Motown by Michael (Vocals/Keys) McDonald (CD, Jun-2003, Motown)

Album Features
UPC:	602498011331
Artist:	Michael (Vocals/Keys) McDonald
Format:	CD
Release Year:	2003
Record Label:	Motown
Genre:	Motown, R&B

Track Listing
1. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
2. You Are Everything
3. Signed Sealed Delivered
4. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
5. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
6. Reflections
7. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
8. Ain't No Mountain High Enough
9. All in Love Is Fair
10. I Want You
11. Distant Lover
12. I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)
13. Since I Lost My Baby
14. Too High

Details
Contributing Artists:	Larry Carlton, Bob James, Harvey Mason, Leon Ware
Producer:	Simon Climie
Distributor:	Universal Distribution
Recording Type:	Studio
Recording Mode:	Stereo
SPAR Code:	n/a

Album Notes
Personnel: Michael McDonald (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano);Toby Baker (acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, bass, programming);Simon Climie (acoustic & electric guitars, background vocals); Chris Rodriguez (electric guitar, sitar); Tommy Sims (electric guitar, background vocals); Michael Thompson, Larry Carlton (guitar); Mark Douthit (saxophone); Tony Swain (Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Tim Akers, Tim Carmen (Hammond B-3 organ); Bob James (keyboards); Nathan East (bass); Nicky "Mischief" Shaw (drums, percussion, programming); Harvey Mason (drums, percussion); Ricky Lawson (drums); Paul Waller (programming); Tracy Ackermann, Alfreda McCrary, Leon Ware (background vocals).MOTOWN was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.As a guy who made his reputation for being neck-deep in the sounds of blue-eyed soul, it seems Michael McDonald was destined to put out MOTOWN (released on the label of the same name), an album's worth of classics from this esteemed company's canon. McDonald went out and hired Fourplay, a quartet of top-notch jazz musicians, to back him up on his Motown debut. The combination of this St. Louis native's gruff vocals and the silky accompaniment of Larry Carlton, Bob James, Harvey Mason, and Nathan East gives adds a fresh touch to songs originally recorded by the likes of The Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Wonder and Gaye songs make up the lion's share of the material, reflecting McDonald's longtime admiration of these two R&B giants. He doesn't disappoint, whether cutting loose on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" or lovingly caressing "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)." With the stellar degree of care and respect accorded to these songs by McDonald, this 2003 outing ends up being a fine tribute to the Motown Records legacy.