Album · Michael McDonald
If That's What It Takes by Michael McDonald
If That's What It Takes is an album by Michael McDonald, released in 1982. 1 song from it has charted on rock radio countdowns, with 2 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “I Keep Forgettin'”, on 2 lists with a best position of #289.
If That's What It Takes, Michael McDonald's first solo album, came out on Warner Bros. on August 3, 1982, the same year his run as the Doobie Brothers' lead voice and keyboard man wound down. Ted Templeman produced it, and the sound is exactly what you'd hope for: silky, keyboard-driven soul-pop built around that smoky, instantly recognizable voice, the one that had already carried "What a Fool Believes" and "Minute by Minute" and turned up behind Steely Dan, Christopher Cross and Kenny Loggins.
"I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" is the smash, a slinky, rueful groove that went to number four on the Hot 100, with "I Gotta Try" following it out. The album made the top 10 as well, proof that McDonald didn't need a band's name on the cover to fill the room.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from If That's What It Takes on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I Keep Forgettin' | 2 | #289 | – | 2020–2026 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.