Tom Johnston ‎– Everything You've Heard Is True (1979/2004)

After leaving the Doobie Brothers permanently, (at least at the time), in 1977. founding member Tom Johnston took a couple of years to continue recuperating from the health issues that derailed his work with the band, & in 1979 released his first solo album "Everything You've Heard Is True". The album, produced by long time Doobies producer Ted Templeman is a mix of the late 70s laid back "LA Sound" so prevalent then, a bit of the then popular disco rhythms, & Tom's R&B roots & instantly recognizable "chunka-chunka" guitar style that propelled & identified so many Doobies songs.

Tom was backed by some serious LA session musicians; Jim Keltner, Bob Glaub, Paul Stallworth & David Garibaldi, along with Little Feat's Paul Barrere & Bill Payne, (the latter had of course played keyboards on many Doobies songs), the Tower Of Power horn section & the Memphis Horns, (whom had also recorded & toured with the Doobies), plus former Doobie bandmates Michael McDonald & Keith Knudsen.

So with this all star lineup backing him, what did we get? A very good album, with a mix of songs that could have easily fit on a Doobies album, (& since Tom wrote & he & the Doobies recorded five songs for their "Livin' On The Fault Line" before Tom had them taken off the album & left the band, it's very possible some are on this album), & some cases of Tom stretching out a bit. "Small Time Talk" is the most Doobie sounding song on the album, with a guitar line much like "Listen To The Music" or "Eyes Of Silver", but with a different group of musicians behind Tom, it sounds more like somebody copying the Doobies sound, & that's not putting it down. "Savannah Nights" was the big hit from this album, peaking at #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, & garnering a good bit of airplay. It's a definite mix of Tom's R&B roots with a funk/disco rhythm. Tom also does a nice cover of Joe Tex's southern soul classic "Show Me", & continues the "Tom Johnston era Doobies sound" with "Down Along The River" The rest of the album is very solid, & Tom's in fine voice & wrote some solid songs for his solo debut. Ted Templeman's production gives the album just the right pop sheen, without getting as slick as on "Minute By Minute".