Michael Mcdonald - Motown
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Free Music Notes for Motown
Free Music Review: Soul fans ... buy this album now.
Hit: 5 Stars
This is an exceptional album from a much underated soul man. Mcdonald, now in his fifties is a veteran keyboardist, songwriter and vocallist who was inspired originally by brother Ray Charles and earned his chops with superbands Steeley Dan and the Doobie Brothers. Jools Holland describes him as one of the greatest singer songwriters of our generation, and Bobby Womack suggested that he is 'qualified' with the great soul men Sam Cooke and Otis Reading. So why cover Motown in this way?Cynics would tell you its male menopause, writers block or seeking a 'quick buck' All 3 can be easily dispelled - McD has released two albums of his own work within the last 18 months - no block there then. Having just seen him live in London 2003, I can tell you that he is sounding better than ever.... a true live artiste with a simple band and no effects. So is it the money? Well no.... he certainly doesn't need it considering all the airplay his back catalogue gets.
He was in fact pursued to do the album for some time by Universal UK who wanted to re-ignite the Motown sound... but couldn't find anyone 'current' who could 'vocally' pull it off. We are talking Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder here... McD has admitted that even after he signed the contract he had sleepless nights and considered whether or not he could put something of his own into the work - he had no intention of simply rehashing the same sound.
So is it any good?. Well I think so. A brave attempt has been made to keep true to the original artistes and yet add a new rythym here, different beat there. People may say "I liked the original sound" or "why did he change that" - overall it works exceptionally well. Simon Climie, the producer has deliberately kept the backdrop low key as he did with Claptons 'Pilgrim' - why swamp a great vocal sound ... in fact on a couple of tracks its virtually Mcd and a piano - just as he sings them live.
Hi points for me... as a Marvin Gaye fan it has to be Distant lover and I Want You ... I'd pay ...just for these two tracks. I just wish McD had been around at Motown in the hey day - he would have been another stellar artiste at Motor City.
Free Music Review: Not his best but full of magnificent covers.
Hit: 5 Stars
Michael McDonald is easily one of my favorite singer/musicians of all time. His music holds a special place in my life. McDonald's first solo hit song "I Keep Forgetting We're Not In Love Anymore" and one of his hits with his former band Doobie Brother's hit "Minute By Minute" are my earliest music memories. HIs 1993 album "Blink Of An Eye" is in my opinion, his artistic magnum opus on an overall scale but his other albums are worth checking out. After the long wait after the magnificent "Blink Of An Eye", McDonald finally returned with "Blue Obsession". While that album was slightly dissapointing at first, it finally grew on me to become another excellent album. His streak of excellent music continues with his latest outing, a collection of 14 Motown classic covers. They are all excellent in my opinion.
I especially love the covers of the classics "Reflections", "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing", and "Too High", giving these timeless oldies a modern touch and modern sound but without sacrificing the magic and timeless quality of the originals. "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" is just brilliant with his husky voice and excellent updating of this great song.
I generally am not much into cover albums personally and prefer more original albums but McDonald's "Motown" album is a really excellent covers album and is in my opinion the best 'covers' album I currently own. While the wait for more original material continues, "Motown" will definately keep me entertained while the original material surfaces sometime not too far in the future.
Newbie fans might be better off getting the "Very Best of" collection to introduce them to his incredible music but for veteran fans like myself, "Motown" is another must-own. While it may not be his best outing, this is the example of how true modern R&B is done right!
Free Music Review: Why are there so many "NO-TALENT" critics on Amazon?! I know why!
Hit: 5 Stars
You know, it's just like MOM used to say-"If you don't have anything nice to say then just don't say anything"!! Or better yet-"Better to silently let everyone think your an ignorant, arrogant bonehead than to open your big stupid mouth and confirm their suspicions"!! All these "NO-TALENT" critics of the Motown CD that Big Mac has so capably crafted, either can't sing themselves nor can they play the piano or guitar, so they criticize the nicest guy ever in the music industry! The Mac can and always will be able to perfectly execute all the high notes that even Edith Bunker could only dream of hitting!! It is so painfully obvious that any critic of this Motown gem just has no talent themselves and therefore feels that they must attack someone who has FIVE GRAMMY AWARDS and has been invited to sing with these stellar talents-Aretha Franklin-James Ingram-Patti Labelle-The Winans-Burt Bacharach-Christoper Cross-Larry Carlton-Lee Ritenour-David Pack-Vince Gill-Chet Atkins-Dave Koz-Kenny Loggins and the very talented and lovely Amy Holland! These people ASKED Michael McDonald to sing with them! Either that or Mike has forced his way, at gunpoint, into quite a few Grammy-winning recording sessions over the years! The Mac is so very loved amongst his peers and by his fans that criticism from the "NO-TALENTS" only confirms their unfounded arrogance and blatant ignorance (and maybe just a little jealousy!)! This and all Michael McDonald recordings are loaded with talented musicians and heartfelt compositions! The "NO-TALENTS" should stick to what they do best-wallow in their low self-esteem and watching NASCAR! The rest of us will just go on enjoying the gifts God has indeed blessed us with!! Health, family, friends, and TRUE TALENTS like Michael McDonald! Everyone enjoy this CD and don't ever listen to all those "NO-TALENT" critics! Like MOM used to say! They're just jealous!Free Music Review: One of the Best!
Hit: 5 Stars
There is no question that Michael McDonald has one of the most distinctive and soulful voices in modern pop music today!It would only seem fitting that "Motown" is a wonderful tribute to great artists like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Temptations, and the list goes on. What makes this record stand out is how McDonald gives these songs his own unique style.
The truth is this is the type of record that really grows on a listener. You need to honestly sit down and relax to enjoy the cd! "Motown" is work of art, and certainly only a few elite musicians can sing motown music to a high effect, and Michael McDonald does it in spades.
My favorite tracks on this record include the opener, "Heard It Through the Grapevine," "You Are Everything," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," "I Want You," "Since I Lost My Baby," and finally "Too High," with the supergroup, Fourplay.
This record has great musicianship from McDonald and his supporting cast of musicians, producers, and engineers. I have been a big fan of Michael McDonald since the Doobie Brothers, and I know that any fan of soul music can appreciate his effort with "Motown." "Motown" is simply one of the best and delivers good music on all cylinders.
Nick Kalenze.
Free Music Review: Where's a Grammy nomination when you DESERVE one???
Hit: 5 Stars
A current trend in the music business finds singers of the baby boomer generation releasing covers of old standards. Some of these have been mediocre and not worthy of one's attention while others are superb reinterpretations of songs made famous by others.Michael McDonald's "Motown" falls in the latter category. It is indeed one of the best releases of this or any other year. The former Doobie, backed by instrumental group Fourplay, adds his own distinctive style to tunes sung by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, and others from the Motown era.
The singer really ascends with loving interpretations that although similar to the originals, there is a certain freshness in these new recordings, especially on the ballads "All in Love is Fair" and "Distant Lover" wherein the artist actually reinvents them, almost to the point that they transcend their former selves. "I Want You" is a tour de force of classy funk, with a complimentary string accompaninent that rivals the previous incarnation.
The singer even tackles and succeeds on one of Stevie's most intricate and vocally challenging songs, "Too High".
It's not just the familiarity of the songs that make this album; it's the deep conviction of the singer to present them in such a manner as to pay tribute to them and provide the listener with an experience that is truly wondrous!!!