If That's What It Takes (album)
If That's What It Takes is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael McDonald. The album was released in August 1982 and peaked at #6 on Billboard 200, while singles "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" and "I Gotta Try" went to #4 and #44 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.
| If That's What It Takes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 3, 1982 | |||
| Recorded | 1981–82 | |||
| Studio | Warner Bros. Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA and Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood. Strings recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood. | |||
| Genre | Pop, rock, funk, blue-eyed soul | |||
| Length | 39:59 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. | |||
| Producer | Ted Templeman, Lenny Waronker | |||
| Michael McDonald chronology | ||||
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| Singles from If That's What It Takes | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [2] |
| Rolling Stone | [3] |
| The Village Voice | C+[4] |
Track listing
All tracks written by Michael McDonald, with additional writers noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Playin' by the Rules" | Ed Sanford | 4:55 |
| 2. | "I Keep Forgettin'" | Sanford, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller | 3:39 |
| 3. | "Love Lies" | Randy Goodrum | 3:21 |
| 4. | "I Gotta Try" | Kenny Loggins | 3:53 |
| 5. | "I Can Let Go Now" | 2:54 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "That's Why" | Goodrum | 4:24 |
| 7. | "If That's What It Takes" | Jackie DeShannon | 4:17 |
| 8. | "No Such Luck" | Grady Walker, Harry Garfield | 3:44 |
| 9. | "Losin' End" | 4:11 | |
| 10. | "Believe in It" | 4:41 |
Personnel
- Michael McDonald – lead vocals, backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 6–8, 10), Fender Rhodes (1–3, 7, 9, 10), synthesizers (1–4, 6–8, 10), acoustic piano (4–6, 8)
- Greg Phillinganes – acoustic piano (1, 3, 7, 10), clavinet (2), Fender Rhodes (4), Hammond organ (9)
- Michael Boddicker – additional synthesizers (4)
- Michael Omartian – Fender Rhodes (6, 8)
- Dean Parks – guitar (1, 3, 7, 9), guitar overdubs (8)
- Steve Lukather – guitar (2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
- Robben Ford – guitar solo (6, 7)
- Willie Weeks – bass (1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10)
- Louis Johnson – bass (2)
- Mike Porcaro – bass (6, 8)
- Steve Gadd – drums (1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10)
- Jeff Porcaro – drums (2, 6, 8)
- Lenny Castro – percussion (1, 3, 6-8, 10)
- Bobby LaKind – percussion (1)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (3, 4)
- Ted Templeman – percussion (4)
- Edgar Winter – saxophone solo (1, 10), alto saxophone (8)
- Tom Scott – saxophone solo (6), Lyricon solo (9)
- Ed Sanford – backing vocals (1)
- Maureen McDonald – backing vocals (2, 6)
- Kenny Loggins – backing vocals (4)
- Christopher Cross – backing vocals (6)
- Brenda Russell – backing vocals (6)
- Kathy Walker – backing vocals (6)
- Amy Holland – backing vocals (6)
Production
- Produced by Ted Templeman and Lenny Waronker
- Engineers – Lee Herschberg (1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10), Jim Isaacson (5, 6, 8), Donn Landee (2)
- Overdub Engineers – Jim Isaacson, Donn Landee, Mark Linett, Lee Herschberg
- Second Engineers – Ken Deane, Steve McManus
- Mixing – Lee Herschberg
- Mastered by Bobby Hata at Warner Bros. Recording Studio.
- Horn arrangements – Jerry Hey
- String arrangements – Marty Paich
- Keyboard Technician – Paul Mederios
- Production Coordinators – Joan Parker, Vicki Fortson, Kathy Walker
- Direction – Irving Azoff
- Photography – Jim Shea
- Art Direction and Design – Jeff Adamoff
Charts
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] | 41 |
| US Billboard 200[6] | 6 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] | 10 |
References
- Jason Elias. "If That's What It Takes - Michael McDonald | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
- Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
- "If That's What It Takes : Michael McDonald : Review : Rolling Stone". 1982-09-30. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
- Christgau, Robert (November 2, 1982). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
- Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 185. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- "Michael McDonald Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- "Michael McDonald Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
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