Customer Reviews

Motown Two

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Before the first Motown album, Michael McDonald had continued to tour while also working as a songwriter/recording artist after parting ways with Warner/Reprise in the mid nineties. He released a strong album, Blue Obsession, via an independent company that had little chance of being heard by those outside of McDonald's fanbase. Then McDonald's Comet came streaking back into the national consciousness in 2003 via the one-two punch of the Motown album/MCI commercial combo... He was finally able to make the most of an opportunity that presented itself to him. The moons had aligned in his galaxy. The project was a perfect fit for McDonald's type of voice and singing style. The people who purchased it dug it... A LOT.

After the album became the most successful of his solo career, the pressure was ON... What would the music buying public want next from McDonald now that they "found" him again? The choice was obvious, but maybe not the most artistic. When a singer/songwriter is painted into this kind of corner, the challenge becomes clear-- If all they want is another Motown album, make a BETTER Motown album.

He did it.

This new album surpasses the original on almost every level. The production is warmer, the song selection has more edge and McDonald is now at home with the material versus being an enthusiastic visitor for the first one.

There's not a stinker in the bunch. One highlight amongst the highlights is a smoothed out/quiet storm version of the Smokey Robinson classic "Tracks Of My Tears". The arrangers take a little license with the verse chords to great effect, tweaking this already fantastic song into a fresh, original new groove. The same could be said for the subtle Latin samba vibe laid into Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" and "After The Dance". Keeping the soul flowing is the little known Stevie Wonder composition "Tuesday Heartbreak" (It was the flipside to the 45 single "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"... I was ten!... Old enough to remember). This collection of tracks takes you from the well known thru the lost and found treasures of the Motown catalog, all performed with the grace of a real music business survivor who's also a huge fan of the Hitsville era.

Michael McDonald's distinctive vocals reveal a true passion for the material. He's not only nailing songs that are hard to sing, but he's also bringing his own style to compositions that the original writers couldn't help but respect.

Reading several other negative reviews of this album, I was later angered on playing it at the comments.

With people spending small fortunes for the likes of "American Idol" remakes, this recording represents a genuine artistic interpretation of standards by a competent highly accomplished vocalist.

I would purchase this album again, to hear Mr. McDonald's harmonic voice and stylings as well as to renew my acquaintance with songs that can no longer be heard by many artists and as well were once part of our "Popular Scene".

We still go to see Fiddler on the Roof, long after Zero Mostel has passed, and as well with remakes of Charlie's Angels and Miami Vice, the public should be able to appreciate a good performance by a competent artist, without faulting them for not being the first to perform the tune. The public certainly can do this for American Idol, so how about giving Mr. McDonald CD a listen, and enjoy!

Andy

I was not going to leave a review, but after reading most of them I changed my mind. First, this set and the first Motown are good CDs. Second, these are tribute CDs to the great Motown era of the late 50s and 1960s. They are NOT supposed to sound like the original hits. Michael and crew have done good job of keeping as true to the original as possible giving them some new sound. Now I will agree that a couple of the tracks could have been produced a little better, but we can find that on most artist's albums (aka CDs). Musically, these are good disks. As far as the tribute part goes...he did a good job at that too, but everyone is judging these songs on their original artists and original production....no tribute can take away the great sounds and memories of the original Motown songs...NOTHING, so enjoy this disk and the first Motown for what it is...one artists interpretation of something great

In this age of infinite refried, reprocessed and repackaged musical product comes Michael McDonald's Mowtown projects. The only diference is that, here, the talent and inspiration are genuine. Michael McDonald feels right at home here, in big part because he has covered this territory before (check out the New York Rock n Soul Revue with Donald Fagen). These albums bring fresh life to all-time classics and make them sound brand new. Michael's singing is better than ever, these songs make you fell good. Both albums are excelent and highly recommended.

I was reading some of the reviews and have to agree with them...this album is soo much better than the first. The arrangements differ from the originals - which is what I like anyway. Mike's first Motown album covers were just too close to the sound of the originals, but not this one. For example, he adds a latin feel to Marvin's,"After the dance" and it comes off great. I stand behind my comments that between Michael Mcdonald and Daryl Hall...I don't think there are any better soul singers out there now. Is it me, or has the two of them only gotten better with age? Wow...Michael's rendition of "Tears of a clown" is moving and one of the best songs on the album. Of course, my favorite is the classic, "Stop, Look, Listen to your heart" (which originally was a Philly soul song and not Motown) However, neither was his rendition of "You are everything" (another Philly soul classic), but wow..Michael's duet with Toni Braxton is just awesome.
It is so so so so refreshing to hear good music. I felt like I was abandoned on an island somewhere- forced to listen to what the "media machine" and Mtv say is "IT" or "HOT". I don't think either of them would know "IT" or "HOT" if it came up and bit them on the....well, you know. For example, how can Justin Timberlake beat out Michael Mcdonald for "Best male vocalist"..it just is inconceivable !!! Justin sounds like a watered down Michael Jackson (and do we need another one). Michael can sing cirlces around him, not too mention I wanted to laugh when J.T. got on the keys to play the same 3 chords over and over again (wow, I learned to do that when I was 10 Justin!)Michael just goes up there and puts J.T. to shame...what happened Grammy people????????? or should I say MTV. I hope that everyone gets the chance to buy this album (and Hall and Oates)....you will not be dissapointed !! send a message to the music industry that we know great music...so stop putting out sub par music (that all the music and singers sound alike)and stop adding your controlling 2 cents to music. I promise that you will not be disapointed with this album (it is just awesome) and pick up Hall and Oates too :) I

I'm a huge Michael McDonald fan, so I've been thrilled by the success of his MOTOWN and now his MOTOWN TWO CDs. Michael has perhaps the most distinctive voice in music today and I'd buy anything he sang.

I hope he returns to original songwriting for his next project. For a guy who has a grammy for writing "What A Fool Believes," perhaps my all-time favorite song, he doesn't need to be doing remakes of other people's songs.

I hate to say it, because I love motown, but Mike does most of the songs better than the originals. There's not many people who can remake songs that do them any justice, much less surpass the originals, but he has. Some have made comments that the artists that have remade the songs our parents used to listen to, they have only done so because they are old, washed up and can't create any new material. Why does there have to be an age attached anyway? Good music is good music, true talent never becomes old!Something of which we don't see much of in the music of the "young"(music of today). I know that there has been a lot of cover albums lately, but it is refreshing to hear real music again especially when we live in a world where what is considered good music, is determined by the media. It is nice to see true talent like Michael McDonald, Hall & Oates,Lalah Hathaway, Etc. make a come back. Our prayers have been answered. Not only is Michaels' voice still as great if not even better than when he was a younger man, but his musicians that are on the album are some of the best around. Nathan East, Billy Preston to name just a couple.Listen to "For Real", if thats not singing then I don't know what is. If you liked the first Motown albulm, you will love this one even more! Keep up the good work Mike, there are still a few of us young people who won't sell out and still stay true to talent not hype!

Motown Two (2004) picks up where Michael McDonald's first Motown album ended, and that's not a bad thing. Like it's predecessor, Motown Two features an excellent song selection, close as possible to Motown song arrangements, and expressive and soulful singing from McDonald. There's really not a lot to complain about here, and there's no false advertising. It is what it says. As I was listening to this tonight, I turned on the television, hit the mute button, and watched while I listened to the music. The evening news featured a story about families of fallen American servicemen killed in the war in Iraq. Young widows and their children mostly, but also the parents of these brave soldiers. One image showed a young black widow comforting a young white widow, both with tears in their eyes. McDonald's version of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On was playing. At that moment, it dawned on me just how American the sound and the story of Motown really is. How it belongs to all of us. How much it helped to define the 1960s and 70s. The war, the riots, the assassinations, civil rights, landing on the moon. Michael McDonald's Motown and Motown Two are both really Baby Boomer albums by a Baby Boomer (but to be enjoyed by everyone), a chance to go back to those days, only with a new twist and an updated sound. The production here is completely Motown, and Michael McDonald's credible and expressive interpretations are all right on the money. This isn't ground breaking or anything, it's just a tribute to an important part of American popular music history by a guy who happens to be a damn good American singer. Enjoy both.

Maaaan! Michael McDonald is something else. This brother works these selections and worked my nerves in the process. The whole CD is just really nice. From "You're All I Need.." to "Baby I'm For Real" this project is fresh and alive. In my view that's quite a feat for songs that have had their 30th - 40th birthdays. As I was listening I thought about how good the music is and how little updating the arrangements needed. The groove is still hot enough for this to still be a interesting work.

Michael McDonald's voice sounds great and he does a wonderful job with all of the songs. I think his best performance is on Martha and the Vandellas' "Nowhere to Run" (The man is singing in Martha's key!) On that song the beat is really jumpin' and the groove is infectious. "Second that Emotion", "I Was Made to Love Her" and "After the Dance" are definate standouts for me. Although this set of Motown songs will probably not get as much attention as the first I think its a better set.

Not only should Mr. McDonald's second Motown set bring you some enjoyable listening pleasure but if you are fortunate enough to remember the original versions of these songs you'll be doubly satisfied; 1. Your generation's music is still being appreciated and 2. It still sounds sooooo good. The only thing missing from these songs are the real "up front" background vocals that were such a integral part of the original arrangements. These background vocals are very smooth and studio sounding. But....

Keep it comin' Micheal. Vintage Motown keeps getting gooder and gooderer.

You will find yourself singing along with the music time and again. If you grew up in the 60's or 70's, this will take you back in time, and yet, there's something about it that's keeps you in the present--perhaps the voice and presentation of Michael McDonald. This is not the Dooby Brothers' Michael McDonald. Nothing about this CD keeps you "Runnin." It keeps you listening and wanting more of where it came from.