Michael Mcdonald - Blue Obsession

Working with producer Tommy Sims -- the man who produced Eric Clapton's hit "Change the World" -- evidently inspired Michael McDonald, since Blue Obsession is his best record in nearly ten years. Stylistically, it's similar to every record he's made since going solo in the early '80s -- namely, it's a combination of adult contemporary ballads and lightly grooving, adult contemporary pop-soul -- but the difference is that the quality of the material is uniformly strong. In addition to two covers ("Ain't That Peculiar," "Down By the River"), there's a selection of new songs largely co-written by McDonald and Sims. While there are no crossover pop hits on the level of "I Keep Forgettin'" or "Sweet Freedom," it's a strong collection of songs with only a few slow moments. It's a record that shows McDonald maturing quite gracefully. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan Umstead Viola Amy Holland Vocals (Background) Andy Gerome Engineer Angelo Petrucci Vocals (Background) Anthony LaMarchina Cello Armand Grimaldi Drums Barry Green Trombone Ben Fowler Engineer Bernie Chiaravalle Guitar (Electric), Cymbals, Producer, Guitar (Rhythm), Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Rhythm Arrangements Bill Owsley Guitar Billy Livsey Organ (Hammond), Keyboards Bob Mason Cello Bobby G. Taylor Oboe, Flute Brian Zsupnick Drums Bridgett Evans O'Lannerghty Production Coordination Bruce Steinberg Photography, Executive Producer, Art Direction Carl Gorodetzky Concert Master, Violin, String Arrangements, Strings Carol McClure Harp Chester Thompson Drums Chris Kent Bass (Electric) Chris Pelonis Mixing, Engineer, Guitar, Producer Chris Rodrigues Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Chris Rodriguez Guitar Chris Willis Vocals (Background) Christopher Cross Vocals (Background) Claude McKnight Vocals (Background) Connie Ellisor Violin Dan Dugmore Lap Steel Guitar Dan Needham Drums Danny Duncan Program Assistant, Percussion, Hard Disk Editing, Sound Effects Dave Dillbeck Assistant Engineer David Davidson Violin David Pack Guitar, Producer, Keyboards Denis Solee Saxophone Dennis Keeley Cover Photo Doug Moffet Saxophone F. Reid Shippen Assistant Engineer Gail Chiarivalli Production Coordination Gary Braasch Photography Gary VanOsdale Viola George Cocchini Guitar George Perilli Drums Gordon Kennedy Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Grady Walker Engineer Graham Lewis Assistant Engineer Gregg Rubin Mixing, Engineer Hank Nirider Assistant Engineer Joe Costa Assistant Engineer Joe Hogue Sampling, Program Assistant, Programming, Keyboards, Hard Disk Editing, Editing, Organ Joey Kibble Vocals (Background) Johnny Neel Vocals (Background) Jon Lechner Engineer Karla Bonoff Vocals (Background) Keely, Dennis Photography Kevin Max Smith Vocals (Background) Kirk Whalum Saxophone Kris Wilkinson Viola Kristin Wilkinson Viola LaDre Fayne Director Lee Larrison Violin Marc Frigo Assistant Engineer Marc Harris Organ (Hammond), Claves, Keyboards Mark Casselman Engineer Mark Douthit Saxophone Mark Kibble Vocals (Background) Martin Woodlee Engineer Mary Kathryn Vanosdale Violin Matt Rollings Piano Michael McDonald Wurlitzer, Producer, Rhythm Arrangements, Synthesizer, Vocal Arrangement, Claves, Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer Pads, Vocals Michael Tait Vocals (Background) Mike Haynes Trumpet Nashville String Machine Strings Nicol Sponberg Vocals (Background) Pamela Holman Director Pamela Sixfin Violin Rick "Soldier" Will Mixing Rick Wills Mixing Rodney Covington Vocals (Background) Ron Hoff String Arrangements, Conductor Russ Martin Engineer Sam Levine Flute Sean McLean Assistant Engineer Shane Gue Program Assistant, Hard Disk Editing Simion Design Package Design Susan Henson Production Coordination Tabitha Fair Vocals (Background) Terry McMillan Conga, Percussion Thomas Burke Back Cover, Booklet Design Tiffany Palmer Director Tim Akers String Arrangements, Conductor, Organ (Hammond), Horn Arrangements Tim Coyle Assistant Engineer Toby McKeehan Voices, Vocals (Background), Vocals Todd Smith Bass Tom Roady Percussion Tommy Sims Vocal Arrangement, String Arrangements, Guitar (Rhythm), Producer, Keyboards, Bass, Horn Arrangements, Rhythm Arrangements, Guitar, Vocals Tony Green Assistant Engineer Veronica Petrucci Vocals (Background) Viktor Krauss Bass Fiddle, Bass (Acoustic) Wendy Moten Vocal Arrangement, Vocals Yvette Preyer Drums, Tambourine