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Michael McDonald's 2003 album of Motown covers, modestly titled Motown, was his biggest hit in well over a decade, so it only made sense that he returned with a sequel to the record a little over a year later -- after all, might as well strike while the iron is hot. Logically titled Motown Two, the album follows the same blueprint as the first record, offering highly polished, professionally produced, expertly performed interpretations of gems from the Motown vaults; it's the sound of young America in the '60s reinterpreted for the adults of the new millennium. While the sound is the same, there are a couple of important differences this time around. First of all, there are a few celebrity cameos, a sign that this project has a higher profile than the first Motown record. These cameos -- Billy Preston on "You're All I Need to Get By," Stevie Wonder playing harmonica on his own "I Was Made to Love Her," a duet with Toni Braxton, "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" -- all fit seamlessly into the album, and actually enrich the album, giving it warm, open-hearted feel, which is also reflected in a looser performance from McDonald himself. Last time, he was in typically fine voice, but here he really digs into the songs, making this a better listen in terms of sheer performance, but what really distinguishes this album -- and what makes it different from its predecessor -- is that there's a slightly adventurous streak in the choice of songs. There are big hits here, to be sure -- "Reach Out, I'll Be There," "Baby I Need Your Lovin'," "Tracks of My Tears," "What's Goin' On," "Nowhere to Run" -- but McDonald has also dug out some lesser-known tunes like "Tuesday Heartbreak," "After the Dance," and "Baby I'm for Real" that make this album a richer, more enjoyable listen than before. It's the rare sequel that improves on the original.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tony Swain, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Billy Preston, Harp, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - NICKOLAS ASHFORD, ComposerLyricist - Valerie Simpson, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Johnson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Michelle John, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sharon White, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Oteh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Henry Cosby, ComposerLyricist - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lula Mae Hardaway, ComposerLyricist - Steve Crawford, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Recording Arranger, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Stevie Wonder, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Shannon Forrest, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - KEVIN WHALUM, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Darwin Hobbs, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Shandra Penix, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kendra Carr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Mont, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sherrie Kibble, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Tiffani Ransom, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady Walker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Billy Preston, Harp, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lamont Dozier, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, ComposerLyricist - Edward Holland, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Audrey Martells, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Oteh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joy Malcomb, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - LINDA CREED, ComposerLyricist - Shannon Forrest, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Toni Braxton, FeaturedArtist - Tamar Braxton, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - KEVIN WHALUM, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Darwin Hobbs, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Thomas Bell, ComposerLyricist - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Shandra Penix, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kendra Carr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Mont, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady Walker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Billy Preston, Harp, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Shannon Forrest, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Lamont Dozier, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, ComposerLyricist - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KEVIN WHALUM, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Darwin Hobbs, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Edward Holland, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Shandra Penix, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kendra Carr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Mont, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady Walker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Abe Laborial Senior, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Stevie Wonder, ComposerLyricist - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Ivy Joe Hunter, ComposerLyricist - Rachel Oteh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Joy Malcomb, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Warren Moore, ComposerLyricist - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Billy Preston, Harp, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - KEVIN WHALUM, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Darwin Hobbs, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Keyboards, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Shandra Penix, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kendra Carr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Mont, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Audrey Martells, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Marv Tarplin, ComposerLyricist - Rachel Oteh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joy Malcomb, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Abe Laborial Senior, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - AL CLEVELAND, ComposerLyricist - Renaldo Benson, ComposerLyricist - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Marvin Gaye, ComposerLyricist - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Programmer - Freddie Vigdor, Alto Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Yvette Preyer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dreah Renee, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
William Robinson, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Tony Swain, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - AL CLEVELAND, ComposerLyricist - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Lawrence Johnson, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Michelle John, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Sharon White, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Oteh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Marvin Gaye, ComposerLyricist - Leon Ware, ComposerLyricist - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - ARTHUR ROSS, Author - Abe Laborial Senior, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Billy Preston, Harp, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lamont Dozier, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Holland, ComposerLyricist - Brian Holland, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Oteh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Programmer - Joy Malcomb, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Stevie Wonder, ComposerLyricist - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Rachel Oteh, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Programmer - Joy Malcomb, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Marvin Gaye, ComposerLyricist - Vinnie Colaiuta, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - BERNIE CHIARAVALLE, Nylon-String Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Audrey Martells, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Nathan East, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Michael Thompson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Anna Gaye, ComposerLyricist - Simon Climie, Producer, Recording Arranger, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, MainArtist - Marvin Gaye, ComposerLyricist - Shannon Forrest, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - KEVIN WHALUM, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Darwin Hobbs, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jonathan Shakhovskoy, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Toby Baker, Keyboards, Drum Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Carmon, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Joel Evenden, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Shandra Penix, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kendra Carr, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Kim Mont, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Grady Walker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicky 'Misschief' Shaw, Programmer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
Album review
Michael McDonald's 2003 album of Motown covers, modestly titled Motown, was his biggest hit in well over a decade, so it only made sense that he returned with a sequel to the record a little over a year later -- after all, might as well strike while the iron is hot. Logically titled Motown Two, the album follows the same blueprint as the first record, offering highly polished, professionally produced, expertly performed interpretations of gems from the Motown vaults; it's the sound of young America in the '60s reinterpreted for the adults of the new millennium. While the sound is the same, there are a couple of important differences this time around. First of all, there are a few celebrity cameos, a sign that this project has a higher profile than the first Motown record. These cameos -- Billy Preston on "You're All I Need to Get By," Stevie Wonder playing harmonica on his own "I Was Made to Love Her," a duet with Toni Braxton, "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" -- all fit seamlessly into the album, and actually enrich the album, giving it warm, open-hearted feel, which is also reflected in a looser performance from McDonald himself. Last time, he was in typically fine voice, but here he really digs into the songs, making this a better listen in terms of sheer performance, but what really distinguishes this album -- and what makes it different from its predecessor -- is that there's a slightly adventurous streak in the choice of songs. There are big hits here, to be sure -- "Reach Out, I'll Be There," "Baby I Need Your Lovin'," "Tracks of My Tears," "What's Goin' On," "Nowhere to Run" -- but McDonald has also dug out some lesser-known tunes like "Tuesday Heartbreak," "After the Dance," and "Baby I'm for Real" that make this album a richer, more enjoyable listen than before. It's the rare sequel that improves on the original.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:49:43
- Main artists: Michael McDonald
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Music Group International
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2004 Universal Music International Ltd. ℗ 2004 Universal Music International Ltd.
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