Michael Mcdonald - If Thats What It Takes
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CD Details
Artist: Michael McdonaldEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2008-09-30
Music Label: Rhino Flashback
Soundtracks:
- Playin' by the Rules
- I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
- Love Lies
- I Gotta Try
- I Can Let Go Now
- That's Why
- If That's What It Takes
- No Such Luck
- Losin' End
- Believe in It
Music reviews of If Thats What It Takes
Music Review: One Star Reissue Of A Five Star Album...One of Rhino's Rip Off And Rubbish "Flashback" Reissues...
Rating: 1 Stars
There was a time when RHINO - the great American reissue label of the last few three decades - could be relied upon to deliver the goods - always - but not anymore. For years now Rhino has had exclusivity on the entire WEA back catalogue and have been reissuing superbly remastered goodies to beat the band right across the labels incredible board of genres. But for several reissues now (ZZ Top, Zeppelin, The Smiths) - I've noticed a certain sloppiness beginning to creep in - but this - and every other title in this rubbish series - takes the biscuit.
This 2008 reissue is on Rhino's "Flashback" label which given their reputation gives the impression that it's new or even improved - it isn't. The CD arrives shrink-wrapped with it's sticker "Rhino Flashback - Original Artists - Original Album" on the outside - and that's it - nothing else is different - because underneath the shrink-wrap is the exactly the same lame 1980s CD issued some 20 years ago with no change in anything - especially the SOUND.
The sound on this CD is ok at best, dull, hissy and hugely underwhelming at worst. To put this into a proper context - it you test "I Keep Forgettin'" or "I Gotta Try" from the remastered "The Voice Of - Very Best Of" compilation of 2001 - the sound quality couldn't be more marked. The remastered "Very Best" versions are simply stunning - hugely different - and a major revelation soundwise. Knowing how good this album 'could have sounded', you begin to realise what short change this reissue slyly is. The original CD (which is what you're getting here) is on the net for literally a few cents - Rhino are charging ten dollars for a CD you can get in bargain shops!
Unfortunately there are other disappointments in this 'Flashback' series, Little Feat's "Time Loves A Hero" and Hall & Oates "Abandoned Luncheonette" - two more great albums with the same duffer 1980s CD under the shrink-wrap. The only one I'd recommend in the "flashback" series is "But Seriously Folks..." by JOE WALSH, his excellent "Life's Been Good" album from 1978 which was remastered on initial issue anyway - it says so on the inner inlay.
Rhino's slide doesn't stop with 'Flashback' either - their 2008 'Encore' series of 39 titles is the same - gatefold slip of paper - some remastered, most not - 3rd rate titles reissued in a cheap and crappy way. There are some good titles among them - there is - Jo Jo Gunne and John David Souther for instance jump to mind - but their presentation is awful. I bought about 8 more of these titles and stopped because I couldn't stand listening to them anymore.
"If That's What It Takes" is Michael McDonald's 1st solo album from 1982 after he left The Doobie Brothers and is an unduly forgotten Eighties gem - and its so hugely disappointing to have waited all these years to hear a decent remaster of it - and get this lazily repackaged uselessness - yet again! It's a massive disservice to the artist and his fans alike.
Go to iTunes and A/B "I Keep Forgettin'" from this and from the "The Voice Of - Very Best Of" set - and you'll hear the difference straight away.
Avoid this reissue. And shame on Rhino.
PS: Fans of Michael McDonald and his superb songwriting need to check out the USA-only Audio Fidelity 24-Carat Gold CD of "Minute By Minute" by THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, their 1978 Grammy winning album - remastered by STEVE HOFFMAN in 2005 - the sound quality is BREATHTAKING - really great and worth every penny of the cost (Audio Fidelity AFZ 025).
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