American singer-songwriter Michael McDonald has released 11 studio albums, one live album, seven compilation albums, 50 singles and 10 music videos.
Albums Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions CertificationsUSUS R&BAUSDENNLDSWEUK If That's What It TakesReleased: August 3, 1982 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, CD, cassette 6 10 41 — — — —RIAA: Gold No Lookin' BackReleased: July 30, 1985 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, CD, cassette 45 — — — — 26 — Take It to HeartReleased: May 15, 1990 Label: Reprise Formats: LP, CD, cassette 110 — — 56 29 — 35 Blink of an EyeReleased: August 3, 1993 Label: Reprise Formats: CD, cassette — — — 74 42 — — Blue ObsessionReleased: March 28, 2000 Label: Ramp Formats: CD — — — — — — — In the Spirit: A Christmas AlbumReleased: 2001 Label: MCA Nashville Formats: CD — — — — — — — MotownReleased: June 24, 2003 Label: Motown, Universal Formats: CD, cassette 14 17 — 25 95 58 29RIAA: Platinum Motown TwoReleased: October 26, 2004 Label: Motown, Universal Formats: LP, CD 9 8 — 8 — 56 29RIAA: Gold Through the Many Winters, A Christmas AlbumReleased: 2005 Label: Hallmark Formats: CD — — — — — — —RIAA: Gold Soul SpeakReleased: March 4, 2008 Label: Universal Motown Formats: CD 12 10 — — — — 27 Wide OpenReleased: September 15, 2017 Label: Chonin, BMG Formats: LP, CD — — — — — — —"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Compilation albums Year Album Chart positions Certifications Record labelUSUK 1982 That Was Then – The Early Recordings of Michael McDonald * — — Arista 1986 Sweet Freedom — 6BPI: Platinum Warner Bros. 2000 The Voice of Michael McDonald — —BPI: Silver Warner Bros. / Rhino 2001 The Very Best of Michael McDonald — 21RIAA: Gold Warner Bros. / Rhino 2004 The Best of Michael McDonald: The Christmas Collection — — 2005 The Ultimate Collection 19 20BPI: Silver Warner Bros. / Rhino 2009 This Christmas 95 — Razor & Tie"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.
Live albums Year Album Record label 2018 Live on Soundstage Chain Records, BMG
Singles Year Single Chart positions AlbumUSUS R&BUS ACUS Dan.US Main RockUS JazzUK 1982 "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" 4 7 8 — — — 43 If That's What It Takes "I Gotta Try" 44 — 28 — — — — 1985 "No Lookin' Back" 34 — 18 — 4 — — No Lookin' Back "Bad Times" — — — — 38 — — "Lost in the Parade" — — 40 — — — — 1986 "Sweet Freedom" 7 17 4 8 — — 12 Running Scared (soundtrack) / Sweet Freedom 1987 "Our Love (Theme from No Mercy)" — — — — — — — Sweet Freedom 1990 "Take It to Heart" 98 — 4 — — — — Take It to Heart "Tear It Up" — — 27 — — — — 1991 "All We Got" — 88 — 9 — — — 1993 "I Stand for You" 114 — 21 — — — — Blink of an Eye "Hey Girl" — — — — — — — "For a Child" — — — — — — — 1994 "Matters of the Heart" — — — — — — — 2003 "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" — — 20 — — — — Motown 2004 "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" 111 — 5 — — — — 2005 "Reach Out, I'll Be There" — — 12 — — — — Motown Two "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" — — — — — — — "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" — — — — — — — "Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells" — — 19 — — — — Through the Many Winters 2008 "Walk On By" — — — — — — — Soul Speak "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" — — 9 — — — — "Love T.K.O." — 92 — — — — — "Enemy Within" — — 18 — — — — 2009 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" — — — — — — — This Christmas 2017"Find It in Your Heart" — — — — — 22 —Wide Open 2022 "You Belong to Me" (w/ Buika) — — — — — — — Single only "Tears to Come" — — — — — — — "—" denotes the single was not released or didn't chart.
Guest singles Year Single Chart positions Certifications AlbumUS US R&B US AC US Cou. UK 1975 "Bad Sneakers" (w/ Steely Dan) — — — — — Katy Lied 1979 "This Is It" (w/ Kenny Loggins) 11 19 17 — — Keep the Fire 1979 "Please Don't Leave" (w/ Lauren Wood) 24 5 — — Lauren Wood 1980 "Let Me Go, Love" (w/ Nicolette Larson) 35 96 9 — — In the Nick of Time 1980 "Ride Like the Wind" (w/ Christopher Cross) 2 — 24 — 69BPI: Silver Christopher Cross1983"All Right" (w/ Christopher Cross)12—3—51Another Page1983"No Time for Talk" (w/ Christopher Cross)33———— 1983 "Yah Mo B There" (w/ James Ingram) 19 5 10 — 44 It's Your Night 1985 "Yah Mo B There" (w/ James Ingram) [UK re-release] — — — — 12 1986 "On My Own" (w/ Patti LaBelle) 1 1 2 — 2 BPI: Silver Winner in You "I Just Can't Let Go" (w/ David Pack & James Ingram) — — 13 — — The Voice of Michael McDonald 1987 "Love Has No Color" (w/ The Winans) — — — — — Decision 1992 "Ever Changing Times" (w/ Aretha Franklin) — 19 11 — — What You See Is What You Sweat 1992 "Time to Be Lovers" (w/ Chaka Khan) — — — — — Beverly Hills 90210 - The Soundtrack 1998 "One Heart at a Time" (w/ Garth Brooks, Billy Dean, Faith Hill,Olivia Newton-John, Neal McCoy, Victoria Shaw, and Bryan White) 56 — — 69 — Single only1999 "Among the Missing" (w/ Kathy Mattea) — — — 73 — "Eyes of a Child" — — — — — South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut 2002 "Sweet Freedom" (w/ Safri Duo) — — — — 54 — Episode II 2005 "Heart of America" (w/ Wynonna Judd, Eric Benét and Terry Dexter) — — — — — Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now 2006 "My Love's Leavin' " (w/ Fourplay) — — — — — X 2009 "While You Wait for the Others" (w/ Grizzly Bear) — — — — — Single only 2011 "Some Children" (w/ Holy Ghost!) — — — — — Holy Ghost!2017 "Show You The Way" (w/ Thundercat and Kenny Loggins) — — — — — Drunk "When We Were Young" (w/ Jo Harman) — — — — — People We Become 2023 "Wherever I Go" (w/ Jacob Collier and Lawrence) — — — — — Djesse Vol. 4 "—" denotes the single was not released or didn't chart.
Music videos Year Video1982 "I Keep Forgettin'" 1982 "I Gotta Try'" 1985 "Lost in the Parade'""No Lookin Back"1986 "Sweet Freedom" (with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines)1986 "On My Own" (with Patti LaBelle)1986 "I'll Be Over You" (with Toto)1987 "Love Has No Color" (with Winans) 1998 "One Heart at a Time" (with Olivia Newton-John, Bryan White,Neal McCoy, Faith Hill, Victoria Shaw, Billy Dean and Garth Brooks) 2000 "Among the Missing" (with Kathy Mattea)
References
Further reading Michael McDonald interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' April 2008