[.ca] The Very Best of

I could hear this man sing all day long:
What can I say? I am a huge Michael McDonald fan and this release (although it's not labeled as remastered) brings together some of his best songs and they sound more crisp than ever before. Many Dobbie Brothers fans think that Michael somehow singlehandly destroyed the "integrity" the Doobies as he brought a whole new dimension to the band and some never got used to it. I am with those who think that he brought great value added to the band and took it to different levels. Although the Michael McDonald debate is not as polarizing as those who loved Genesis and grew to hate them when Phil Collins took over after Peter Gabriel went solo, the point is that Phil Collins and Michael McDonald share the same pop sensibilities and some dislike them both because of it. Of course Phil could never match Michael's voice, but that is another story. As far as this release is concerned, I love every single song. Some were huge hits, while others like "Matters of the Heart" may not have been hits per se, but sound as good or better than those you know by heart. Some have complained about some songs that were overlooked and I too would have liked to see his duet with Aretha Franklin included; however I am overjoyed with the product as its expansive and includes what he considers his very best. It's not titled "greatest hits" but the "best of" (in fact the British version is titled "The Voice of Michael McDonald") and I like each and every one of them. I am so glad that Michael is riding yet another wave of popularity with his "Motown" release and I hope that it allows him to continue recording new songs and not get stuck in a time warp because as much as I love Michael McDonald, he is never better than when singing original material.

The Very Best After The Doobie Brothers But Before "Motown":
Michael McDonald's distinctive voice and strong songwriting abilities helped turn the Doobie Brothers into a hit-making machine. Michael's outstanding vocals helped sustain his success after he left the Doobie Brothers. "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)," taken from his first solo album, made it all the way to #4 in 1982. However, Michael's songwriting seemed to suffer from a certain sameness, as evidenced by his songs "Matters Of The Heart," "By Heart" and "Take It To Heart" on this collection. Michael's solo career is also noteworthy for his duets, particularly with James Ingram on "Yah Mo B There" (#19 in 1984), and with Patti LaBelle on the smash hit "On My Own" (#1 in 1986). The superb song "Sweet Freedom," which peaked at #7 in 1986, outshines most of the other songs on this collection. Michael's version of the Stevie Wonder classic "Higher Ground," which was previously unreleased, is another highlight on this compilation. Michael McDonald would go on to even greater success covering other Stevie Wonder songs on his recent "Motown" album. Too bad this collection was released before that album came out.

Solo "Doobie".:
This is a very good collection. BUT, after first listen I felt it was short on "hits". Then I realized that a few of the songs I always liked of his are actually "Doobie Brothers" songs. Specifically "Real Love", "It Keeps You Runnin'", and "What a Fool Believes". All great songs, just not his own. BUT, of his solo stuff, this does have "I Keep Forgettin'(every time you're near)", "Yah Mo B There", and the sweet "Sweet Freedom" from the movie "Running Scared". Plus his cover of "Higher Ground" and other good songs. I guess you just have to decide if you're a "Doobie Brothers" person, or "Michael McDonald" person. I'm both.

Michael Mcdonald Is Simply The Best!!:
A little twist of words,but this is a cd to be listen to over and over again!!Few people would be able to sing these songs with as much feeling! I enjoy just about anything that this artist sings.He sings from the soul,all you Michael Bolton fans open up your ears,Michael Mcdonald surpasses them all!!

An Effective Pop Collection:
Like Steve Winwood and Christine McVie, Michael McDonald is one of those soulful singers whose deep, impassioned voice is remarkable for its texture and expressiveness rather than technical virtuosity. The fact that he can write excellent songs and possesses a startlingly-percussive piano technique is even more remarkable. He alone is responsible for the continued success of the Doobie Brothers since 1976. That said, McDonald's signature voice and lyric fixation on romance occasionally engenders tedium. His indivudal albums over the years have proven well-above-average though uneven, and they have sometimes sorely lacked the presence of another vocalist to give some much-needed variety to the material. Therefore, McDonald is the kind of artist whose work shines best in the context of a greatest-hits collection. This group of songs is unwaveringly excellent. While most of the tracks are culled from his first two solo efforts, there is plenty of variety here in individual soundtrack projects and one-off vocal collaborations. Moreover, his later work is well-represented with no less than four songs. Outside of the Dobbie Brother's "Minute by Minute" album, this cd is the ideal place to start for those who want to get acquainted with Michael McDonald.

• No Lookin' Back
• I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
• I Gotta Try
• Our Love \oSingle Version\c
• Yah Mo B There \oSingle Version\c - James Ingram, Michael McDonald, Michael McDonald
• On My Own - Patti LaBelle, Michael McDonald, Michael McDonald
• By Heart
• Bad Times
• Matters of the Heart
• Sweet Freedom \oSingle Version\c
• Get the World Started
• Any Foolish Thing
• Take It to Heart
• Higher Ground \o#\c
• Lost in the Parade
• Blink of an Eye