CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Soul Speak

by: Michael McDonald

Release Date March 04, 2008
Soul Speak is good, but not as superior as Motown II. He still has a great voice, and it works well with soul/Motown tunes.

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

The Ultimate Collection

by: Michael McDonald

Release Date August 09, 2005
I just love this man ! Yes, these are old favorites, but I never get tired of his voice ! Beautiful !

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Motown

by: Michael McDonald

Release Date June 24, 2003
After three mediocore albums in the 1990s. Michael McDonald chose to go back to his roots. Having been a long time admire of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye as well as other artists he seems to top the originals.
Despite the fact that following the release of this album he had been ridiculed on TV (Family Guy), moviesThe 40-Year-Old Virgin (Unrated Full Screen Edition) and the popular Internet series Yacht Rock he doesn't seem to mind at all and that's why he did a second one. Don't let the cover fool you, there is an earlier American pressing.

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Motown Two

by: Michael McDonald

Release Date October 26, 2004
I adore Michael McDonald's voice so I really want to like his albums because I want to listen to him. But after having listened to all of his latest stuff, I have to say that even though his voice is still fantastic, the cheesy studio music and mediocre production of the tracks makes them for me, unlistenable (don't know if that's a word, but you get the point.) Just when his voice begins to soar, I'll hear the cheesy drum machine, or some musak sounding backup singers. It destroys it for me. Michael needs to find himself a real rock & soul band to put him on top. Musicians who could match what he can do vocally, with a really great producer, is what's needed to make that most of that voice. I'm still waiting.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Carousel (1994 Broadway Revival Cast)

by: Michael Hayden, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Audra McDonald, Shirley Verrett, Sally Murphy

Release Date June 14, 1994
This recording has a few lines that make the songs more complete, The great Audra Macdonald and that's it. The earlier london recording is vastly superior. Julie in London was acted to perfection, not as a dopey ingenue but as a three dimensional character and it shows on the recording, Micheal Haydyn's Billy is acted more than sung on both and on stage it's great but on a recording I prefer a "real" voice as Billy. But except for the missing
"Greatest Judge of All" this recording and the earlier London cast , together make the most complete Carousel. My favorite of all the recording though is the old RCA studio cast with Robert Merril, Patrice Munsel and Florence Henderson.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

If That's What It Takes

by: Michael McDonald

Release Date October 25, 1990
After leaving the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald put together some of his pre- Steely Dan work and issued them on THAT WAS THEN THE EARLY YEARS (which has sadly never made it to CD as of now) But he knew where he was going with this smooth collection of great hits. The highlights are "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near" the big hit from the album, the Kenny Loggins-penned "I Gotta Try" with Loggins himself on background vocals (he would go on do his own version later that year on his High Adventure album.
"I Can Let Go Now" is an overlooked gem perhaps someone like his wife Amy Holland could have sung. Accompianed only by Mike on piano, it has been covered by everyone from Dionne Warwick to Alison Krauss to Colin Raye. This leads into "That's Why" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The John Adams Earbox: A 10-CD Retrospective

from: Nonesuch

Release Date October 19, 1999
Never before in my life was i moved so intensely and directly by classical music. I put the first cd in my player and a few minutes later tears are flowing. I find myself dancing and moving to a rythm i already seem to know. Wow, i just have to share that.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Blue Obsession

by: Michael Mcdonald

Release Date March 28, 2000
If you prefer McDonald's pop, warm ballad-light style, then you may not like this cd. On the other hand, if you are open to hearing the depth and breadth of McDonald's interpretation and r&b/rock/folksy-pop/gospel styles, then you will definitely want Blue Obsession among your cd collection.

This cd took a long time to grow on me. I did not like "Blue Obsession" when I first played through it a few times. And except for 2 tracks that I would program to play with other MM favorites, the rest of the cd stayed idle on the rack for well over a year. (Although I now like the song, "All I Need" should NOT have been the first track-- big production mistake! I think it turned me off to giving the rest of the cd an honest chance.)

Blue Obsession has a more darker, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Sweet Freedom: The Best of Michael McDonald

by: Michael McDonald

Release Date January 01, 1992
I enjoyed this entire CD for the song selections and quality. This is classic Michael McDonald from some of the Doobie Brothers songs to songs that he composed, like "I can let go now" which is a very touching song that you will want to play again. I didn't know he was a composer as well as a singer and musician until I heard this CD. You can't go wrong with buying it.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Michael McDonald

by: Michael McDonald

Release Date April 03, 2001
Nobody sings like Michael McDonald. Nobody. His deep and soulful expressions reach the heart and soul in a profound way. He feels what he sings, and you feel it, too.

The Very Best Of Michael McDonald (2001) is a 1980s-early 1990s collection of the best of his solo work and two duets (James Ingram, Patti LaBelle). None of his Doobie Brothers songs are here, but with all of the great solo material that is here, that can wait for another day. The spiritual duet Yah Mo B There (w/James Ingram) is absolutely fantastic! The title actually means "God will be there", and the song is intensely uplifting.

You can count on it, brother
Because we're all just finding our way
Travelling through time
People got to keep pushing on
No matter how many dreams ... Read More: