Takin' It to the Streets (song)
"Takin' It to the Streets" is a song by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers from the album of the same name. It was their first single with Michael McDonald on vocals and was written by McDonald.
"Takin' It to the Streets" | ||||
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Single by The Doobie Brothers | ||||
from the album Takin' It to the Streets | ||||
B-side | "For Someone Special" | |||
Released | March 17, 1976 | |||
Recorded | 1975 | |||
Studio | Warner Bros. Studios, North Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | Pop, R&B[1] | |||
Length | 3:56 (album version) 3:36 (Best of the Doobies version) 3:20 (single version)[2] | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Michael McDonald | |||
Producer(s) | Ted Templeman | |||
The Doobie Brothers singles chronology | ||||
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Reception
The song peaked at number 13 in the US and number 7 in Canada.[3]
Cash Box stated that "both instrumentally and vocally this is the best thing the Doobie Brothers have done to date," adding that "the melody is based around a strong chordal structure" and that the repetition of the song title in the chorus has "maximum hook potential."[4] Record World said that the song "has all the essential qualities that have contributed to making this group a dominating chart force" and that "all these ingredients are wrapped together in an appealing package."[5]
Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated "Takin' It to the Streets" as the Doobie Brothers' 6th greatest song, praising McDonald's "soulful rasp" on the vocal.[6] The staff of Billboard rated it as the Doobie Brothers' 3rd best song, saying that it "hits an elemental theme and drives it home with soulful urgency."[7]
Personnel
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Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Christine Anu and Deni Hines version
"Takin' It to the Streets" | ||||
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Single by Christine Anu and Deni Hines | ||||
Released | November 15, 2008 | |||
Length | 3:33 | |||
Label | Heritage | |||
Songwriter(s) | Michael McDonald | |||
Christine Anu singles chronology | ||||
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Deni Hines singles chronology | ||||
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In November 2008, Australian singers Christine Anu and Deni Hines recorded and released a version of the song. 50% of net profits of the song went to the Salvation Army's Oasis Youth Support Network and the Everyone Is Homeless Fund. Anu and Hines promoted the single with a tour throughout May and June 2009.[11][12]
Track listing
- "Takin It to the Streets" – 3:33
- "Nak E Ba Na Na" by Christine Anu – 3:01
- "Freedom" by Deni Hines – 3:43
In popular culture
- On February 4, 1978, the song was played in an episode of the American comedy series "What's Happening!!".
- In 2005, the song was played in the American comedy film "The 40-Year-Old Virgin".
- The song has been used as the theme music for the Sam Newman-hosted segment "Street Talk" on The Footy Show (covering the Australian Football League) since the program debuted in 1994.
References
- "Top 10 Doobie Brothers Songs". 12 February 2013.
- "The Doobie Brothers - Takin' It to the Streets".
- "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
- "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 27, 1976. p. 26. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
- "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. April 3, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
- Gallucci, Michael (February 12, 2013). "Top 10 Doobie Brothers songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- Graff, Gary (November 6, 2020). "The Doobie Brothers' 10 Best Songs: Staff Picks". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 92. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Archived from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
- Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- "CHRISTINE ANU AND DENI HINES TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS". WaterFront Records. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
- "Christine Anu & Deni Hines Join Forces On One Tour". Girl.com.au. Retrieved June 5, 2016.