Minute by Minute

Minute by Minute is the eighth studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers, released on December 1, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. It was their last album to include members John Hartman (until Cycles) and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.

The album spent 87 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart. In the spring of 1979 Minute by Minute was the best-selling album in the U.S. for five non-consecutive weeks. It was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.

The song "What a Fool Believes" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1979 and became the band's biggest hit. The title track and "Depending on You" were also released as singles and reached the top 30.

Minute by Minute made the Doobie Brothers one of the big winners at the 22nd Grammy Awards. The album got the trophy for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group and received a nomination for Album of the Year. The single "What a Fool Believes" earned them three Grammys, including Song and Record of the Year.

Critical reception
Rolling Stone concluded that, "with all the firepower this band has—one of rock's strongest rhythm sections, several writers and vocalists, an excellent lead guitarist and a remarkable lead singer—the Doobie Brothers shouldn't be content merely to skirt greatness."

The Doobie Brothers

 * Patrick Simmons – lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals
 * Michael McDonald – piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizers, lead and backing vocals
 * Jeff "Skunk" Baxter – lead and rhythm guitars
 * Tiran Porter – bass, backing vocals
 * John Hartman – drums, percussion
 * Keith Knudsen – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians

 * Ted Templeman – drums (with Keith Knudsen) on "What a Fool Believes", additional percussion
 * Bobby LaKind – congas, backing vocals
 * Tom Johnston – backing vocals on "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels"
 * Nicolette Larson – duet vocals on "Sweet Feelin'", backing vocals on "Dependin' on You"
 * Rosemary Butler – backing vocals on "Here to Love You" and "Dependin' on You"
 * Norton Buffalo – harmonica on "Don't Stop to Watch the Wheels" and "Steamer Lane Breakdown"
 * Herb Pedersen – banjo on "Steamer Lane Breakdown"
 * Byron Berline – fiddle on "Steamer Lane Breakdown"
 * Lester Abrams – electric piano on "How Do the Fools Survive?"
 * Bill Payne – synthesizer (with Michael McDonald) on "What a Fool Believes" and "Minute by Minute"
 * Novi Novog – synthesizer solo on "Open Your Eyes"
 * Sumner Mering – guitar on "Open Your Eyes"
 * Andrew Love – saxophone on "Here to Love You", "Dependin' on You" and "How Do the Fools Survive?"
 * Ben Cauley – trumpet on "Here to Love You", "Dependin' on You" and "How Do the Fools Survive?"

Production

 * Producer – Ted Templeman
 * Production Coordination – Beth Naranjo
 * Engineer – Donn Landee
 * Additional Engineer – Loyd Clifft
 * Additional Engineer - Steve Malcolm
 * Cover Design and Coordinator – Bruce Steinberg
 * Photography – David Alexander

Recorded at Warner Bros. Recording Studios, North Hollywood; Mixed at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles