Motown Two

Motown Two is the seventh solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael McDonald. The album was released on October 26, 2004, by Universal Music International and Motown.

Critical reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic wrote that "the album follows the same blueprint as the first record, offering highly polished, professionally produced, expertly performed interpretations of gems from the Motown vaults; it's the sound of young America in the '60s reinterpreted for the adults of the new millennium." USA Today felt that McDonald's "versions of "What's Going O" and "Mercy, Mercy Me" won't make anyone forget Marvin Gaye's, but his bouncy take on Smokey Robinson's "I Second That Emotion" is sure to please adult-contemporary fans who like their R&B served over easy."

Track listing

Personnel

• Michael McDonald – lead and backing vocals, acoustic piano, arrangements
• Toby Baker – keyboards, programming, arrangements
• Tim Carmon – acoustic piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizers, organ
• Tony Swain – clavinet, synthesizers
• Billy Preston – Hammond organ
• Simon Climie – arrangements, programming, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, backing vocals
• Bernie Chiaravalle – nylon guitar
• Michael Thompson – guitar
• Abraham Laboriel – bass, acoustic guitar
• Nathan East – bass
• Vinnie Colaiuta – drums
• Abe Laboriel Jr. – drums
• Nicky Shaw – drums, percussion, programming, beats, arrangements
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Stevie Wonder – harmonica (2)
• Fred Vigdor – alto saxophone
• Nick Ingman – string arrangements
• Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
• Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
• The London Session Orchestra – strings
• Toni Braxton – lead and backing vocals (4)
• Tamar Braxton – backing vocals
• Kendra Carr – backing vocals
• Steve Crawford – backing vocals
• Darwin Hobbs – backing vocals
• Mitchell John – backing vocals
• Lawrence Johnson – backing vocals
• Sherie Kibble – backing vocals
• Jay Malcomb – backing vocals
• Audrey Martells – backing vocals
• Kimberly Mont – backing vocals
• Racheal Oteh – backing vocals
• Shandra Penix – backing vocals
• Yvette Preyer – backing vocals
• Tiffany Ransom – backing vocals
• Drea Rheneé – backing vocals
• Kevin Whalum – backing vocals
• Sharon White – backing vocals

Production

• Producer – Simon Climie
• Executive producer – Tony Swain
• Production coordinator – Lisa Patton and Debbie Johnson
• Engineers – Simon Climie, Alan Douglas, Shannon Forrest, Don Murray, Allen Sides and Grady Walker.
• Assistant engineers – Greg Burns, Tim Olmstead and Brian Vibbert.
• Pro Tools HD engineering – Simon Climie, Joel Everden and Jonathan Shakovskoy.
• Mixed by Mick Guzauski at Barking Doctor Recording (Mount Kisco, New York), assisted by Tom Bender.
• Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering (Portland, Maine).
• Album coordinator – Dee Harrington

Charts

References