After more than 40 years, the Doobie Brothers are set to release a new album that features Michael McDonald, marking his first contribution of original material with the band since 1980’s One Step Closer.
The upcoming album, titled Walk This Road, will be the San Jose-based band’s 16th studio album and is scheduled for release this summer.
The announcement, shared in a year-end Facebook post, not only teases the forthcoming new music but also celebrates the nearly 56-year history of the band since their formation in 1970.
“It’s been a long, winding road since those early days, but we’re still working together, doing our best to stay creative, and looking forward to bringing our music to you folks out there again next year,” the Doobie Brothers wrote.
Walk This Road will feature 10 new songs, sung by McDonald, founding member Pat Simmons, and original vocalist Tom Johnston. The three band members collaborated on writing the tracks together.
“We had a lot of fun recording it, and we’re really proud of the results,” they shared.
Renowned for blending rock, R&B, and soul, the Doobie Brothers teamed up with producer John Shanks, who also played on the album. Longtime collaborator John McFee also returned for the project.
McDonald, who first joined the band in 1975, helped define some of their most iconic albums, including Takin’ It to the Streets and Minute by Minute.
After leaving the group in 1982, McDonald rejoined intermittently for various studio projects, including the 2014 covers album Southbound. However, he was notably absent from the band’s 2021 album Liberté, which came out a year after their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
McDonald’s full-time return to the Doobie Brothers in 2019 paved the way for Walk This Road, which is expected to blend the band’s signature yacht rock style with his soulful influence.
“We are so fortunate to have your continued support and thankful for the opportunity you’ve given us to play the music we love and work so hard to create,” the band wrote.
“It’s such a privilege to share the songs that connect us with you, hopefully rekindling happy memories and creating new ones together.”