Throwing back to the week of March 1, 1975, we have a trio of great songs atop the Billboard Hot 100.
The first two have already appeared on the blog: ‘Best of My Love‘ by the Eagles at #1 and Olivia Newton-John’s ‘Have You Never Been Mellow‘ at #2.
At #3 that week was The Doobie Brothers’ ‘Black Water,’ the third single from their fourth album, What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits. The song would reach #1 two weeks later, becoming the band’s first chart-topper, and one of only two in their career.
‘Black Water’ was written by founding Doobie Brother Patrick Simmons, who also sang lead vocals on the track. He wrote the lyrics during a trip to New Orleans and matched them with a guitar lick he’d been toying with for a previous album.
This is a great and interesting song, with its lazy ramshackle verses and the extended a cappella breakdown to close things out. It’s wild how different it is from the band’s other #1 hit, ‘What a Fool Believes.’
Well, I built me a raft and she’s ready for floating
Old Mississippi, she’s calling my name
Catfish are jumping, that paddle wheel thumping
Black water keeps rolling on past just the same
[Chorus]
Old black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me?
Old black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me?
Old black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me?
Yeah, keep on shining your light
Gonna make everything, pretty mama
Gonna make everything alright
And I ain’t got no worries cause I ain’t in no hurry at all
[Verse 2]
Well, if it rains, I don’t care!
Don’t make no difference to me
Just take that street car that’s going up town
Yeah, I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland
And dance the honky tonk
And I’ll be buying everybody drinks all round
[Chorus]
Old black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me?
Old black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me?
Old black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me?
Keep on shining your light
Gonna make everything, everything
Gonna make everything alright
And I ain’t got no worries cause I ain’t in no hurry at all
[Breakdown]
I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama, come and take me by the hand
By the hand, hand, take me by the hand, pretty mama
Come and dance with your daddy all night long
I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama, come and take me by the hand
By the hand, hand, take me by the hand, pretty mama
Come and dance with your daddy all night long
I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama, come and take me by the hand
By the hand, hand, take me by the hand, pretty mama
Come and dance with your daddy all night long
I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama, come and take me by the hand
By the hand, hand, take me by the hand, pretty mama
Come and dance with your daddy all night long
I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama, come and take me by the hand
By the hand, hand, take me by the hand, pretty mama
Come and dance with your daddy all night long
I’d like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama, come and take me by the hand
Meet Me In Montauk 
The difference, of course, is the influence of Michael McDonald, but both songs are great.