Post by RINGO on Sept 26, 2019 18:55:26 GMT
Michael McDonald (12 February 1952 - present)
Member Of: The Doobie Brothers (1975 - 1982)
Vocal Range: G♯2 - F♯5
{Vocal Summary}Despite being the whitest of soul musicians (in both skin and hair color), Michael McDonald has always managed to avoid the plasticity that comes with that label. Not a traditional soul singer in any sense, McDonald's vocal approach involves diction that sounds like the words are being caught in his beard, which might throw the average person off. Making up for that is his ability to transition into mix and head voice, one of the easiest and most seamless transitions you will ever hear in any pop singer, period. This ability was more present in his vocal prime years of the late '70s and '80s; today, he's more inclined to belt up to wherever he needs to go, occasionally utilizing heavy, girthy screams that are reminiscent of Stevie Wonder but far too massive to be direct impressions. It's fascinating that a voice as quirky as McDonald's managed to achieve such success in the pop world, and that testifies even more to his status as the certified King of Blue-Eyed Soul.
Written by RINGO.
Written by RINGO.
{Album Ranges}The Doobie Brothers:
Takin' It to the Streets (1976): D3 - C5
Livin' on the Fault Line (1977): F3 - D5
Minute by Minute (1978): G3 - E5
One Step Closer (1980): A3 - D5 - E5
Solo:
If That's What It Takes (1982): E3 - D5
No Lookin' Back (1985): E3 - D5
Take It to Heart (1990): C3 - E♭5 - F5
Blink of an Eye (1993): B2 - E♭5
Blue Obsession (2000): G♯2 - D5
In the Spirit (2001): B♭2 - E♭5
Motown (2003): B2 - F5
Motown Two (2004): C♯3 - F5
Through the Many Winters (2005): C3 - E5
Soul Speak (2008): C♯3 - F5 - F♯5
Wide Open (2017): C♯3 - D5
Takin' It to the Streets (1976): D3 - C5
Livin' on the Fault Line (1977): F3 - D5
Minute by Minute (1978): G3 - E5
One Step Closer (1980): A3 - D5 - E5
Solo:
If That's What It Takes (1982): E3 - D5
No Lookin' Back (1985): E3 - D5
Take It to Heart (1990): C3 - E♭5 - F5
Blink of an Eye (1993): B2 - E♭5
Blue Obsession (2000): G♯2 - D5
In the Spirit (2001): B♭2 - E♭5
Motown (2003): B2 - F5
Motown Two (2004): C♯3 - F5
Through the Many Winters (2005): C3 - E5
Soul Speak (2008): C♯3 - F5 - F♯5
Wide Open (2017): C♯3 - D5
Significant High Notes:
F♯5 ("For Once in My Life")
F5 ("Get the Word Started", "Hallelujah", "I Was Made to Love Her", "Living for the City", "Merry Christmas Baby", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Takin' It to the Streets" live Berklee 2011)
E5 ("Any World (That I'm Welcome To)", "Better Change", "Come, O Come Emmanuel/What Month Was Jesus Born", "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", "I Want You" Motown cover, "Moondance", "One Step Away", "One Step Closer", "What a Fool Believes", "Yah Mo Be There")
E♭5 ("All We Got", "Children Go Where I Send Thee", "Get the Word Started", "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "I Stand for You", "I Still Believe", "Losing Myself in You", "Old Wing Mouth", "Tear It Up", "Victim of Love", "What a Fool Believes" Farewell Tour version)
D5 ("All Through the Christmas Night", "Baby I'm for Real", "Bad Times", "Better Change", "Blink of an Eye", "Build Upon It", "Chinatown", "Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells", "Distant Lover", "Dolorosa", "Everlasting", "Every Time Christmas Comes Around", "For Once in My Life", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", "I Gotta Try", "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", "I Second That Emotion", "If You Wanted to Hurt Me", "Keep This Train A-Rollin'", "Kid Charlemagne", "Minute by Minute", "Moondance", "More to Us Than That", "No Amount of Reason", "No Lookin' Back", "Nobody's Fool", "Nothin' But a Heartache", "Old Wing Mouth", "On My Own", "One of a Few", "One Step Closer", "Our Love", "Playin' by the Rules", "Real Love", "Searchin' for Understanding", "Some Children", "Sweet Freedom", "Take It to Heart", "Tear It Up", "Thankful", "Too Short", "What Makes a Man Hold On", "What's Going On", "White Christmas/Winter Wonderland", "Yah Mo Be There", "(Your Love Keeps Me Lifting Me) Higher and Higher)")
C♯5 ("After the Dance", "Bad Sneakers", "East of Eden", "Echoes of Love", "Ever Changing Times", "Get the Word Started", "Hail Mary", "Hey Girl" Blink of an Eye version, "House Full of Love", "I Stand for You", "I Still Believe", "I Want You" Motown cover, "(I'll Be Your) Angel", "No Such Luck", "Nowhere to Run", "One by One", "One Step Away", "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", "Strengthen My Love", "Sweet Feelin'", "Thank You Love", "The Tracks of My Tears", "What a Fool Believes")
C5 ("Act of Faith", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "All Through the Christmas Night", "All We Got", "Any Foolish Thing", "Any World (That I'm Welcome To)", "Baby I'm for Real", "Believe in It", "Blessing in Disguise", "Blink of an Eye", "Build Upon It", "By Heart", "Children Go Where I Send Thee", "Chinatown", "Coming Up", "Dedicate This Heart", "Don't Let Me Down", "Every Time Christmas Comes Around", "Find It in Your Heart", "For a Child", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Half Truth", "Here to Love You", "Hey Girl" Genius Loves Company version, "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", "I Can Let Go Now", "I Gotta Try", "(I Hang) On Your Every Word", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "I Was Made to Love Her", "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", "I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side", "If That's What It Takes", "If You Wanted to Hurt Me", "Into the Mystic", "It's the Falling in Love", "Just in Time", "Just Strong Enough", "Knock on Wood" live The Beacon 1991, "La Marea Humana", "Living for the City", "Lonely Talk", "Lonely Teardrops" live The Beacon 1991, "Losin' End" solo version, "Lost in the Parade", "Love Can Break Your Heart", "Matters of the Heart", "Mercy Mercy Me", "Moondance", "More to Us Than That", "No Amount of Reason", "No Lookin' Back", "No Love to Be Found", "No More Prayin'", "Nobody's Fool", "Obsession Blues", "On My Own", "One by One", "One Gift", "Only God Can Help Me Now", "Open the Door", "Open Your Eyes", "Our Love", "Real Love", "Red Streamliner", "Reflections", "Searchin' for Understanding", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Silent Night", "Smilin' Song", "Some Children", "Sweet Freedom", "Take It to Heart", "Takin' It to the Streets", "That's Why", "This Is It", "To Make a Miracle", "What Makes a Man Hold On", "When You Get Right Down to It", "You Are Everything", "You Belong to Me", "You're Made That Way")
B4 ("After the Dance", "Ain't No Good", "Ain't That Peculiar", "All I Need", "Baby Can I Change My Mind", "Bad Times", "Beautiful Child", "Better Change", "Blessing in Disguise", "Blink of an Eye", "Christmas on the Bayou", "Dark Side", "Dependin' on You", "Distant Lover", "Dolorosa", "Don't Give Up", "East of Eden", "Everlasting", "Fool for You", "For a Child", "Get the Word Started", "Good Friends", "Hail Mary", "Homeboy", "House Full of Love", "How Do the Fools Survive?", "I Got Lost Tonight", "(I Hang) On Your Every Word", "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", "I Second That Emotion", "I Stand for You", "I Still Believe", "I Want You" Blink of an Eye, "I Want You" Motown cover, "(I'll Be Your) Angel", "It Keeps You Runnin'", "Little Darling (I Need You)", "Livin' on the Fault Line", "Long Haul", "Love T.K.O.", "The Meaning of Love", "Merry Christmas Baby", "Minute by Minute", "No Amount of Reason", "Nothin' But a Heartache", "One Step Away", "One Step Closer", "Peg", "Playin' by the Rules", "Ride Like the Wind", "Rio", "Rose Darling", "Strengthen My Love", "Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me)", "Tear It Up", "Time Out of Mind", "Too High", "Too Short", "The Tracks of My Tears", "Wexford Carol", "What's Going On", "White Christmas/Winter Wonderland", "You Show Me", "You're All I Need to Get By")
B♭4 ("Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "All Through the Christmas Night", "All We Got", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "Build Upon It", "By Heart", "Children Go Where I Send Thee", "Coming Up", "Cry Myself to Sleep", "Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells", "Enemy Within", "Find It in Your Heart", "For Once in My Life", "Freedom Highway" live Mavis Staples Tribute 2014, "Hallelujah", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 2001 version, "Hey Girl", "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)", "I Gotta Try", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "I Was Made to Love Her", "If That's What It Takes", "If You Wanted to Hurt Me", "Into the Mystic", "Judgement Day", "Keep This Train A-Rollin'", "La Marea Humana", "Losing Myself in You", "Love Lies", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", "Moondance", "No Love to Be Found", "No More Prayin'", "No Such Luck", "Nobody's Fool", "Nowhere to Run", "Obsession Blues", "On Christmas Morning", "On My Own", "On This Night", "One Gift", "Only God Can Help Me Now", "Open Your Eyes", "Peace", "Reach Out I'll Be There", "Real Love", "Redemption Song", "Reflections", "Smilin' Song", "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", "Sweet Forgiveness", "Sweet Freedom", "Takin' It to the Streets", "This Is It", "To Make a Miracle", "Tuesday Heartbreak", "Walk On By", "What a Fool Believes", "World Out of a Dream", "You Are Everything", "You're the One")
A4 ("Act of Faith", "Ain't That Peculiar", "All I Need", "Any Foolish Thing", "Baby I'm for Real", "Bad Sneakers", "Bad Times", "Better Change", "Blessing in Disguise", "Build Upon It", "Carry Me Away", "Chinatown", "Come, O Come Emmanuel/What Month Was Jesus Born", "Dark Side", "Dedicate This Heart", "Don't Give Up", "Don't Let Me Down", "Down by the River", "Every Time Christmas Comes Around", "Free a Man", "Gamblin' Man", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Good Friends", "Hail Mary", "Half Truth", "Here to Love You", "Homeboy", "House Full of Love", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", "I Got Lost Tonight", "I Gotta Try", "(I Hang) On Your Every Word", "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)", "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)", "I've Got My Mind Made Up", "I Want You" Blink of an Eye, "I Want You" Motown cover, "It Keeps You Runnin'", "It's the Falling in Love", "Just in Time", "Just Strong Enough", "Kikwit Town", "Knock on Wood" live The Beacon 1991, "Little Darling (I Need You)", "Lonely Teardrops" live The Beacon 1991, "Long Haul", "Losin' End", "Lost in the Parade", "Love Can Break Your Heart", "Love Overnight", "Matters of the Heart", "The Meaning of Love", "Mercy Mercy Me", "Merry Christmas Baby", "More to Us Than That", "No Amount of Reason", "No Lookin' Back", "No Time for Talk", "Now or Never", "One by One", "One of the Few", "Open the Door", "Playin' by the Rules", "Searchin' for Understanding", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Silent Night", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Strengthen My Love", "Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me)", "Thankful", "That's Why", "There's a Light", "Too High", "Too Short", "The Tracks of My Tears", "Walk a Fine Line", "What Makes a Man Hold On", "White Christmas/Winter Wonderland", "Yah Mo Be There", "You Never Change", "You Show Me", "(Your Love Keeps Me Lifting Me) Higher and Higher)", "You're All I Need to Get By")
G♯4 ("After the Dance", "Ain't No Good", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", "All in Love Is Fair", "Baby Can I Change My Mind", "Beautiful Child", "Children Go Where I Send Thee", "Cry Myself to Sleep", "Distant Lover", "East of Eden", "Fool for You", "Hey Girl" Blink of an Eye version, "Honest Emotion", "How Do the Fools Survive?", "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)", "I Stand for You", "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", "Let Me Go, Love", "Livin' on the Fault Line", "Living for the City", "Love T.K.O.", "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", "Nothin' But a Heartache", "Old Wing Mouth", "On Christmas Morning", "One Gift", "Open Your Eyes", "Pretzel Logic" live The Beacon 1991, "Reach Out I'll Be There", "Reflections", "Show You the Way", "What's Going On", "Wheels of Fortune", "Where Would I Be Now", "You Are Everything", "You Belong to Me")
G4 ("Act of Faith", "All I Need", "All Through the Christmas Night", "All We Got", "Baby I Need Your Loving", "Bad Times", "Blessing in Disguise", "Blink of an Eye", "Build Upon It", "Carry Me Away", "Chinatown", "Christmas on the Bayou", "Come, O Come Emmanuel/What Month Was Jesus Born", "Coming Up", "Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells", "Dedicate This Heart", "Do It Again" live 2006, "Down by the River", "Enemy Within", "Everlasting", "Every Time Christmas Comes Around", "Find It in Your Heart", "For a Child", "For Once in My Life", "Free a Man", "Freedom Highway" live Mavis Staples Tribute 2014, "Galveston", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Half Truth", "Hallelujah", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 2001 version, "Here to Love You", "I Got the News", "(I'll Be Your) Angel", "I've Got My Mind Made Up", "If That's What It Takes", "Into the Mystic", "Judgement Day", "Keep This Train A-Rollin'", "Kikwit Town", "La Marea Humana", "Lonely Talk", "Long Haul", "Losin' End", "Lost in the Parade", "Love Lies", "Love Overnight", "Matters of the Heart", "The Meaning of Love", "Minute by Minute", "Moondance", "No More Prayin'", "No Such Luck", "Now or Never", "Obsession Blues", "On My Own", "On This Night", "One of the Few", "Only God Can Help Me Now", "Open the Door", "Our Love", "Peace", "Perfect Illusion", "Real Love", "Redemption Song", "Runaway", "Some Children", "Someday You Will", "Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me)", "Take It to Heart", "Takin' It to the Streets", "Tear It Up", "There's a Light", "Through the Many Winters", "To Make a Miracle", "When We Were Young", "White Christmas/Winter Wonderland", "World Out of a Dream", "Yah Mo Be There", "You Can't Make It Love", "You Don't Know Me", "You Show Me", "You're Made That Way", "You're the One")
Significant Low Notes:
F3 ("Baby I'm for Real", "Do It Again" live 2006, "Ever Changing Times", "For Once in My Life", "Hey Girl" Blink of an Eye version, "I'll Be Over You", "Living for the City", "Lonely Teardrops" live The Beacon 1991, "Love Letters", "More to Us Than That", "No More Prayin'", "On My Own", "On This Night", "One Gift", "Only God Can Help Me Now", "Open Your Eyes", "Peace", "Redemption Song", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", "Sweet Freedom", "There's a Light", "Two Lives", "Walk On By")
E3 ("All in Love Is Fair", "Any Foolish Thing", "Beautiful Child", "Better Change", "Dark Side", "Don't Let Me Down", "Don't Say Goodbye", "Free a Man", "Hail Mary", "Half Truth", "Honest Emotion", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)", "I Can Let Go Now", "I Want You" Blink of an Eye, "I Want You" Motown cover, "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", "I've Got My Mind Made Up", "Just Strong Enough", "Kikwit Town", "Long Haul", "Matters of the Heart", "The Meaning of Love", "Mercy Mercy Me", "On Christmas Morning", "One Step Away", "Open the Door", "Silent Night", "Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me)", "Tear It Up", "That's Why", "Too High", "The Tracks of My Tears", "Walk a Fine Line", "What's Going On", "When We Were Young", "White Christmas/Winter Wonderland", "You're All I Need to Get By")
E♭3 ("All We Got", "Baby Can I Change My Mind", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 2001 version, "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)", "I'm the One Who'll Be by Your Side", "Into the Mystic", "Let Me Go, Love", "No Love to Be Found", "This Is It", "Tuesday Heartbreak", "Walk On By", "Yah Mo Be There")
D3 ("Angels We Have Heard on High", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Kikwit Town", "Losin' End" Doobie Brothers version, "Moondance", "Someday You Will", "Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me)", "Take It to Heart", "You Don't Know Me")
C♯3 ("Hallelujah", "Honest Emotion", "Mercy Mercy Me", "On Christmas Morning", "One Gift", "Where Would I Be Now")
C3 ("All We Got", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" 2009 version, "To Make a Miracle", "Too High", "You Can't Make It Love")
B2 ("All in Love Is Fair", "Coming Up", "I Want You" Blink of an Eye, "The Meaning of Love")
B♭2 ("Angels We Have Heard on High")
A2 ("Black Water" live 1979 and 2003)
G♯2 ("Where Would I Be Now")
{Questionable Notes}F♯5 ("Everlasting" [2])
E2 ("Honest Emotion" [1])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
E2 ("Honest Emotion" [1])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
.......................................................
Blue marks falsetto or whistle notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.
