A comprehensive Michael McDonald "Best Of"

I noticed there's an ad on TV running for a new Michael McDonald collection, and that reminded me that what I'd really like to assemble for myself is a much more thorough collection than anything you can currently buy - one that collects not only his Doobie and solo/duet hits, but also all the great songs he provided backing vocals for over the years, like all the Steely Dan stuff he was on, along with songs like "This Is It" with Kenny Loggins, or "Ride Like the Wind" by Chrisopher Cross.

Any other suggestions? Only looking for sizable/familiar hits here. Also, if anyone can recommend the best-sounding sources for all this stuff, that'd be great too.

 

I'll Be Over You - Toto

 

Not sure if you're looking to use any 'live' material. He has a couple of good concert dvd's out there. If u have the capability of taking the audio only from these i would chk out the "Gathering of Friends" and "Soundstage" dvd's:
Just search amazon.com for more info on these....
TimW

 

"On My Own" - with Patti Labelle
"Ya Mo Be There" - <I forget>

 

I have a 10 to 15 year old compilation CD pressed in Germany called "Sweet Freedom" that covers some of the Doobie tracks and the solo hits. It has a different mix of "Our Love" and it includes the track "Sweet Freedom" made for a movie I can't name at the moment. It may be worth searching out his first solo album and the live New York Rock and Soul Revue CDs. My essential track: "Good Friends" with Joni Mitchell.

 

The movie was "Running Scared" with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines. I too have that European CD, which actually sounds pretty good.

I forgot about the NYR&R&Soul Review Disc. I should get that one out for a spin this weekend.

 

Thank you! I was getting a headache trying to recall the movie's title. All that heavy duty thinking made me remember that that CD's version of "Our Love" was different from the "No Lookin' Back" album(Kenny Loggins did a cover of that track on his "Vox Humana" album) and it was remixed for another movie whose title I can't recall now.

 

With James Ingram

 

What do you want to know....

I had so many cassette compilation of Michael.

Doobies - Taking It To The Streets
Taking It To The Streets
It Keeps You Running
Losin' End (which he also recorded solo - I much prefer the solo version)

Living On The Fault Line
Little Darling
You Belong To Me

Minute By Minute
What A Fool Believes
Minute By Minute
Open Your Eyes

One Step Closer
Real Love

Solo
If That What It Takes
I Keep Forgettin'
I Can Let Go Know
Playing By The Rules
That's Why
Losin' End

No Looking Back
No Looking Back
By Heart
Our Love

Take It To Heart
Love Can Break Your Heart
You Show Me
Take It To Heart

Blink Of An Eye
Matters Of The Heart
Hey Girl

Blue Obsession
You Can't Make It Love

In The Spirit (Christmas Collection)
Peace

Kenny Loggins - Live From The Redwoods
What A Fool Believes (duet with Mike)

Arcade - Patrick Simmonds (only on vinyl)
Have You Seen Her - duet with Mike and ? (forgotten)

As stated above - all of thev Doobies CDs sound fine - I have the UK versions (apart from No Looking Back - US)

I can only compare the quality of Steve's Minute By Minute - and the original of that is somewhat brighter, but OK to listen to.

The others have a similar sound.

The Live At The Redwoods duet is brilliant and is also on DVD!!

 

Actaully, that "new" collection is pretty damn complete. It has all of the Doobies hits, with a pile of solo hits. Looks like a "must buy" to me.

Michael McDonald: The Ultimate Collection
Rhino - Released this coming Tuesday

1. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
2. What A Fool Believes (The Doobie Brothers)
3. I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)
4. Yah Mo B There (w/ James Ingram)
5. Takin’ It To The Streets (The Doobie Brothers)
6. Sweet Freedom
7. Minute By Minute (The Doobie Brothers)
8. On My Own (w/ Patti LaBelle)
9. You Belong To Me (The Doobie Brothers)
10. Real Love (The Doobie Brothers)
11. I Stand For You
12. It Keeps You Runnin’ (The Doobie Brothers)
13. Take It To Heart
14. No Love To Be Found
15. I Gotta Try
16. No Lookin’ Back
17. Blink Of An Eye
18. Open The Door (Urban Remix)
19. Lost In The Parade

 

It will be $9.99 at Circuit City. Haven't looked at the BB circular yet.

 

Does anyone recall seeing Michael McDonald in the St. Louis area group The Guild. I saw the group several times in the late 60s, but I think he had left for LA by then.

 

I'm thinking I might pick it up, as well. I'm pretty much covered on the solo/Doobie hits. My question was more along the lines of stuff he sang backing vocals on that he might not have a specific credit on (again, like his Steely Dan stuff, or the other examples I gave above).