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If That's What It Takes (album)

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If That's What It Takes
Studio album by
Michael McDonald
ReleasedAugust 3, 1982
Recorded1981–82
StudioWarner Bros. Recording Studio, North Hollywood, CA and Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood.
Strings recorded at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood.
GenrePop, rock, funk, blue-eyed soul
Length39:59
LabelWarner Bros.
ProducerTed Templeman, Lenny Waronker
Michael McDonald chronology
If That's What It Takes
(1982) 		No Lookin' Back
(1985)
Singles from If That's What It Takes
  1. "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)"
    Released: August 1982
  2. "I Gotta Try"
    Released: November 1982
  3. "Playin' By The Rules"
    Released: February 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
The Village VoiceC+[4]

If That's What It Takes is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael McDonald. The album was released in August 1982 and peaked at #6 on Billboard 200, while singles "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" and "I Gotta Try" went to #4 and #44 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.

Track listing

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All tracks written by Michael McDonald, with additional writers noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Playin' by the Rules"Ed Sanford4:55
2."I Keep Forgettin'"Sanford, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller3:39
3."Love Lies"Randy Goodrum3:21
4."I Gotta Try"Kenny Loggins3:53
5."I Can Let Go Now" 2:54
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."That's Why"Goodrum4:24
7."If That's What It Takes"Jackie DeShannon4:17
8."No Such Luck"Grady Walker, Harry Garfield3:44
9."Losin' End" 4:11
10."Believe in It" 4:41

Personnel

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Production

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  • Produced by Ted Templeman and Lenny Waronker
  • Engineers – Lee Herschberg (1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10), Jim Isaacson (5, 6, 8), Donn Landee (2)
  • Overdub Engineers – Jim Isaacson, Donn Landee, Mark Linett, Lee Herschberg
  • Second Engineers – Ken Deane, Steve McManus
  • Mixing – Lee Herschberg
  • Mastered by Bobby Hata at Warner Bros. Recording Studio.
  • Horn arrangements – Jerry Hey
  • String arrangements – Marty Paich
  • Keyboard Technician – Paul Mederios
  • Production Coordinators – Joan Parker, Vicki Fortson, Kathy Walker
  • Direction – Irving Azoff
  • Photography – Jim Shea
  • Art Direction and Design – Jeff Adamoff

Charts

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Chart (1982) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 41
US Billboard 200[6] 6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 10

References

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  1. ^ Jason Elias. "If That's What It Takes - Michael McDonald | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. ^ "If That's What It Takes : Michael McDonald : Review : Rolling Stone". 1982-09-30. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved 2015-09-21.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (November 2, 1982). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  5. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 185. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^ "Michael McDonald Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  7. ^ "Michael McDonald Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2015.


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