The Doobie Brothers : What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits -2x LP 180g Vinyl, Limited, Numbered, Remastered

“And I Ain’t Got No Worries, ’Cause I Ain’t In No Hurry At All” – the highlight of the chorus from the No. 1 hit “Black Water” perfectly captures the positive vibe and charm of “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits”. The Doobie Brothers’ most ambitious work from 1974 expanded the sextet’s stylistic boundaries while staying true to the band’s signature blend of rock, country, and R&B. More than five decades later, it stands in the Hall of Fame alongside the band’s other albums from the 1970s. In the U.S., it reached No. 4 on the Billboard album charts, spawned three singles – “Another Park, Another Sunday,” “Eyes Of Silver,” and “Black Water” – and sold a total of more than two million copies! “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” is a collaborative effort that reflects the strengths of each band member and the guest musicians. The album defies easy categorization, yet exudes an atmosphere that’s perfect for a drive down the highway or a relaxed get-together on a hot Sunday afternoon with cold drinks.

For the recording of “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits,” producer Ted Templeman invited the legendary Memphis Horns to enrich three tracks with razor-sharp horn-driven soul. They also enlisted the services of Steely Dan virtuoso Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, who played pedal steel guitar on “Tell Me What You Want (And I’ll Give You What You Need).” Arlo Guthrie was recruited to play the autoharp on the same track. The Doobie Brothers enlisted New Orleans pianist James Booker to play piano on “Down In The Track” and brought in Little Feat co-founder Bill Payne, who played organ on two songs and clavinet on another. The instrumental lineup also features Novi Novog on viola, Eddie Guzman on congas, and Milt Holland on tabla, vibraphone, marimba, and pandeiro. The fruits of this labor, along with the incisive songwriting of Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons, shine on an album that never has a single dull moment throughout its nearly 45-minute runtime.

MFSL now presents “What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits” for the first time in audiophile reference quality! Mastered from the original tapes at MoFi Studios in California and pressed by Fidelity Record Pressing, this numbered double LP (180 grams, 45 RPM) is housed in a luxurious gatefold jacket by Stoughton Printing and offers the best sound quality the album has ever received on vinyl. This collectible reissue sets new standards in terms of spatiality, transparency, and dynamics. From the naturalism of the acoustic guitars to the nuanced vocal harmonies that adorn the memorable choruses, right through to the famous a cappella passages of “Black Water”: the brilliance of Ted Templeman’s production outshines everything!We recommend the use of "L'Art du Son" LP cleaner to wet wash your vinyl. Even new records of high quality production will benefit from this.