Michael McDonald - Ultimate Collection (19 tracks) +Album Reviews

Michael Mc Donald, the front man of "Blue-Eyed Soul"

Musac Critic | 08/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What more can you say about a legend the caliber of Michael McDonald in the music business? He can sing his head off! Michael McDonald did things that people aren't doing today in the music industry-- crossing over. In the 1970s Mc Donald was one of the frontmen for the "blue-eyed soul movement" and he did it very well. He is both adult contemporary while also being soulful and exciting to listen to. His voice is both coarse and smooth at the same time. He is definitely, in my eyes, still one singer to beat, even in his early 50s. He is keeping soul music alive where others choose to let it go, and that is definitely respectable.

As for his ultimate hits, it is an excellent compilation combining the highlights of his career including "What A Fool Believes" with the Doobie Brothers, "Takin' It To The Streets", "On My Own", his sensational duet with Patti La Belle", and even a modern hit from his MOTOWN album "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". That is just a partial list of the wonderful hits included on this master singer's ULTIMATE COLLECTION. You can't go wrong with a veteran, especially on a strong compilation disc as this one."

Nice, but incomplete overview

Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen | Central Gulf Coast | 08/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As I've said about other compliations, we all have to realize that you can only get just so much music on one CD. And, with an artist as prolific and as significant as Michael McDonald, that means a lot of great music is going to be excluded from a single disc.

Still, this is a good, useful overview for the casual fan...for the person who is perhaps just discovering McDonald with his Motown CDs or who hasn't heard anything from him since his days with the Doobie Brothers. This disc collects a diverse group of tracks from various eras, and all of them are excellent. I would have liked to have seen "One Step Closer" or his duet with Patti LaBelle, "Ever Changing Times" included, but, given the time/space limitations, I think the producers did a good job of choosing tracks.

There's a lot to like here: "Yah Mo Be There" with James Ingram is always inspiring; "I Keep Forgettin" is a moody, bluesy masterpiece; "Sweet Freedom" is a great dance tune with one of Michael's best vocals; and, of course, his work with the Doobies shines brightly. (Michael's stint with the Doobie Brothers includes the terribly underrated but masterfully performed LIVIN' ON THE FAULT LINE album, in addition to TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS, MINUTE BY MINUTE, and ONE STEP CLOSER.)

One day, it would be great to have a box set that included all of these tunes, plus more of Michael's work with others like Kenny Loggins, Cristopher Cross, and even Steely Dan. Until then, be happy with this "nearly ultimate" collection."

Michael McDonald is takin' it to the pop/rock/R&B streets

andy8047 | Nokomis,Florida | 10/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are no original tracks on this album. But because Michael McDonald is one of the world's greatest musicians/songwriters,I give this album five stars. The ex-Doobie Brother and pre-DB's background vocalist for Steely Dan gives us his very best on this collection. The Doobie Brothers recordings contained herein are from 1976's TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS,the title track and IT KEEPS YOU RUNNIN'. From the Grammy-winning MINUTE BY MINUTE,released in 1978 is WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES,co-written by McDonald's friend Kenny Loggins. WAFB itself won a Grammy also in early 1979. From 1980's ONE STEP CLOSER is REAL LOVE. From McDonald's '82 solo debut IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES is I KEEP FORGETTIN'(EVERYTIME YOU'RE NEAR) and I GOTTA TRY. In 1983,McDonald collaborated with James Ingram on YAH MO B THERE,produced by Quincy Jones. That song is from an album of Ingram's. From McDonald's second solo album NO LOOKING BACK,released in 1985,is the title track. SWEET FREEDOM is from the 1986 MGM/UA film RUNNING SCARED and the soundtrack album. The film's stars Billy Crystal and the late Gregory Hines join McDonald in the music video. TAKE IT TO HEART is from the 1990 album of the same title. The lone track from 2003's MOTOWN,also a Grammy-winner,is AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH made famous originally by the late great Marvin Gaye. The other songs are excellent! This collection could have used REACH OUT I'LL BE THERE from 2004's MOTOWN TWO,MINUTE BY MINUTE and DEPENDIN' ON YOU from MBM,ONE STEP CLOSER from the album of the same title and PLAYIN' BY THE RULES from ITWIT. Also on this collection is ON MY OWN,a duet with Patti LaBelle,from LaBelle's 1986 MCA album,WINNER IN YOU. Fans of McDonald are also fans of Daryl Hall & John Oates,The Righteous Brothers,the late Robert Palmer,Ingram,Ambrosia and of course,the Doobie Brothers."

Excellent sampler of both the Doobie Bros and Solo careers!

Distant Voyageur | Io | 09/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2005 "Ultimate Collection" is true to it's word in the fact that it compiles two worlds onto one great CD: One is Michael McDonald's solo material and other other his former band that he was lead singer of The Doobie brothers in the 1970s. This isn't a replacement of McDonald's solo 'best of' CD "The Very Best of" from a few years before. Many of the most well-known songs from McDonald and crew appear on here including a track from his most recent release "Motown Two" and a bizarre remix of "Open The Door" from his "Blue Obsession" CD. At 77 minutes, this is a very good investment in introducing someone to his music."

Search - Michael McDonald :: Ultimate Collection

CD Details

Synopsis

Similarly Requested CDs

Member CD Reviews

CD Reviews