Since Warner/Rhino's 2005 Ultimate Collection appeared a mere four years after their last Michael McDonald compilation -- 2001's The Very Best of Michael McDonald -- it may seem that it's a little early to rehash the same recordings yet again. That suspicion is unfounded, since The Ultimate Collection finally delivers what McDonald fans have been waiting for: his solo hits and Doobie Brothers smashes on the same disc. Not that this has every hit he ever had -- his minor 1991 single "All We Got" isn't here, for instance -- but most listeners won't notice the omissions since this 19-track collection has "What a Fool Believes," "Takin' It to the Streets," "Minute by Minute," "You Belong to Me," "Real Love," "It Keeps You Runnin'," "I Gotta Try," "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)," "No Lookin' Back," "Sweet Freedom," "Yah Mo B There," and even his recent 2004 hit cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Consequently, this is by far the best showcase for his smooth, soulful soft rock, and the one Michael McDonald disc fans both casual and fanatical should own. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Brian Mann (Synthesizer), John Tesh (Sequencing), John Tesh (Synthesizer Programming), Siedah Garrett (Vocals (Background)), James Ingram (Synthesizer), James Ingram (Vocals), Patti LaBelle (Vocals), Kenny Loggins (Vocals (Background)), Michael McDonald (Synthesizer), Michael McDonald (Piano), Michael McDonald (Keyboards), Michael McDonald (Vocals), Michael McDonald (Vocals (Background)), Michael McDonald (Producer), Michael McDonald (Fender Rhodes), Michael McDonald (Vocal Arrangement), Michael McDonald (Rhythm Arrangements), Michael McDonald (Compilation Producer), Michael McDonald (Wurlitzer), Robben Ford (Guitar), Robben Ford (Guitar (Rhythm)), Bruce Fowler (Trombone), Quincy Jones (Voices), Quincy Jones (Producer), David Lasley (Vocals (Background)), Chet McCracken (Drums), Chet McCracken (Marimba), Chet McCracken (Vibraphone), Bill Reichenbach Jr. (Trombone), Burt Bacharach (Piano), Burt Bacharach (Producer), David Foster (Synthesizer), Cornelius Bumpus (Saxophone), Cornelius Bumpus (Vocals), Nicolette Larson (Vocals), Patrick Simmons (Guitar), Patrick Simmons (Vocals), Sweet Pea Atkinson (Vocals (Background)), Amy Holland (Vocals (Background)), Warren Haynes (Guitar), Warren Haynes (Soloist), Jeff Baxter (Guitar), Benmont Tench (Organ (Hammond)), Carla Benson (Vocals (Background)), Evette Benton (Vocals (Background)), Michael Boddicker (Synthesizer), Reverend Dave Boruff (Flute), Reverend Dave Boruff (Saxophone), Jeff Bova (Organ (Hammond)), Jeff Bova (Clavinet), Jeff Bova (Synthesizer Bass), Sir Harry Bowens (Vocals (Background)), Jimmy Bralower (Drum Programming), Jesse Butler (Organ), Rosemary Butler (Vocals), Bernie Chiaravalle (Guitar), Bernie Chiaravalle (Guitar (Rhythm)), Bernie Chiaravalle (Rhythm Arrangements), Bernie Chiaravalle (Soloist), Bernie Chiaravalle (Coral Sitar), Wells Christy (Synclavier), Simon Climie (Producer), Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion), Mark Douthit (Saxophone), Nathan East (Bass), Brandon Fields (Sax (Alto)), Chuck Findley (Trumpet), David Frank (Horn Arrangements), David Frank (Synthesizer Horn), Steve Gadd (Drums), Gary Grant (Trumpet), Michael Hanna (Sequencing), Michael Hanna (Synthesizer Programming), Marc Harris (Organ (Hammond)), Jimmie Haskell (String Arrangements), Rev. Patrick Henderson (Keyboards), Dan Hersch (Remastering), Jerry Hey (Trumpet), Dann Huff (Guitar), Bill Inglot (Remastering), Barbara Ingram (Vocals (Background)), Paul Jackson, Jr. (Guitar), Clydene Jackson (Vocals (Background)), Louis Johnson (Bass), Manu Katche (Drums), Keith Knudsen (Drums), Keith Knudsen (Vocals), Bobby LaKind (Bongos), Bobby LaKind (Conga), Bobby LaKind (Vocals), Ricky Lawson (Drums), Billy Livesay (Organ (Hammond)), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Ann McCrary (Vocals (Background)), Arnold McCutler (Vocals (Background)), Maureen McDonald (Vocals (Background)), John McFee (Guitar), John McFee (Vocals), Doug Moffet (Saxophone), Wendy Moten (Vocals), Wendy Moten (Vocals (Background)), Wendy Moten (Vocal Arrangement), Jenni Muldaur (Vocals (Background)), David Pack (Guitar), David Paich (Horn Arrangements), David Paich (String Arrangements), Pino Palladino (Bass), Jeff Porcaro (Drums), Anthony Patler (Keyboards), Bill Payne (Synthesizer), George Perilli (Drums), Gary Peterson (Discographical Annotation), Greg Phillinganes (Keyboards), Greg Phillinganes (Clavinet), Greg Phillinganes (Fender Rhodes), Greg Phillinganes (DX-7), Tiran Porter (Bass), Tiran Porter (Vocals), Paul Riser (String Arrangements), Tom Roady (Percussion), Julia Tillman Waters (Vocals (Background)), Danny Sembello (Keyboards), Tommy Sims (Synthesizer), Tommy Sims (Bass), Tommy Sims (Guitar), Tommy Sims (Guitar (Rhythm)), Tommy Sims (Clavinet), Tommy Sims (Producer), Tommy Sims (Fender Rhodes), Tommy Sims (Vocal Arrangement), Tommy Sims (Horn Arrangements), Tommy Sims (Rhythm Arrangements), Denis Solee (Saxophone), Neil Stubenhaus (Bass), Tony Swain (Fender Rhodes), Bruce Swedien (Producer), Rod Temperton (Synthesizer), Rod Temperton (Keyboards), Rod Temperton (Horn Arrangements), Ted Templeman (Percussion), Ted Templeman (Maracas), Ted Templeman (Tambourine), Ted Templeman (Producer), Ted Templeman (Cowbell), Russ Titelman (Producer), Carlos Vega (Drums), Lenny Waronker (Producer), Don Was (Producer), Don Was (Sequencing), Don Was (Synthesizer Programming), Maxine Willard Waters (Vocals (Background)), Willie Weeks (Bass), Albert Wing (Sax (Tenor)), Randy Jacobs (Guitar (Rhythm)), Michael Hart Thompson (Guitar), Barry Alfonso (Liner Notes), Dick Rudolph (Producer), Tim Akers (Tom-Tom), Tim Akers (Vocals (Background)), Tim Akers (Horn Arrangements), Tim Akers (Soloist), John Hartman (Percussion), John Hartman (Drums), Dan Needham (Drums), Lee Thornberg (Trumpet), Jean Krikorian (Art Direction), Jean Krikorian (Design), Peter Wolf (Synthesizer), Steve Woolard (Discographical Annotation), Gale Mayes-West (Vocals (Background)), Tammy Taylor (Vocals (Background)), Toby Baker (Drum Programming), Amanda Smith (Project Assistant), Alan Fletcher (Executive Producer), David E. Williams (Guitar), John "4 Daddman" Robinson (Drums), Michael d'Wayne Mason (Sequencing), Michael d'Wayne Mason (Synthesizer Programming), Ginger Dettman (Project Assistant), Lisa Young (Vocals (Background)), Mike Engstrom (Project Assistant), Cory Frye (Editorial Supervision), Steven P. Gorman (Photo Research), Roger Ressmeyer (Photography), Chris Rodriguez (Guitar (Electric)), Mimi Miraflor (Artist Coordination), Becky Wagner (Project Assistant), Robin Hurley (Artist Coordination), Larry E. Williams (Synthesizer), Larry E. Williams (Horn), Larry E. Williams (Keyboards), Larry E. Williams (Horn Arrangements), Cynthia Edwards (Vocals (Background))
