Minute by Minute

"Minute by Minute" is a song written by Michael McDonald and Lester Abrams originally released by The Doobie Brothers on their 1978 album Minute by Minute. The single was released in April 1979, debuted at number 67 on 5 May 1979, and reached number 14 on 23–30 June 1979 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, but lost out to The Doobie Brothers' own "What a Fool Believes". "Minute by Minute" did win a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus at the 22nd Annual Grammy Awards. Lyrics and music AllMusic critic Matthew Greenwald describes "Minute by Minute" as one of the songs that reflects The Doobie Brothers' transformation to "a light, soul-oriented outfit." Keyboards are more prominent in the song than in some of The Doobie Brothers' earlier hits. Greenwald praises the "simple and literate" lyrics and notes possible influence from Booker T. & the M.G.'s in the music. In their book Inside the Hits, authors Wayne Wadhams (The Fifth Estate), David Nathan, and Susan Lindsay describe the tempo as a "medium shuffle". AXS contributor Bill Craig describes the song as a soulful, mid-tempo, piano-driven song that he compares to Motown songs. Most of "Minute by Minute" is in the key of C major, but the bridge is in E minor and the last refrains are in G major. Reception The New Rolling Stone Album Guide praises McDonald's "suave vocal mastery" on the song. Billboard described the vocal performance as "soulful." Billboard described the song as an "amalgam of rock and jazz styles with swaying rhythms and catchy melodies." Cash Box said that it utilizes the band's "identifiable bass -conga rhythm sound" and has a "nice organ-guitar fade-in." Record World called it a "solid group effort with strong blues flavor." Spins Rich Stim describes the sound of the song as "phlegmatic". Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated "Minute by Minute" as the Doobie Brothers 7th greatest song, calling it "laid-back, blue-eyed soul at its best" and praising McDonald's vocal and organ performances. "Minute by Minute" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Song of the Year but lost to the Doobie Brothers' prior single, "What a Fool Believes". Co-writer Michael McDonald was surprised by the song's success after a friend had told him that the song "just doesn't have it." Craig rated it as the Doobie Brothers' 6th greatest song.