Michael McDonald - The Very Best of Michael McDonald

For too long, there wasn't a Michael McDonald compilation available domestically. Rhino/Warner Archives' 2001 release The Very Best of Michael McDonald corrects that situation, offering a generous 16 tracks, including duets and a previous unreleased version of Higher Ground. The collection concentrates solely on his solo recordings for Warner/Reprise, which means it ends in 1993 and doesn't include anything from his long-delayed 2000 album. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, because McDonald stopped having hits in the late '80s, so there's nothing missing (even though casual fans can be forgiven for wondering why latter-day Doobie Brothers singles aren't here; at a certain point, those became indistinguishable from McDonald's solo work). At its best -- which would be "No Lookin' Back," "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)," "Yah Mo Be There," "On My Own," and "Sweet Freedom" -- this captures everything that's good about laid-back, West Coast, soul-tinged soft rock. At its worst, it's professional, well constructed, and listenable, lacking only songs that work their way underneath your skin. In a way, the length works against the compilation, since the merely pleasant feels like padding, but McDonald's greatest hits remain sterling examples of finely made, soft blue-eyed soul. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abraham Laboriel Bass Albert Wing Sax (Tenor) Alison Krauss Vocals (Background) Amy Utstein Project Assistant Anthony Patler Keyboards Barbara Ingram Vocals (Background) Barry Alfonso Liner Notes Ben Fowler Engineer Benmont Tench Organ (Hammond) Bernie Chiaravalle Coral Sitar, Guitar Bill Inglot Remastering, Producer Bob Schaper Engineer Bobby LaKind Conga Brandon Fields Sax (Alto) Brian Mann Synthesizer Brian Scheuble Engineer Bruce Barris Engineer Bruce Swedien Mixing, Original Recording Producer, Engineer Burt Bacharach Original Album Producer, Piano Calvin Loser Assistant Engineer Carla Benson Vocals (Background) Carlos Vega Drums Carole Bayer Sager Original Recording Producer Charles Frichtel Bass Charles Paakkari Mixing Chris Albert Mixing Chris Fogel Mixing Chris Pelonis Emulator Chuck Findley Trumpet Chuck Sabatino Vocals (Background), Synthesizer Clydene Jackson Vocals (Background) Cornelius Bumpus Sax (Tenor) Dan Hersch Remastering Dann Huff Guitar Danny Sembello Keyboards David Foster Synthesizer David Frank Horn Arrangements, Synthesizer Horn David Lasley Vocals (Background) David McLees Executive Producer David Pack Guitar, Synthesizer Dean Parks Guitar (Acoustic) Debra Dobkin Conga Dick Rudolph Original Recording Producer Don Was Original Recording Producer, Synthesizer Programming, Sequencing Donn Landee Engineer Ed Cherney Engineer Ed Goodreau Engineer Elaine Anderson Assistant Engineer Emily Cagan Project Assistant Eric Rudd Assistant Engineer Evette Benton Vocals (Background) Gary Grant Trumpet Gary Peterson Compilation Producer, Tape Research, Discographical Annotation, Remastering Gene Eichelberger Engineer George Perilli Drums, Tom-Tom, Drum Programming Grady Walker Engineer Greg Laney Assistant Technical Director Greg Phillinganes Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Keyboards, DX-7 Hugh Brown Art Direction Humberto Gatica Remixing James Ingram Vocals James Isaacson Engineer Jeff Bova Clavinet, Synthesizer Bass Jeff Hendrickson Engineer Jeff Porcaro Drums, Percussion Jerry Hey Trumpet Jim Pace Engineer Jimmy Bralower Drum Programming Jo Motta Project Coordinator Joe Walsh Slide Guitar Joel Moss Engineer John "J.R." Robinson Drums John Jackson Assistant Engineer John Tesh Sequencing, Synthesizer Programming Julia Tillman Waters Vocals (Background) Kathy Walker Vocals (Background) Ken Deane Assistant Engineer Ken Levitan Project Assistant Kenny Loggins Vocals (Background) Kim Hutchcroft Saxophone, Flute Larry Williams Horn, Horn Arrangements, Synthesizer, Keyboards Lee Herschberg Engineer Lee Thornberg Trumpet Lenny Castro Triangle, Finger Cymbals Lenny Waronker Original Recording Producer Lori Fumar Assistant Engineer Louis Johnson Bass Manu Katche Drums Mark Ettel Assistant Technical Director Mark Linett Engineer Matt Forger Technical Director Maureen McDonald Vocals (Background) Maxine Willard Waters Vocals (Background) Michael Boddicker Synthesizer Michael Douglass Assistant Engineer Michael Hanna Synthesizer, Keyboards, Sequencing, Synthesizer Programming Michael Hart Thompson Guitar Michael Mason Sequencing, Synthesizer Programming, Assistant Engineer Michael McDonald Compilation Producer, Vocals, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer, Organ (Hammond), Keyboards, Original Recording Producer Mick Guzauski Engineer Mikael Ifversen Mixing Mike "Clay" Stone Engineer Mike Tacci Assistant Engineer Mike Wuellner Assistant Engineer Nancy L. Hopkins Design Nathan East Bass Neil Stubenhaus Bass Patti LaBelle Vocals Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar Paul Riser String Arrangements Paulinho Da Costa Percussion Peter Wolf Synthesizer Pino Palladino Bass Quincy Jones Original Recording Producer, Voices Randy Jacobs Guitar (Rhythm) Randy Perry Project Assistant Rev. Dave Boruff Flute, Saxophone Rob Jaczko Assistant Engineer Robben Ford Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm) Rod Temperton Keyboards, Synthesizer, Original Recording Producer, Horn Arrangements Ross Pallone Mixing, Engineer Russ Titelman Original Recording Producer, Original Album Producer Scott Plunkett Synthesizer Horn Scott Symington Assistant Engineer Siedah Garrett Vocals (Background) Sir Harry Bowens Vocals (Background) Staff Fieldhouse Drums, Simmons Drums Steve Bates Assistant Technical Director Steve Gadd Drums Steve Lukather Guitar Steve McManus Assistant Engineer Steven Chean Editorial Supervision Sweet Pea Atkinson Vocals (Background) Ted Templeman Percussion, Original Recording Producer Tim Leitner Mixing Toby Wright Assistant Engineer Tom Lord-Alge Mixing UE Nastasi Mixing Vince Denham Saxophone Vince Gill Vocals (Background) Warren Haynes Guitar Wells Christy Synclavier Willie Weeks Bass