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As the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers from 1975-1980, Michael McDonald's soulful voice and skilled writing gave the group classics like "Minute by Minute," "Real Love," and the perfect "What a Fool Believes." After the group's 1980 album One Step Closer displayed a tension that was almost audible, it was no surprise that a split was in the works. 1982's If That's What It Takes is McDonald's first solo effort, and was recorded at the great recording studios like Warner Bros. and Sunset Sound and was co-produced by Ted Templeman and Lenny Waronker. The album's biggest hit, the moody and sleek "I Keep Forgettin'," continues McDonald's unflinching look at heartbreak, and it is more R&B-influenced than the previous Doobie Brothers work. The buoyant "I Gotta Try," co-written by Kenny Loggins, perfectly captures the early-'80s L.A. pop sound. While McDonald's pop acumen is no surprise, If That's What It Takes also offers McDonald the chance to do ballads. The poignant and spare "I Can Let Go Now" has some of his best lyrics. "Losin End," which first appeared on 1976's Takin' It to the Streets, gets recast as an even bleaker rumination with a suitably sorrowful solo from Tom Scott. The melodically complex "Believe in It" has McDonald doing some great, offhanded gospel-tinged vocals. This debut juggles tracks of merit and those of less distinction, but the bright spots make this essential.
© Jason Elias /TiVo
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Greg Phillinganes, Piano - Dean Parks, Guitar - Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Engineer, Masterer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - Edgar Winter, Solo Saxophone - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - Willie Weeks, Bass - BOBBY HATA, AdditionalEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, MainArtist - Ed Sanford, Writer, Background Vocals - Steve Gadd, Drums - Bobby La Kind, Percussion - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Jeff Porcaro, Drums - Greg Phillinganes, Musician - Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Mixer, Engineer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - Jerry Leiber, Writer - Mike Stoller, Writer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - BOBBY HATA, Masterer, AdditionalEngineer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Synthesizer, MainArtist - Ed Sanford, Writer - Louis Johnson, Bass - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - STEVE LUKATHER, Guitar - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Greg Phillinganes, Piano - Dean Parks, Guitar - Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Engineer, Masterer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - Willie Weeks, Bass - BOBBY HATA, AdditionalEngineer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, MainArtist - Steve Gadd, Drums - Randy Goodrum, Writer - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator - Paulinno Da Costa, Percussion
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Greg Phillinganes, Keyboards - Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Mixer, Engineer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer, Percussion - Willie Weeks, Bass - BOBBY HATA, Masterer, AdditionalEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Piano, Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, MainArtist - Ed Sanford, Background Vocals - Michael Boddicker, Additional Synthesizer - STEVE LUKATHER, Guitar - Steve Gadd, Drums - Paulinho Da Costa, Percussion - KENNY LOGGINS, Writer, Background Vocals - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Mixer, Engineer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - BOBBY HATA, Masterer, AdditionalEngineer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Piano, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Jeff Porcaro, Drums - Michael Omartian, Keyboards - Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Mixer, Engineer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - Christopher Cross, Background Vocals - BOBBY HATA, Masterer, AdditionalEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, Acoustic Piano, MainArtist - Maureen McDonald, Background Vocals - STEVE LUKATHER, Guitar - Tom Scott, Solo Saxophone - Randy Goodrum, Writer - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - BRENDA RUSSELL, Background Vocals - Mike Porcaro, Bass - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Amy Holland, Background Vocals - Robben Ford, Solo Guitar - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, Background Vocals, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Jackie De Shannon, Writer - Greg Phillinganes, Piano - Dean Parks, Guitar - Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Mixer, Engineer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - Willie Weeks, Bass - BOBBY HATA, Engineer, Masterer, AdditionalEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, MainArtist - Steve Gadd, Drums - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Robben Ford, Solo Guitar - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Jeff Porcaro, Drums - Michael Omartian, Keyboards - Dean Parks, Guitar - Jerry Hey, Arranger - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Mixer, Engineer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - BOBBY HATA, Masterer, AdditionalEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Piano, Writer, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, MainArtist - STEVE LUKATHER, Guitar - Mike Porcaro, Bass - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Grady Walker, Writer - Harry Garfield, Writer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Greg Phillinganes, Organ - Dean Parks, Guitar - Donn Landee, Engineer - LEE HERSCHBERG, Engineer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - MARK LINETT, Engineer - Ted Templeman, Producer - Willie Weeks, Bass - BOBBY HATA, AdditionalEngineer - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, MainArtist - Steve Gadd, Drums - Tom Scott, Lyricon - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Steve McManus, Engineer - Ken Deane, Engineer - Marty Paitch, Arranger - James Isaacson, Engineer - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Greg Phillinganes, Piano - Jerry Hey, Arranger - LEE HERSCHBERG, Mixer - LENNY WARONKER, Producer - Edgar Winter, Solo Saxophone - Ted Templeman, Producer - Willie Weeks, Bass - BOBBY HATA, Masterer, AdditionalEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - MICHAEL MCDONALD, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Background Vocals, Synthesizer, MainArtist - MARTY PAICH, Arranger - STEVE LUKATHER, Guitar - Steve Gadd, Drums - Joan Parker, ProductionCoordinator - Vicki Fortson, ProductionCoordinator - Kathy Walker, ProductionCoordinator
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
Albumbeschreibung
As the lead singer of the Doobie Brothers from 1975-1980, Michael McDonald's soulful voice and skilled writing gave the group classics like "Minute by Minute," "Real Love," and the perfect "What a Fool Believes." After the group's 1980 album One Step Closer displayed a tension that was almost audible, it was no surprise that a split was in the works. 1982's If That's What It Takes is McDonald's first solo effort, and was recorded at the great recording studios like Warner Bros. and Sunset Sound and was co-produced by Ted Templeman and Lenny Waronker. The album's biggest hit, the moody and sleek "I Keep Forgettin'," continues McDonald's unflinching look at heartbreak, and it is more R&B-influenced than the previous Doobie Brothers work. The buoyant "I Gotta Try," co-written by Kenny Loggins, perfectly captures the early-'80s L.A. pop sound. While McDonald's pop acumen is no surprise, If That's What It Takes also offers McDonald the chance to do ballads. The poignant and spare "I Can Let Go Now" has some of his best lyrics. "Losin End," which first appeared on 1976's Takin' It to the Streets, gets recast as an even bleaker rumination with a suitably sorrowful solo from Tom Scott. The melodically complex "Believe in It" has McDonald doing some great, offhanded gospel-tinged vocals. This debut juggles tracks of merit and those of less distinction, but the bright spots make this essential.
© Jason Elias /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:40:27
- Main artists: Michael McDonald
- Label: Reprise
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 1982 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1982 Warner Records Inc.
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