's first hit "Listen to the Music," which does have a bit of a country-pickin' twang. (In fact, I've maintained for years that Bellamy Brothers' #1 hit "Let Your Love Flow" owes more than a little bit to it.) But the Michael McDonald material? "What a Fool Believes" had a disco mix back in the day! "Takin' It to the Streets" had a sax solo! "It Keeps You Runnin'" is boring and draggy enough to pass for country, though. I could maybe, just MAYBE see "You Belong To Me" passing for country if you stripped it down to acoustic and got some female vocalists on it.
And whatta are they gonna call the album, "Livin' on the Crop Line"?
Why don't they retitle the song "Takin' It to the Sheep"?
Anyway, here's some real Doobie country with "South City Midnight Lady":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7kEqWlSyc
And the haunting "I Cheat the Hangman":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7EZv5GsGzs