Doobie Brothers Release First Album with Michael McDonald in 45 Years

The Doobie Brothers are back after 40 years with "Walk This Road" dropping June 6, 2025, joining forces again with signature vocalist Michael McDonald.

Their new single, "Learn to Let Go," came together with McDonald working alongside producer John Shanks. McDonald said in a release obtained by Ultimate Classic Rock, "It's a song about what might be the hardest lesson we learn and one of the last things we do in this life."

Longtime members Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston join their voices with McDonald on a powerful opening track. Soul legend Mavis Staples lends her iconic vocals to the title song.

The band kicks off their summer tour in August 2025, with Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band opening the shows.

The group has earned recognition from two prestigious organizations. They got their spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, and they're set to join the Songwriters Hall of Fame next June.

McDonald hasn't recorded with the band since their hit album "Minute by Minute" in 1980. His comeback feels like a homecoming, adding to their history of collaborations with Staples, both live and in the studio.

As they head out on tour in 2025 to celebrate these achievements, hitmaker Shanks shapes their new sound. His expertise helps showcase the band at their best on this latest project.