This is hard to believe: The core four of the Doobie Brothers, who have been together on and off since 1979, have never made an entire album together. Until now.

Different members — from co-founders Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons to later principals Michael McDonald and John McFee — have come and gone at various times from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band.

This summer, the Doobie Brothers delivered “Walk This Road,” on which the core four played on an entire album for the first time.

“It feels good,” Johnston said. “Having Mike on this one takes it to a different place. It’s kind of like a new talent, if you will, and what it sounds like. You get much more variety in the style because you’ve got Pat, Mike and myself doing the writing.”

Moreover, Grammy-winning producer John Shanks c

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