"Takin' It to the Streets" is a song by the

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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.

Reception

The song peaked at number 13 in the US and number 7 in Canada. ''

Cash Box ''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', was an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...

'' 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 Chorus may refer to: Music * Chorus (song) or refrain, line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse * Chorus effect, the perception of similar sounds from multiple sources as a single, richer sound * Chorus form, song in which all verse ...

has "maximum hook potential." ''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. The staff of ''

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'' rated it as the Doobie Brothers' 3rd best song, saying that it "hits an elemental theme and drives it home with soulful urgency."

Personnel

* Michael McDonald – piano, lead vocals * Patrick Simmons – guitar, backing vocals *

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Jeffrey Allen "Skunk" Baxter (born December 13, 1948) is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s. More recently, he has worked as a defense consu ...

– guitar * Tiran Porter –

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, backing vocals * John Hartman –

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* Keith Knudsen –

, backing vocals ;Additional personnel *Jesse Butler –

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Bobby LaKind Robert Jay LaKind (November 3, 1945 – December 24, 1992) was an American conga player, vocalist, songwriter and occasional backup drummer with The Doobie Brothers. Originally a lighting roadie for the band, he was invited to join as a sideman f ...

–

conga The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest). ...

s * Ted Templeman – tambourine,

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– saxophones

Chart performance

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Christine Anu and Deni Hines version

In November 2008, Australian singers

Christine Anu Christine Anu (born 15 March 1970) is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress. She gained popularity with the cover song release of the Warumpi Band's song " My Island Home". Anu has been nominated for 17 ARIA Awards. Early life Anu was bo ...

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.

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 The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

) since the program debuted in 1994.

References

{{Deni Hines The Doobie Brothers songs Christine Anu songs Song recordings produced by Ted Templeman Songs written by Michael McDonald (musician) 1976 singles 2008 singles Warner Records singles 1976 songs