Inside The Doobie Brothers Songbook: The Stories Behind the Songs (feat. The Doobie Brothers' Ed Toth)

This week, I’m joined by Ed Toth of The Doobie Brothers to talk about a musical journey that truly comes full circle — from being a kid jamming along to Doobie Brothers songs, to spending nine years as the drummer for Vertical Horizon, to ultimately stepping behind the kit for the very band that inspired him, a role he’s held for more than two decades.

We dig deep into Ed’s time with Vertical Horizon, including the stories behind their massive breakthrough album Everything You Want — which turned 25 last year and was previously featured on an Inside the Album episode — along with its 2003 follow-up, Go. Ed also opens up about the decision to leave the band, how that transition unfolded, and the relationship he still maintains with the group today.

From there, the conversation shifts to The Doobie Brothers — starting with Ed’s early days as one of the band’s dual drummers, playing alongside the late Michael Hossack and Tony Pia, to eventually becoming the band’s sole drummer. We also talk about his 2017 side project Button, which features fellow Doobie Brothers member John Cowan along with Keith Howland (formerly of Chicago).

We round things out by discussing what truly makes a Doobie Brothers live show, from the songs that are absolutely essential — and go well beyond the radio staples — to the experience of performing classic albums like Toulouse Street and The Captain & Me in their entirety.

A wide-ranging conversation packed with history, perspective, and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories — and that’s just the beginning.

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