Michael McDonald – If That's What It Takes

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Label:	Warner Bros. Records – 1-23703
Format:	Vinyl , LP, Album , Los Angeles Pressing
Country:	US
Released:	1982
Genre:	Rock
Style:	Soul

Tracklist

A1	Playin' By The Rules Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Dean Parks Percussion – Lenny Castro Piano – Greg Phillinganes Saxophone, Soloist – Edgar Winter Written-By, Backing Vocals – Ed Sanford Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Dean Parks Percussion – Lenny Castro Piano – Greg Phillinganes Saxophone, Soloist – Edgar Winter Written-By, Backing Vocals – Ed Sanford Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald	4:55
A2	I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near) Backing Vocals – Maureen McDonald Bass – Louis Johnson Clavinet – Greg Phillinganes Drums – Jeff Porcaro Guitar – Steve Lukather Written-By – Jerry Leiber And Mike Stoller* Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer – Michael McDonald Backing Vocals – Maureen McDonald Bass – Louis Johnson Clavinet – Greg Phillinganes Drums – Jeff Porcaro Guitar – Steve Lukather Written-By – Jerry Leiber And Mike Stoller* Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer – Michael McDonald	3:39
A3	Love Lies Bass – Willie Weeks Guitar – Dean Parks Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa Piano – Greg Phillinganes Written-By – Randy Goodrum Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald Bass – Willie Weeks Guitar – Dean Parks Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa Piano – Greg Phillinganes Written-By – Randy Goodrum Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald	3:21
A4	I Gotta Try Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Greg Phillinganes Guitar – Steve Lukather Percussion – Ted Templeman Synthesizer [Additional] – Michael Boddicker Written-By, Backing Vocals – Kenny Loggins Written-By, Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Greg Phillinganes Guitar – Steve Lukather Percussion – Ted Templeman Synthesizer [Additional] – Michael Boddicker Written-By, Backing Vocals – Kenny Loggins Written-By, Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald	3:53
A5	I Can Let Go Now Written-By, Piano – Michael McDonald	2:54
B1	That's Why Backing Vocals – Maureen McDonald Bass – Mike Porcaro Drums – Jeff Porcaro Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Michael Omartian Guitar – Steve Lukather Guitar, Soloist – Robben Ford Saxophone, Soloist – Tom Scott Written-By – Randy Goodrum Written-By, Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald Backing Vocals – Maureen McDonald Bass – Mike Porcaro Drums – Jeff Porcaro Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Michael Omartian Guitar – Steve Lukather Guitar, Soloist – Robben Ford Saxophone, Soloist – Tom Scott Written-By – Randy Goodrum Written-By, Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald	4:24
B2	If That's What It Takes Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Dean Parks Guitar [Solo] – Robben Ford Percussion – Lenny Castro Piano – Greg Phillinganes Written-By – Jackie De Shannon* Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Dean Parks Guitar [Solo] – Robben Ford Percussion – Lenny Castro Piano – Greg Phillinganes Written-By – Jackie De Shannon* Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald	4:17
B3	No Such Luck Alto Saxophone – Edgar Winter Bass – Mike Porcaro Drums – Jeff Porcaro Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Michael Omartian Guitar – Steve Lukather Guitar [Overdubs] – Dean Parks Percussion – Lenny Castro Written-By – Harry Garfield Written-By, Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald Alto Saxophone – Edgar Winter Bass – Mike Porcaro Drums – Jeff Porcaro Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Michael Omartian Guitar – Steve Lukather Guitar [Overdubs] – Dean Parks Percussion – Lenny Castro Written-By – Harry Garfield Written-By, Piano, Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald	3:44
B4	Losin' End Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Dean Parks Lyricon, Soloist – Tom Scott Organ – Greg Phillinganes Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Michael McDonald Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Dean Parks Lyricon, Soloist – Tom Scott Organ – Greg Phillinganes Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Michael McDonald	4:11
B5	Believe In It Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Steve Lukather Percussion – Lenny Castro Piano – Greg Phillinganes Saxophone, Soloist – Edgar Winter Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald Bass – Willie Weeks Drums – Steve Gadd Guitar – Steve Lukather Percussion – Lenny Castro Piano – Greg Phillinganes Saxophone, Soloist – Edgar Winter Written-By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer, Backing Vocals – Michael McDonald	4:41

Companies, etc.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Copyright © – Warner Bros. Records Inc.
Recorded At – Warner Bros. Recording Studios
Recorded At – Sunset Sound
Recorded At – Ocean Way Recording
Mastered At – Warner Bros. Recording Studios
Pressed By – Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles
Published By – Genevieve Music
Published By – Edzactly Publishing
Published By – Chappell & Co., Inc.
Published By – Sailmaker Music
Published By – Milk Money Music
Published By – Random Notes
Published By – April Music Inc.
Published By – Sailors Dancing Songs
Published By – McWalker Music
Published By – Coop Music
Published By – Uncle Josh's Song Emporium
Published By – World Song Publishing Inc.
Record Company – Warner Bros. Records Inc.

Credits

Arranged By [Horn Arrangements] – Jerry Hey
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Marty Paich
Art Direction, Design – Jeff Adamoff
Coordinator [Production] – Vicki Fortson
Engineer [Basic Track Engineer] – Lee Herschberg (tracks: A1, A3, A4, B2, B4, B5)
Engineer [Mastering Engineer] – Bobby Hata
Engineer [Mixdown Engineer] – Lee Herschberg
Engineer [Overdub Engineer] – Mark Linett
Engineer [Second Engineer] – Steve McManus*
Management [Direction] – Irving Azoff
Photography – Jim Shea
Producer – Ted Templeman
Synthesizer [Additional] – Michael Boddicker
Technician [Keyboard Technician] – Paul Medeiros

Notes

Capitol Records Pressing Plant, Los Angeles pressing. Issued with custom inner sleeve.

World Song Publishing Inc. shown on release as World Song Pub. Inc.

Recorded at Warner Bros.
Recording Studio, N. Hollywood, CA
and Sunset Sound, Hollywood
Strings recorded at
Oceanway Recording, Hollywood
Mastered at Warner Bros.
Recording Studio

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Matrix / Runout (Side A run out): 1-23703-A LW-5 • 2 ✲
Matrix / Runout (Side B run out): 1-23703-B LW-4 • 1 ✲
Rights Society (A1 to B5): ASCAP
Rights Society (A1, A2): BMI
Barcode (Scanned): 075992370318

Other Versions (5 of 64)

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	Title (Format)	Label	Cat#	Country	Year
Recently Edited	If That's What It Takes (LP, Album)	Warner Bros. Records	WB K 57 018, 23703-1	Europe	1982
Recently Edited	If That's What It Takes (LP, Album, Stereo)	Warner Bros. Records	57018	Greece	1982
	If That's What It Takes (LP, Album)	Warner Bros. Records	92 37031	Canada	1982
Recently Edited	If That's What It Takes (LP, Album, Stereo)	Warner Bros. Records	123703	Australia	1982
New Submission	If That's What It Takes (LP, Album)	Warner Bros. Records	P-11238	Japan	1982

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Reviews

tarmstrong Feb 5, 2022
Had the opportunity to see Micheal play a live gig at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California a couple of times. This guy has an an amazing voce. one could be forgiven for thinking that he was a black soul singer. His vocal range is extraordinary and his live performances are very engaging. This clearly comes across his numerous recordings.
Mike-Rio May 13, 2016
Edited 9 years ago

Simply one of the best soft rock albuns in existence. You can tell it was really McDonald's game here, combining his vocals with a stellar cast of Los Angeles session players (along with my Brazilian counterpart Paulinho da Costa) and the rest of Toto (Mike, Jeff Porcaro and Steve Lukather) thus providing grooves that were very early 80s California. It's a must have!

Michael McDonald – If That's What It Takes

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Format:

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Released:

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Tracklist

Companies, etc.

Credits

Notes

Barcode and Other Identifiers

Other Versions (5 of 64)

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