The late 1990s was a rough period for singer and songwriter Michael McDonald. One of the most powerful, recognizable voices in popular music was a decade removed from his last hit and was without a record contract. To make matters worse, his “comeback” album, Blue Obsession, produced by the great Tommy Sims and McDonald’s longtime guitarist Bernie Chiaravalle with an A-List of guest musicians and singers, was shelved in 1997 before it even hit the streets.
Then in 2000 – three years before McDonald’s glorious return with his Motown covers album, Blue Obsession was finally, quietly released. Neither the album nor any single from it even charted, but those fans who found it discovered that McDonald had released his solo masterpiece. It was an album that took McDonald out of the Doobie-esque early years of his solo career and into a mesmerizing new combination of soul, gospel, and funk.
To this day, most SoulTrackers don’t know Blue Obsession, but it is worth seeking out (see Spotify player below). And for our latest SoulTracks Lost Gem, we hightlight the album’s first cut, “All I Need,” a powerful duet between McDonald and Sims that tells story of a man trying to positively move forward from a life that has had its share of heartaches.
All I need is a shinin’ light an open door
I’m askin’ for nothin’ more than a little hope
It is a treat that this song and the rest of Blue Condition are now available on all of the streaming services. Truly a Lost Gem. Check it out below.
By Chris Rizik
