Livin' on the Fault Line

Livin' on the Fault Line
Studio album by The Doobie Brothers
Released	August 19, 1977
Recorded	1977 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, CA, Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA and Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood, CA
Genre	Rock
Length	34:26
Label	Warner Bros.
Producer	Ted Templeman
The Doobie Brothers chronology
Best of The Doobies (1976) Livin' on the Fault Line (1977) Minute by Minute (1978)
Singles from Livin' on the Fault Line
"Little Darling (I Need You)" Released: 1977 "Echoes of Love" Released: 1977

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Rolling Stone	(mixed) [2]

Livin' on the Fault Line is the seventh studio album by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1977. It is one of the few Doobie Brothers albums which did not produce a hit (although "You Belong to Me" was a hit as recorded by co-author Carly Simon). Still, the album received modest critical acclaim. Tom Johnston (guitar, vocals) left the band early in the sessions. He is listed as part of the band (appearing in the inside group photo) but appears on little or none of the actual album. Much of this consistently mellow album has a jazz tinge, and the influences of R&B are palpable throughout. The track "Little Darling (I Need You)" is a remake of the Marvin Gaye 1966 hit.

Track listing

Side One

1. "You're Made That Way" (McDonald, Baxter, Knudsen) – 3:30
2. "Echoes of Love" (Simmons, Willie Mitchell, Earl Randle) – 2:57
3. "Little Darling (I Need You)" (Holland-Dozier-Holland) – 3:24
4. "You Belong to Me" (Carly Simon, McDonald) – 3:04
5. "Livin' on the Fault Line" (Simmons) – 4:42

Side Two

1. "Nothin' But a Heartache" (McDonald) – 3:05
2. "Chinatown" (Simmons) – 4:55
3. "There's a Light" (McDonald) – 4:12
4. "Need a Lady" (Porter) – 3:21
5. "Larry the Logger Two-Step" (Simmons) – 1:16

Personnel

The Doobie Brothers:

• Patrick Simmons - guitar, vocals
• Jeff Baxter - guitar, steel guitar
• Michael McDonald - keyboards, vocals
• Tiran Porter - bass, vocals
• Keith Knudsen - drums, vocals
• John Hartman - drums

Additional Players:

• Bobby LaKind - congas, vocals
• Dan Armstrong - electric sitar solo on "Need A Lady"
• Norton Buffalo - harmonica on "There's A Light"
• Victor Feldman - vibes on "Livin' On The Fault Line"
• Rosemary Butler - backup vocals on "Little Darling (I Need You)", "You Belong To Me", and "There's A Light"
• Maureen McDonald - backup vocals on "You're Made That Way"
• Ted Templeman - percussion

Production

• Producer: Ted Templeman
• Engineer: Donn Landee
• Art direction: Bruce Steinberg
• Photography: Bruce Steinberg
• Cover design: Bruce Steinberg
• Conductor: Bobby LaKind
• String arrangements: David Paich
• Horn arrangements: David Paich

Charts

Album

Singles

References

The Doobie Brothers
Tom Johnston John McFee Patrick Simmons John Hartman Dave Shogren Tiran Porter Michael Hossack Keith Knudsen Jeff "Skunk" Baxter Michael McDonald Bobby LaKind Cornelius Bumpus Chet McCracken Willie Weeks
Additional personnel	Bill Payne John Cowan Tony Pia Marc Russo Ed Toth Richard Bryant Bernie Chiaravalle Rem Smiers Jimi Fox M. B. Gordy Danny Hull Dale Ockerman Guy Allison Skylark
Studio albums	The Doobie Brothers Toulouse Street The Captain and Me What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits Stampede Takin' It to the Streets Livin' on the Fault Line Minute by Minute One Step Closer Cycles Brotherhood Sibling Rivalry World Gone Crazy Southbound
Live albums	Farewell Tour Rockin' down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert Best of The Doobie Brothers Live Live at Wolf Trap Live at the Greek Theater 1982
Compilations	Best of The Doobies Best of The Doobies Volume II Listen to the Music: The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers Long Train Runnin': 1970–2000 Greatest Hits Doobie's Choice Divided Highway The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers
Singles	"Nobody" "Listen to the Music" "Jesus Is Just Alright" "Long Train Runnin'" "China Grove" "Another Park, Another Sunday" "Eyes of Silver" "Nobody" (re-issue) "Black Water" "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" "Sweet Maxine" "I Cheat the Hangman" "Takin' It to the Streets" "Wheels of Fortune" "It Keeps You Runnin'" "Little Darlin' (I Need You)" "Echoes of Love" "What a Fool Believes" "Minute by Minute" "Dependin' on You" "Real Love" "One Step Closer" "Wynken, Blynken & Nod" "Keep This Train A-Rollin'" "Here to Love You" "You Belong to Me" (live) "The Doctor" "Need a Little Taste of Love" "South of the Border" "Dangerous" "Rollin' On" "Long Train Runnin'" (re-issue) "Ordinary Man" "Nobody" (re-recording)
Related articles	Discography
Book:The Doobie Brothers