This guy made a fortune doing background vocals!! what was his secret?

Vocal Appearances 1960 - 1969

1968
The Delrays - (There's) Always Something There To Remind Me

Vocal Appearances 1970 - 1979

1975
Guy Finley - Ignis Fatuus, The Show
1976
Carly Simon - Another Passenger
1977
Bonnie Raitt - Sweet Forgiveness
Chunky, Novi & Ernie - s/t
Jack Jones - The Full Life
Little Feat - Time Loves A Hero
Paul Williams - Classics
Tim Moore - White Shadows
Tommy James - Midnight Rider
1978
Bill Champlin - Single
Carole Bayer Sager - Too
Craig Fuller & Eric Kaz - s/t
Lisa Dal Bello - Pretty Girls
Nicolette Larson - Nicolette
Stephen Bishop - Bish
Steve Harley - Hobo With A Grin
The Bliss Band - Dinner With Raoul
The Dirt Band - s/t
The Memphis Horns Band II - s/t
1979
Bill Quateman - Just Like You
Elton John - Victim Of Love
Gary Wright - Headin' Home
Kenny Loggins - Keep The Fire
Lauren Wood - s/t
Max Gronenthal - Whistling In The Dark
Nicolette Larson - In The Nick Of Time
Randy Edelman - You're The one
Rickie Lee Jones - s/t
Rita Coolidge - Satisfied
Safe Energy Artists - No Nukes
V.A. - Together? (Original Soundtrack Recording)

Vocal Appearances 1980 - 1989

1980
Amy Holland - s/t
Christopher Cross - s/t
V.A. - Coast To Coast Original Soundtrack
V.A. - In Harmony, A Sesame Street Record
V.A. - Inside Moves (Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1982
Bill Medley - Right Here And Now
Donna Summer - s/t
Jimmy Webb - Angel Heart
1983
Amy Holland - On Your Every Word
Christopher Cross - Another Page
Diana Ross - Ross
James Ingram - It's Your Night
Patrick Simmons - Arcade
Paul Anka - Walk A Fine Line
1984
Michael McDonald - From the Movie "Crackers"
1985
David Pack - Anywhere You Go
Delta - s/t
Joni Mitchell - Dog Eat Dog
1986
El DeBarge - s/t
Patti LaBelle - Winner In You
Sergio Mendes - Brasil '86
T Lavitz - Storytime
Toto - Fahrenheit
V.A. - Running Scared Motion Picture Soundtrack
Wang Chung - Mosaic
1987
Honeymoon Suite - Racing After Midnight
The Winans - Decisions
1988
Christopher Cross - Back Of My Mind
Kenny Loggins - Back To Avalon
Patti Austin - The Real Me
1989
John Tesh - Garden City
Nik Kershaw - The Works
Tim Weisberg - Outrageous Temptations
V.A. - Rock, Rhythm & Blues

Vocal Appearances 1990 - 1999

1990
Michael McDonald - From the Dave Lee Travis show on BBC Radio One
Tatsuhiko Yamamoto - Next
V.A. - Nobody's Child, Romanian Angel Appeal
1991
Aretha Franklin - What You See Is What You Sweat
Henry Kapono - Same World
Kenny Loggins - Leap Of Faith
Patti Austin - Carry On
Peace Choir - Give Peace A Chance
The New York Rock And Soul Revue - Live At The Beacon
1992
Christopher Cross - Rendezvous
V.A. - Beverly Hills 90210 The Soundtrack
1993
Kenny Loggins - Outside From The Redwoods
Pointer Sisters - Only Sisters Can Do That
Tia Carrere - Dream
1994
Dave Matthews Band - Under The Table And Dreaming
Kiyomi Suzuki - Duets
V.A. - Earthrise, The Rainforest Album
Vince Gill - Christmas With Vince Gill
Vince Gill - When Love Finds You
Warren G - Regulate... G-Funk Era
1996
First Call - s/t
Helen Reddy - When I Dream, The Eighties Collection
Jimmy Webb - Ten Easy Pieces
Stephen Bishop - Blue Guitars
V.A. - Carole Bayer Sager Songbook
V.A. - Friends For Life, Voices For Hospice
V.A. - The Songs Of West Side Story
1997
Ambrosia - Anthology
Beth Nielsen Chapman - Sand And Water
B.J. Thomas - Christmas Is Coming Home
Boz Scaggs - My Time: A Boz Scaggs Anthology (1969 - 1997)
David Garfield & Friends - Tribute to Jeff Porcaro
Edwin McCain - Misguided Roses
Kathy Mattea - Love Travels
Kenny Rogers - Across My Heart
Kirk Whalum - Colors
Paul Thorn - Hammer And Nail
Robert Ellis Orrall - Mistakes
Terry McMillan - Somebody's Comin'
V.A. - Men Are From Mars, Woman Are From Venus
V.A. - Ohne Filter - Musik Pur, Volume 4
1998
Christopher Cross - Walking In Avalon
Jim Horn - The Hit List
Michael McDonald - From The Motion Picture The Thin Pink Line
Michael McDonald & Chaka Khan - For Your Love
Phoebe Snow - I Can't Complain
Rob Mathes - Christmas Is Coming CD
Terry Wollman - Say Yes
The Warren Brothers - Beautiful Day In The Cold Cruel World
V.A. - One Heart At A Time
V.A. - The Prince Of Egypt Nashville Soundtrack
1999
Chicago - 26 Live In Concert
Larry Stewart - Learning To Breathe
Michael Peterson - Being Human
Rob Mathes - Christmas Is Coming DVD
Robben Ford - Supernatural
Sonya Isaacs - s/t
V.A. - Among The Missing
V.A. - Jumpin' At The Go-Go
V.A. - South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut Soundtrack
V.A. - Streams
V.A. - The Songs Of Glen Ballard

Vocal Appearances 2000 - 2009

2000
Darwin Hobbs - Vertical
Jeff Bridges - Be Here Soon
Larry Carlton - Fingerprints
V.A. - Westwood One, Superstars Of R&B Concert Series
2001
V.A. - Prancer Returns Original Movie Soundtrack
2002
Above The Clouds - Brighter Day
Bernie Chiaravalle - Life As We Know It
Claire Séverac & Friends - Duets
Lee Ritenour - Rit's House
Norman Brown - Just Chillin'
Olivia Newton-John - (2)
Petula Clark - The Ultimate Collection
Safri Duo - Sweet Freedom
The Pinnacle Project - Bricks Without Straw, Volume 1 Gospel
V.A. - Music From and Inspired By "We Were Soldiers"
V.A - Night of the Proms 2002
V.A. - Westwood One, Superstar Concert Series, show # 02-45, November 09/10 2002
2003
Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra - Jack O The Green, Small World Big Band Friends 3
Kenny Loggins - It's About time
T. Graham Brown - The Next Right Thing
V.A. - Soul Comes Home
Vince Gill - Next Big Thing
2004
Beth Nielsen Chapman - Look
Keni Thomas - Flags Of Our Fathers, A Soldier's Story
Mo Pleasure - Elements Of Pleasure
Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company
The Roach Approach - Don't Miss The Boat
2005
Billy Currington - Doin' Somethin' Right
V.A. - Music 101: The Green Room DVD
Pat Boone - Glorie Train: The Lost Sessions
Ray Charles - 50 Years In Music DVD
Various Artists - Golden Slumbers: A Father's Love
Various Artists - Heart of America
2006
Brian Culbertson - Soulful Christmas NEW
Chet Atkins - Chet Atkins And Friends Live DVD
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store - Songs Of The Year NEW
Fourplay - X
Jonny Lang - Turn Around
Natalie Mac Master - Yours Truly
Tony Joe White - Uncovered
Vince Gill - These Days
Willie Nelson - Whatever Happened To Peace On Earth NEW
2007
Chaka Khan - Funk This NEW
Olivia Newton-John - Christmas Wish NEW

tricky2 said:

You forogt Kenny Loggins' "This Is It" of which not only did Michael do background vocals for but he helped write it. Michael is also a keyboardist. All the jazz tics we heard from his days with the "Doobie Brothers" on songs like "Minute By Minute", Thank You Love", and "It Keeps You Runnin" came from his days with Steely Dan. That was his voice on their "AJA" album on "Peg", and "I Got The News",

tricky2 said:

Damn, what a list!!!--guess people dug that voice!

I remember somone once joked that when he listened to the Doobie Brothers, he could "Hear their beards...", !! I instinctively thought of Michael Mcdonald when I heard that!!!

BTW, they seemed to forget his work with Steely Dan - although technically, he was probably considered a "Studio" band member when they did Pretzel Logic(1974). Though he became a Doobie in '75, he still contributed vocals to the Steely Dan albums, Including Katy Lied(75), Royal Scam (76) and especially Aja (77)-- "Peg" is one of the quintessential Mike McDonald backing tracks!!!









....
[Edited 5/13/09 10:36am]

paligap said:

[Edited 5/13/09 10:42am]
[Edited 5/13/09 10:43am]

Some time ago I remember hearing Patti Austin (on one of the late night talk shows) refer to Michael McDonald and Anita Baker as "cottonmouth singers".


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I think you forgot

1991- Rick Astley/ Free (track "In the Name of Love" written by McDonald)

He's not credited in the booklet, but you can hear his unique voice there.

Wow, he even sang on Tia Carrere's album!

One of the main reasons why I loved Peg was because it sounded like a Doobie Bros song. Now looking at this list, I suspect songs that sounded like Michael might have been singing on it actually DID have him singing on it.

[Edited 5/13/09 15:30pm]

John Mayer's first album contained a credit line that said something like, "Thanks to Michael McDonald. I'm a better musician when you're in the room".

Same dude? Anyone know? No matter what, that dude knew how to get on a record.

Michael McDonald just happens to be the name of John Mayer's manager.

With all the BV work the woofy voiced one has done, a clue to how he got it may be in his beard...and I thought all that white stuff was facial hair...

Mong said:

Thanks.

MM may have coked his way into all that work, I don't know. He's a great musician, and does have a distinctive voice.

I'm actually referring to perhaps other oral talents that he may have.

carlcranshaw said:

That's one of my all-time favorite Second City TV pieces!!!!!





...

oh, you mean this guy...

carlcranshaw said:

Okay. See ya.

...

BTW, I've always loved this arrangement of What A Fool Believes:

Kenny Loggins and Michael Mcdonald - "What A Fool Believes"









...

paligap said:

^^^ I was so spoiled by the original I couldn’t get into this one of at first but eventually grew to appreciate it. Their voices sound so good together.
[Edited 5/14/09 6:24am]

Okay, I have to throw up one of my personal favorites...


[Edited 5/14/09 6:27am]

When Michael McDonald was in The Doobies they were hating because he turned their sagging career around.

If he performs as a guest with them these days they have him almost off the stage.

In this clip he is ROLLING. He is singing his a** off.

After this show The Doobies had a meeting and said: "Hey man, we're rock and roll dude. Michael upstaged us. After he sang everybody left.
From now on if he sits in he goes in the BACK. Now's let's go back out there to those 6 hippies in the audience and play "China Grove."

http://www.youtube.com/wa...54lfxiid_w


[Edited 5/14/09 11:51am]

carlcranshaw said:

...

tricky2 said:

you suck, you forgot Steely Dan - Peg