Blue Obsession

Performer: Michael McDonald (Vocals/Keys)
Artist: Wendy Moten; Kirk Whalum; Matt Rollins
Distributor: Bayside Record Dist.

Notes: Personnel: Michael McDonald (vocals, keyboards); Tommy Sims (vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass); Wendy Moten (vocals); David Pack (guitar, keyboards); Chris Rodriguez, Bernie Chiaravalle, William Owsley, George Cocchini, Gordon Kennedy (guitar); Dan Dugmore (lap steel guitar); Sam Levine (flute); Kirk Whalum, Mark Douthit, Doug Moffet, Dennis Solee (saxophone); Mike Haynes (trumpet); Barry Green (trombone); Bobby Taylor (oboe); Matt Rollins (piano); Joe Hogue (keyboards, programming);Bill Livsey, Marc Harris (keyboards); Viktor Krauss (acoustic bass); George Perilli, Dan Needham, Chester Thompson, Armand Grimaldi (drums); Tom Roady (percussion); Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, Kevin Max Smith, Johnny Neel, Tabitha Fair, Angelo Petrucci, Veronica Petrussi, Joey Kibble, Mark Kibble, Claude McKnight, Nicol Smith, Chris Willis (background vocals); The Nashville String Machine. Producers: David Pack, Tommy Sims, Chris Pelonis, Bernie Charivalli, M. McDonald. Engineers include: Martin Woodlee, Greg Rubin, Jon Lechner. Personnel: Michael McDonald (vocals, piano, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, synthesizer, claves); Tommy Sims (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Toby McKeehan (vocals, background vocals); Wendy Moten (vocals); Bernie Chiaravalle (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, cymbals); Gordon Kennedy (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Chris Rodrigues (guitar, acoustic guitar); David Pack (guitar, keyboards); Chris Rodriguez, Bill Owsley, George Cocchini, Chris Pelonis (guitar); Dan Dugmore (lap steel guitar); Carol McClure (harp); Carl Gorodetzky (violin, strings); Connie Ellisor, Mary Kathryn Vanosdale, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , Lee Larrison (violin); Kristin Wilkinson, Kris Wilkinson, Alan Umstead, Gary VanOsdale (viola); Anthony LaMarchina, Bob Mason (cello); Nashville String Machine (strings); Bobby G. Taylor (flute, oboe); Sam Levine (flute); Doug Moffet, Kirk Whalum, Mark Douthit, Denis Solee (saxophone); Mike Haynes (trumpet); Barry Green (trombone); Matt Rollings (piano); Joe Hogue (organ, keyboards, programming, sampler); Marc Harris (keyboards, claves); Billy Livsey (keyboards); Viktor Krauss (acoustic bass); Chris Kent (electric bass); Yvette Preyer (drums, tambourine); Chester Thompson , George Perilli, Brian Zsupnick, Armand Grimaldi, Dan Needham (drums); Terry McMillan (congas, percussion); Danny Duncan (percussion, sound effects); Tom Roady (percussion); Christopher Cross, Claude McKnight, Rodney Covington, Joey Kibble, Johnny Neel, Karla Bonoff, Kevin Max Smith , Mark Kibble, Michael Tait, Amy Holland, Angelo Petrucci, Tabitha Fair, Veronica Petrucci, Chris Willis, Nicol Sponberg (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Chris Pelonis; Gregg Rubin; Rick "Soldier" Will; Rick Wills. Recording information: Bingham Bend Studio, Leipers Fork, TN; Love Shack, Nashville, TN; Northbeach, Franklin, TN; Orange Whip, Santa Barbara, CA; Sixteenth Ave. Sound, Nashville, TN; SOund Kitchen, Franklin, TN; Sound Stage, Nashville, TN; The Bennettt House, Franklin, TN; The Dugout, Nashville, TN; Woodland Studios, Nashville, TN. Directors: LaDre Fayne; Pamela Holman; Tiffany Palmer. Editor: Joe Hogue. Photographers: Bruce Steinberg; Keely, Dennis; Gary Braasch. 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

Q (11/00, p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A strong releas ethat proves the singer has lost none of his R&B and gospel fervor..." Mojo (Publisher) (12/00, p.112) - "...McDonald's pipes remain in stirring shape..."

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