Doobie Brothers (1977) It Keeps You Runnin

 It Keeps You Runnin begins with a funky, syncopated keyboard rhythm, an unusual sound with a bouncy, fuzz synth part that then ends in a abrupt belch then repeats.We would hear this plodding rhythm in other McDonald tunes such as 'Losin End' on the next album which has similar synth belches. It is an interesting music idea to use this keyboard line to symbolise the dull mundaneness of life a theme soul music usually is based around. Sounding like Starbuck, it displayed the jazzy qualities of McDonald's music which had a more original approach than the previous synths parts on songs such as Natural Thing.  This locked in, plodding keyboard groove feels like a Super Mario theme, it matches the running of that character and the clean guitar licks that cut through sound like the sound of an energy boost; not to mention the fact this song is also based around running. 

 But it's purpose here is to imitate the heart beat of someone in love but continually running away from it in fear. The bouncy fantasy video-game opening is overlaid with dark, intoning backing vocal refrains of the title during the chorus  reminding us of this songs' savage reality of sabotaged love. In marked contrast the verses give way to a more gospel organ work that matches McDonalds' irresistibly sensual lyrics. It's a dark song that bridged the more grittier blues of the Johnson era into the smooth, romantic soul of the McDonald version of the band.