Search - Michael McDonald :: The Very Best of Michael McDonald

Get the Word Started

Edgar Alberts | CT, USA | 04/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"On one hand, Michael McDonald's new collection is an amazing collection of his best work. It gives us his duets "Yah Mo B There" and "On My Own" in the same place. The previously unreleased "Higher Ground" is a powerful number, and "Get the Word Started" is a good one from after his first hits collection "Sweet Freedom-Best of". And yet most of these songs are repeats, which is understandable, since you can't forget "I Keep Forgetting" or "By Heart." But 6 of the songs are from his "No Lookin' Back" album, while his recent album "Blue Obsession" is mentioned in the liner notes but not represented by any song on the cd. Is "Bad Times" essential McDonald? I would be more curious about a track from his latest album sounds like so I could see if I wanted to get it. Instead, I'm fed nearly the whole "No Lookin' Back" album and thus would have no need to purchase that cd for only a couple different songs. And although it's hard to cover everything McDonald did even with 16 tracks, his first solo album "If That's What It Takes" only scored two songs, equal to the amount from "Blink of an Eye" which failed to chart. In spite of these questionable inclusions and exclusions, The album has a clear sound that celebrates McDonald's unique voice. That is what I feel it raises to level of a five-star album, every song is good when McDonald sings it. And the liner notes are about 8 pages and give a biography and photos of Michael while noting trivia about the individual songs on this disc. Some would argue for marketing reasons that it's important to "fill it with hits" rather than show the artist's range from "Ain't that Peculiar" to "Down by the River." And yet if they put in more reasons to check it out like the one previously unreleased "Higher Ground", it would have been a more rewarding album. Nonetheless, whether seen as a former Doobie Brother, a pop hitmaker, or a pure musician, McDonald delivers the goods."

Stops right before the Motown CD

T. C Lane | Marina, CA USA | 04/10/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since his solo debut in 1982, McDonald has only dropped 5 more albums. This is the first Stateside attempt at compiling his best solo stuff. Naturally, "On My Own" is included (where's his 1992 AC hit with Aretha Franklin, "Ever Changing Times"?) as well as the James Ingram duet "Yah Mo B There". All of his other Top 100 hits are included as well. Oddly, this CD doesn't include any tracks from 2000's Blue Obsession. And the track listing is a puzzler. There are 6! cuts from No Lookin' Back and only 2 from his other albums. This clocks in at 70 minutes so you get your money's worth for a budget price. But only dropping 2 from If That's What It Takes makes no sense. Taking off a couple of songs from No Lookin Back would have made room for essential album tracks like, "I Can Let Go Now" and "Playin' By The Rules". This CD was co-compiled by McDonald so maybe he felt that No Lookin Back deserves a second chance, but 6 tracks is too excessive on a single CD collection. The liner notes are 2001 up-to-date and the sound is great. A good starter for people wondering what McDonald did after he left the Doobies. But do check out 1982's If That's What It Takes (budget priced) and 2000's Blue Obsession, and of course 2003's Motown to help round out your curiosity."