Complete List Of Michael McDonald Songs From A to Z

Michael McDonald’s solo catalog draws together sophisticated pop, R&B, gospel, soul, Christmas music, original songwriting, Motown interpretations, and collaborations with singers from several generations. This complete A-to-Z guide gathers his studio-album tracks, holiday recordings, soundtrack songs, major duets, featured performances, and other officially released recordings beyond his work with Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers.

Feature Photo: Randy-Miramontez-Shutterstock.com

Michael McDonald’s career is a testament to the power of a distinctive voice and a lifelong commitment to musical excellence. Born on February 12, 1952, in St. Louis, Missouri, McDonald grew up in Ferguson, where he honed his musical skills in local bands such as Mike and the Majestics, Jerry Jay and the Sheratons, and the Guild. His early exposure to performance eventually led to a pivotal moment in 1970 when RCA producer Rick Jarrard discovered him playing with a band called Blue in an Illinois nightclub. Recognizing McDonald’s potential, Jarrard brought him to Los Angeles, where he began laying the foundation for a career that would span decades across rock, pop, R&B, and soul.

McDonald’s big break came in 1973 when he joined Steely Dan as a backing vocalist and keyboardist. Although he was initially brought into the touring lineup, his smooth yet commanding voice became an important part of the band’s recordings. He contributed vocals to several albums, including Katy Lied in 1975, The Royal Scam in 1976, Aja in 1977, and Gaucho in 1980. He later reunited with Steely Dan as an opening act and guest performer on their 2006 summer tour. His time with the band elevated his reputation as a sought-after studio and touring musician and helped lead to his next major opportunity.

In 1975, the Doobie Brothers recruited McDonald as a temporary stand-in for lead singer Tom Johnston, who had fallen ill. McDonald’s influence on the band’s sound was so profound that he became a permanent member. As a lead vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter, he helped guide the group toward the soulful, R&B-influenced style that defined its late-1970s success. His tenure produced recordings including “Takin’ It to the Streets,” “It Keeps You Runnin’,” “Minute by Minute,” and “What a Fool Believes.” The latter won the Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1980.

Although McDonald left the Doobie Brothers following the group’s early-1980s farewell period, he continued to reunite with the band for performances and recordings. He appeared on Southbound in 2014 and later joined the group’s fiftieth-anniversary tour. In 2025, McDonald, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and John McFee released Walk This Road, the first Doobie Brothers studio album to feature all four musicians together. McDonald continued touring with the group during its 2026 schedule.

McDonald’s solo career cemented his place in music history. His 1982 debut album, If That’s What It Takes, featured “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near),” which became one of the defining songs of the era. Throughout the 1980s, he continued releasing solo albums while collaborating with a wide range of artists. His work with James Ingram on “Yah Mo B There” earned a Grammy Award, while his duet with Patti LaBelle, “On My Own,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986. He also co-wrote Van Halen’s “I’ll Wait” and provided backing vocals for artists including Toto, Christopher Cross, and Kenny Loggins.

In addition to his work in pop and rock, McDonald made a lasting impact on R&B and soul. His love for Motown led him to release Motown in 2003 and Motown Two in 2004, both of which showcased his interpretations of classic soul recordings. He later returned with Soul Speak in 2008, an album that combined original material with songs associated with Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Bob Marley, Leonard Cohen, and other influential writers and performers.

McDonald’s contributions to music have been recognized with five Grammy Awards. In 2020, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Doobie Brothers. In 2025, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside fellow Doobie Brothers songwriters Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons. His legacy also includes charitable performances, support for music education, and benefit concerts held on behalf of numerous causes.

After more than five decades in the industry, McDonald continues to tour, record, and collaborate with artists across generations. His featured appearances with Thundercat, Kenny Loggins, Jacob Collier, Lawrence, and Steve Porcaro demonstrate the continuing reach of his voice and songwriting. His unmistakable sound has ensured that his influence extends far beyond his chart-topping years.

Complete List Of Michael McDonald Songs From A to Z

Numbers–E

1. “After the Dance” – Motown Two – 2004
2. “Ain’t No Good” – Wide Open – 2017
3. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (with Fourplay)” – Motown – 2003
4. “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” – Motown – 2003
5. “Ain’t That Peculiar” – Blue Obsession – 2000
6. “All I Need” – Blue Obsession – 2000
7. “All in Love Is Fair” – Motown – 2003
8. “All We Got” – Take It to Heart – 1990
9. “Among the Missing (with Kathy Mattea)” – single (1999)
10. “Angels We Have Heard on High” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001
11. “Any Foolish Thing” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
12. “Auld Lang Syne/O Tannenbaum (Reprise)” – Through the Many Winters – 2005
13. “Baby Can I Change My Mind” – Soul Speak – 2008
14. “Baby, I Need Your Lovin'” – Motown Two – 2004
15. “Baby, I’m for Real” – Motown Two – 2004
16. “Bad Times” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
17. “Beautiful Child” – Wide Open – 2017
18. “Believe in It” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
19. “Blessing in Disguise” – Wide Open – 2017
20. “Blink of an Eye” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
21. “Build Upon It” – Blue Obsession – 2000
22. “By Heart” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
23. “Change (with Steve Porcaro)” – The Very Day (2025)
24. “Children Go Where I Send Thee” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001 / This Christmas – 2009
25. “Christmas on the Bayou” – Through the Many Winters – 2005
26. “Come, O Come Emanuel/What Month Was Jesus Born” – Through the Many Winters – 2005 / This Christmas – 2009
27. “Dark Side” – Wide Open – 2017
28. “Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells” – Through the Many Winters – 2005
29. “Distant Lover” – Motown – 2003
30. “Don’t Let Me Down” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
31. “Down by the River” – Blue Obsession – 2000
32. “East of Eden” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
33. “Enemy Within” – Soul Speak – 2008
34. “Ever Changing Times (with Aretha Franklin)” – What You See Is What You Sweat (1991)
35. “Everlasting” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
36. “Every Time Christmas Comes Around” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001 / This Christmas – 2009
37. “Eyes of a Child” – South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut soundtrack (1999)

F–J

38. “Find It in Your Heart” – Wide Open – 2017
39. “For a Child” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
40. “For Once in My Life” – Soul Speak – 2008
41. “Free a Man” – Wide Open – 2017
42. “Get the Word Started” – Take It to Heart – 1990
43. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” – Through the Many Winters – 2005 / This Christmas – 2009
44. “Hail Mary” – Wide Open – 2017
45. “Half Truth” – Wide Open – 2017
46. “Hallelujah” – Soul Speak – 2008
47. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – This Christmas – 2009
48. “Hey Girl” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
49. “Homeboy” – Take It to Heart – 1990
50. “Honest Emotion” – Wide Open – 2017
51. “House Full of Love” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001
52. “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” – Motown – 2003
53. “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)” – Motown – 2003
54. “I Can Let Go Now” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
55. “I Gotta Try” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
56. “(I Hang) On Your Every Word” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
57. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” – Motown – 2003
58. “I Just Can’t Let Go (with David Pack and James Ingram)” – Anywhere You Go (1985)
59. “I Keep Forgettin'” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
60. “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” – Soul Speak – 2008
61. “I Stand for You” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
62. “I Want You” – Blink of an Eye – 1993 / Motown – 2003
63. “I Was Made to Love Her” – Motown Two – 2004
64. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – This Christmas – 2009
65. “(I’ll Be Your) Angel” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
66. “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” – Motown – 2003
67. “If That’s What It Takes” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
68. “If You Wanted to Hurt Me” – Wide Open – 2017
69. “Into the Mystic” – Soul Speak – 2008
70. “Just Strong Enough” – Wide Open – 2017

K–O

71. “Kikwit Town” – Blue Obsession – 2000
72. “Living for the City” – Soul Speak – 2008
73. “Lonely Talk” – Take It to Heart – 1990
74. “Losin’ End” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
75. “Lost in the Parade” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
76. “Love Can Break Your Heart” – Take It to Heart – 1990
77. “Love Has No Color (with the Winans)” – Decisions (1987)
78. “Love Lies” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
79. “Love T.K.O.” – Soul Speak – 2008
80. “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” – Motown Two – 2004
81. “Matters of the Heart” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
82. “The Meaning of Love” – Blue Obsession – 2000
83. “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)” – Motown Two – 2004
84. “More to Us Than That” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
85. “No Amount of Reason” – Take It to Heart – 1990
86. “No Lookin’ Back” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985
87. “No Love to Be Found” – Blue Obsession – 2000
88. “No More Prayin'” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
89. “No Such Luck” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
90. “Nowhere to Run” – Motown Two – 2004
91. “O Holy Night” – Through the Many Winters – 2005
92. “O Tannenbaum” – Through the Many Winters – 2005
93. “Obsession Blues” – Blue Obsession – 2000
94. “On Christmas Morning” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001
95. “On My Own (with Patti LaBelle)” – Winner in You (1986)
96. “On This Night” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001 / This Christmas – 2009
97. “One Gift” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001
98. “One Heart at a Time” – charity single (1998)
99. “One Step Away” – Take It to Heart – 1990
100. “Only God Can Help Me Now” – Soul Speak – 2008
101. “Open the Door” – Blue Obsession – 2000
102. “Our Love” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985

P–T

103. “Peace” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001 / This Christmas – 2009
104. “Playin’ by the Rules” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
105. “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” – Motown Two – 2004
106. “Redemption Song” – Soul Speak – 2008
107. “Reflections” – Motown – 2003
108. “Searchin’ for Understanding” – Take It to Heart – 1990
109. “Second That Emotion” – Motown Two – 2004
110. “Show You the Way (with Thundercat and Kenny Loggins)” – Drunk (2017)
111. “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” – Motown – 2003
112. “Silent Night” – Through the Many Winters – 2005
113. “Since I Lost My Baby” – Motown – 2003
114. “Someday You Will” – Blue Obsession – 2000
115. “Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me)” – Soul Speak – 2008
116. “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” – Motown Two – 2004
117. “Sweet Freedom” – No Lookin’ Back – 1985 (1986 Reissue)
118. “Take It to Heart” – Take It to Heart – 1990
119. “Tear It Up” – Take It to Heart – 1990
120. “That’s What Christmas Means To Me” – This Christmas – 2009
121. “That’s Why” – If That’s What It Takes – 1982
122. “This Christmas” – This Christmas – 2009
123. “Through the Many Winters” – Through the Many Winters – 2005
124. “Time to Be Lovers (with Chaka Khan)” – Beverly Hills 90210: The Soundtrack (1992)
125. “To Make a Miracle” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001
126. “Too High” – Motown – 2003
127. “Too Short” – Wide Open – 2017
128. “The Tracks of My Tears” – Motown Two – 2004
129. “Tuesday Heartbreak” – Motown Two – 2004

U–Z

130. “Walk On By” – Soul Speak – 2008
131. “Wexford Carol” – Through the Many Winters – 2005 / This Christmas – 2009
132. “What Makes a Man Hold On” – Blink of an Eye – 1993
133. “What’s Going On” – Motown Two – 2004
134. “Where Would I Be Now” – Blue Obsession – 2000
135. “Wherever I Go (with Jacob Collier and Lawrence)” – single (2023)
136. “White Christmas/Winter Wonderland” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001 / This Christmas – 2009
137. “World Out of a Dream” – In the Spirit: A Christmas Album – 2001
138. “Yah Mo B There (with James Ingram)” – It’s Your Night (1983)
139. “You Are Everything” – Motown – 2003
140. “You Belong to Me (with Chaka Khan)” – Funk This (2007)
141. “You Can’t Make It Love” – Blue Obsession – 2000
142. “You Don’t Know Me” – Soul Speak – 2008
143. “You Show Me” – Take It to Heart – 1990
144. “You’re All I Need to Get By” – Motown Two – 2004
145. “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” – Soul Speak – 2008

Michael McDonald Solo Albums

If That’s What It Takes (1982)

No Lookin’ Back (1985; expanded reissue, 1986)

Take It to Heart (1990)

Blink of an Eye (1993)

Blue Obsession (2000)

In the Spirit: A Christmas Album (2001)

Motown (2003)

Motown Two (2004)

Through the Many Winters: A Christmas Album (2005)

Soul Speak (2008)

This Christmas (2009)

Wide Open (2017)

Selected Michael McDonald Compilations and Live Releases

1. Sweet Freedom (compilation, 1986)
2. The Ultimate Collection (compilation, 2005)
3. Live on Soundstage (live album, 2018)

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Updated July 20, 2026.

Complete List Of Michael McDonald Songs From A to Z article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026