Soul Speak | 
| Artist: Michael Mcdonald
Label: Motown
List Price: $13.98
Buy New: $3.85
You Save: $10.13 (72%)
New (61) Used (22) from $3.85
Rating:  44 reviews
Sales Rank: 2666
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.1
MPN: 001080602
UPC: 602517624139
EAN: 0602517624139
ASIN: B000ZJYBAG
Release Date: March 4, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New & Factory-Sealed / 1st Class SH / A+ Condition / Tiny Hole in Back Upper Casing / Please Read ALL Our Wonderful Feedback!
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| Tracks:
| • | I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me) | | • | Living For The City | | • | Love T.K.O. | | • | Walk On By | | • | Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me) | | • | For Once In My Life | | • | Into The Mystic | | • | Hallelujah | | • | Enemy Within | | • | (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher | | • | Only God Can Help Me Now | | • | Baby Can I Change My Mind | | • | Redemption Song | | • | You Don't Know Me |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
The unforgettable voice of Michael McDonald is back with his follow up to his two Motown tribute albums! The former Doobie Brother and touring member of Steely Dan returns with a 13 track record, featuring some of Michael's favorite songs: "Love TKO" by Teddy Pendergrass, "Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick, "Into The Mystic" by Van Morrison, "Living For The City" by Stevie Wonder, "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley and more. "Soul Speak" also features the brand new song from Michael "Getting Over You". Let Michael's familiar voice take you higher with "Soul Speak".
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| Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...
 Superfluous and Mundane! March 5, 2008
Tracy Leverton (Vienna, VA United States)
17 out of 34 found this review helpful
I hate this cd. It consists of unnecessary remakes of great songs and a few weak McDonald-penned originals. Don't get me wrong, Michael McDonald has a great reedy voice. The problem with this cd is that the song remakes pale in comparison with the original or familiar classics. Please, trying to top Teddy on "Love T.K.O.?" And why listen to McDonald's "Into the Mystic" when you can hear Van Morrison's haunting and vastly superior original? If you want to hear the definitive remake of "[Baby] Can I Change My Mind," dig out your old Roy Buchanan record. The whole project is superfluous and mundane, except perhaps for the senior sansabelt Vegas lounge set. Come to think of it, Michael McDonald might just be the new Jerry Vale.
 Soul Lost The Voice March 5, 2008
Michael Kerner (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)
14 out of 25 found this review helpful
When it has came down to it, the past few years showed to be pretty bright for Michael McDonald. After a few years of success in his revived cover albums era with 2002's Motown and its 2004 sequel Motown Two, he needed to prove again if he has been able to achieve that classic Blue-eyed Soul he had successfully achieved like he did during his 80's height, and his time when he was a member of The Doobie Brothers back in the 70's. Now, he has expanded past his acheived Motown success, with his latest covers' album, and hopes to do well. But what we have, isn't a real feeling for the Rhythm And Blues as we thought over here in this latest album.
Michael McDonald's 2008 album, Soul Speak, tries to expand his successful comeback after his 2 previous Motown albums, into doing classic covers from all walks of vintage music. the songs aren't really anything that shines brightly here, and doesn't completely click with anyone who is new to Michael's distinctive style. The album includes covers of songs that don't shine so well here, and somewhat borrow the theme of Motown too, as shown by his covers' of Stevie Wonder classics Living For The City and For Once In My Life, as well as soul standards like Ray Charles' You Don't Know Me and the Aretha Franklin and George Michael hit, I Knew You Were Waiting For Me. Other standard covers' like Dionne Warwick's Walk On By and Teddy Pendergrass' Love T.K.O. don't help either to seperate this album from being distinctive.
All in all, Soul Speak isn't a must buy for anyone who is new to Michael McDonald's style, or definitive enough to even appeal to longtime fans as well. I could just say that if you're new to Michael's voice, you're better off buying his 2005 greatest hits album The Ultimate Collection instead. As for this album, it makes you keep forgettin' you've ever heard this record.
Album Cover: B
Songs: D 1/2+
Price: C-
Mastering: C
Overall: C-
 Nice Try. Get back to basics March 7, 2008
Robert W. Tussey (Rancho Bernardo, California United States)
13 out of 16 found this review helpful
I've read the other reviews so I won't repeat the main points of his great voice and tepid remakes. If you want to hear Michael with an inspired voice and interpretation listen to his guest track on Foreplays "X" cd, My Love's Leaving Me. You wil replay it again and again. I have been a fan since his first cuts with the Doobie Brothers. Been to a dozen of his shows. He's jumped the shark here and needs to retreat and find his voice again with songs he can truly leave his mark on. If you haven't seen him live, go. But don't waste your money on this cd.
Uninspired March 10, 2008
David Lerner (Columbia, MD USA)
12 out of 20 found this review helpful
I picked this up without listening to it, after I'd heard that it was better than his previous two Motown offerings. I wished I'd listened first, though, because I probably would have passed it up. There are some interesting song choices here. "Into the Mystic," "Hallelujah," and "Redemption Song" all held potential. However, although Michael's voice is as strong as ever, the song selection and arrangements are nothing special. Even the few original songs aren't particularly strong. As a result, the album ends up being a decent but ultimately forgettable entry in McDonald's discography.
Here's hoping that he doesn't wait another three years before his next release. Here's also hoping that he finally moves beyond his fixation with cover albums...
Predictablly enjoyable old school jamz. August 5, 2008
Potente
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
The old school, blue-eyed soul veteran returns.
With "Soul Speak", he provides us with a collection of his favourites soul tracks - originally recorded by legends such as Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendergrass, Van Morrison, Jackie Wilson, Lehonard Cohen, Bob Marley - to which he brings his very special vocal magic.
There are also McDonald's three new offerings on the album : "Only God Can Help Me Now", "Enemy Within", and "Can't Get Over You (Getting Over Me)".
He doesn't come close to improving on Dionne, Teddy and Stevie, but there's no denying his voice was made for this type of material.
He also shows imagination by getting aboard the international soul train for Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" and Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". Add in a smattering of originals that could pass for crate-digger finds and you've got a blue-eyed retro r & b set that can be enjoyed without guilt.
From the infectious "Love T.K.O" (check also Our Kind of Soul and Baby Come to Me: The Best of Regina Belle) to the great sound of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" plus "Still Not Over You" and "Walk on By", the collection shows that he is a true soul great.
According to Billboard, ..."Highlights include a winning, sultry take on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and subtle versions of Teddy Pendergrass' "Love TKO" and Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic," while a too-lush treatment of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" is the album's only outright miss..."
Mixed into this are a couple of originals by Michael and his producer, Simon Climie. Both reflect the shining, over-polished, full of slightly-too-prominent-guitar-wailing-type production that stops "Soul Speak" being a genuine classic.
On this project some music heavy weights join in : producer Simon Climie (of Eric Clapton fame), Nathan East on bass, Abe Laboriel jr. on drums, Michael Thompson on guitar, Stevie Wonder on harmonica, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.
He gives a new vibe to old school jams, keeping the legacy alive.
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