Michael McDonald never disguises what his seventh solo album is: the title Motown makes it clear that this 2003 effort is a tribute to the glory days of Berry Gordy's Detroit empire. McDonald never strays too far from that thesis, occasionally dipping into the late '70s for material (he takes on Marvin Gaye's "I Want You") and sometimes choosing to wax relatively obscure items from Motown's vast, rich catalog, but for the most part, this is devoted to the songs that you know by heart, whether you were a kid in the '60s or raised on oldies radio. Since this is McDonald, not a neo-soul neophyte, this is cleanly and sharply produced, relying heavily on synthesizers, drum machines, and professional vocalists, but anybody who has spent any time with his solo records will find this not to be objectionable, but par for the course. If McDonald doesn't reinvent these songs -- hell, he uses the original arrangements as a blueprint, then cleans them up -- he does display a love and reverence for the work, and his singing is passionate throughout. Ultimately, Motown doesn't add much to his discography, but for those who love McDonald and Motown in equal measures, it's a fine listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
All Music Guide Review
Motown Track Listing
Credits of Motown
- Audrey Martells
- Vocals (Background)
- Harvey Mason, Sr.
- Percussion, Drums
- Ann McCrary
- Vocals (Background)
- Amy McDonald
- Vocals (Background)
- Warren "Pete" Moore
- Composer
- Don Murray
- Engineer
- Chris Rodriguez
- Guitar (Electric), Sitar, Sitar (Electric)
- Valerie Simpson
- Composer
- Tommy Sims
- Vocals (Background)
- Tony Swain
- Synthesizer, Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, Executive Producer
- Norman Whitfield
- Composer
- Stevie Wonder
- Composer
- Gavyn Wright
- String Conductor
- Syreeta Wright
- Composer
- Yvonne Wright
- Composer
- Tom Bender
- Mixing Assistant
- Duane Starling
- Vocals (Background)
- Michael Hart Thompson
- Guitar
- Leon Ware
- Composer, Vocals (Background)
- Grady Walker
- Engineer
- Tim Akers
- Organ (Hammond)
- Michael Wilson
- Cover Photo
- Kevin Whalum
- Vocals (Background)
- Paul Waller
- Percussion, Effects, Sound Replacements, Fx Vocals, Programming
- Adam Brown
- Engineer, Pro-Tools, Digital Editing
- Sandra Greene
- Composer
- Gale Mayes-West
- Vocals (Background)
- Cindy Rich
- Make-Up
- Tammy Taylor
- Vocals (Background)
- Toby Baker
- Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Bass), Guitar (Electric), Arranger, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer Voices, Drum Programming, Programming
- Arthur Ross
- Composer
- Jennifer Karr
- Vocals (Background)
- Lula Mae Hardaway
- Composer
- Jonathan Shakhovskoy
- Digital Editing
- Richard Orga
- Wardrobe
- Lisa Patton
- Production Coordination
- Chris Rodriquez
- Guitar (Electric), Sitar
- Nicky "Misschief" Shaw
- Bass, Percussion, Arranger, Programming, Drum Editing, Drum Programming, Drums
- Cliff Masterson
- String Arrangements
- Dee Harrington
- Coordination
- Alfreda McCrary Lee
- Vocals (Background)
- Joel Evenden
- Digital Editing, Assistant Engineer
- Tim Carmen
- Organ (Hammond)
- Barrett Strong
- Composer
- Tom Sweeney
- Assistant
- Amy Holland
- Piano, Vocals (Background)
- Lee Garrett
- Composer
- Jerry Ross
- Composer
- Fourplay
- Arranger, Performer
- Tracie Ackerman
- Vocals (Background)
- Nick Ashford
- Composer
- Thom Bell
- Composer
- Simon Climie
- Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Programming, Arranger, Vocals (Background), Digital Editing, Pro-Tools, Producer
- Linda Creed
- Composer
- Lamont Dozier
- Composer
- Mark Douthit
- Saxophone
- Nathan East
- Bass
- Shannon Forrest
- Engineer, Digital Editing
- Ben Fowler
- Engineer, Pro-Tools
- Gwen Fuqua
- Composer
- Kenny Gamble
- Composer
- Isobel Griffiths
- Orchestra Contractor
- Mick Guzauski
- Mixing
- Eddie Holland
- Composer
- Brian Holland
- Composer
- Nick Ingman
- String Arrangements
- Ricky Lawson
- Drums
- Bob Ludwig
- Mastering
- Marvin Gaye
- Composer
- Michael McDonald
- Piano, Arranger, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Performer, Fender Rhodes
- Smokey Robinson
- Composer
- Larry Carlton
- Guitar


















