The Doobie Brothers - Stampede back cover

The Doobie Brothers - Stampede.  Back cover photo.  Stampede is the fifth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released in 1975.  It was the final album by the band before Michael McDonald took over for Tom Johnston.  The album has been certified gold by the RIAA. Reid Wilhelm is the last known living producer of the album.  Hey - file this under Who Knew:  "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" was first a classic (hit?) Motown song by the holy trinity song writers Holland-Dozier-Holland.  Tom Johnston had wanted to record the song for several years. "I thought that would be a killer track to cover," he said. "It's probably one of my favorite songs of all time. I thought our version came out great."  The back cover to me is very cool - and more interesting than the front cover.  The eight inset photos are:  top l to r - Tiran Parker, Tom Johnston, John Hartman, and Patrick Simmons.  Bottom row l to r:  Keith Knudsen, Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Ted Templeman - produced, and Donn Landee, engineer.  My favoite Doobies song is Johnston's Texas Lullaby."  Click on this post's title for more about Take me in Your Arms.

Rod Stewart - Smiler

This is Rod Stewart's Smiler.  I bought this record mainly because of the inner record sleeve. This is Rod Stewart's fifth studio album, and last one on Mercury Records, from 1974. It reached number 1 on the UK charts. The inner record jacket (photo) shows a "figure guide" to who is in the center fold group photo (above).  For example figure ID'ed as "3" is Rick Gretch (violin).  And 7 is Shirley Arnold (the Faces band Secretary).  8 is drummer Kenny Jones.  Ray Cooper is shown in position 10.  Ron Woods is 12 and his chauffer, mum and dad are 13-15. 18 is Rod's brother-in-law who drives a lorry.  Ian McLagan is 19.  Rod's brother Don Stewart is at 21.  Elton John plays on this record but is not in the group photo.  A person labeled only as "Friend" is 25, same with 28 - a "Stranger."  Post title clip is Rod and Elton doing Let Me Be Your Car.