This is a discography for the major solo works of American singer, Michael McDonald.
Contents |
| Year | Album | Chart positions | RIAA certification |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [1] |
US R&B [1] |
UK [2] |
||||
| 1982 | If That's What It Takes | 6 | 10 | — | Gold | Warner Bros. |
| 1985 | No Lookin' Back | 45 | — | — | — | |
| 1990 | Take It to Heart | 110 | — | 35 | — | Reprise |
| 1993 | Blink of an Eye | — | — | — | — | |
| 2000 | Blue Obsession | — | — | — | — | Ramp |
| 2003 | Motown | 14 | 17 | 29 | Platinum | Motown |
| 2004 | Motown Two | 9 | 8 | 29 | Gold | |
| 2008 | Soul Speak | 12 | 10 | 27 | — | |
| Year | Album | Chart positions | RIAA certification |
Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [1] |
UK [2] |
||||
| 1982 | That Was Then - The Early Recordings of Michael McDonald | — | — | — | Arista |
| 1986 | Sweet Freedom | — | 6 | — | Warner Bros. |
| 2001 | The Very Best of Michael McDonald | — | 21 | Gold | Warner Bros. / Rhino |
| In the Spirit: A Christmas Album | — | — | — | MCA Nashville | |
| 2004 | The Best of Michael McDonald: The Christmas Collection | — | — | — | |
| 2005 | Through the Many Winters: A Christmas Album | — | — | Gold | Hallmark |
| The Ultimate Collection | 19 | 20 | — | Warner Bros. / Rhino | |
| 2009 | This Christmas | 95 | — | — | Razor & Tie |
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US AC [3] |
US Dance [3] |
US Main Rock [3] |
UK [2] |
|||
| 1982 | "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" | 4 | 7 | 8 | — | — | 43 | If That's What It Takes |
| "I Gotta Try" | 44 | — | 28 | — | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "No Lookin' Back" | 34 | — | 18 | — | 4 | — | No Lookin' Back |
| "Bad Times" | — | — | — | — | 38 | — | ||
| "Lost in the Parade" | — | — | 40 | — | — | — | ||
| 1986 | "Sweet Freedom" | 7 | 17 | 4 | 8 | — | 12 | Running Scared (soundtrack) / Sweet Freedom |
| 1987 | "Our Love (Theme From No Mercy)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Sweet Freedom |
| 1990 | "Take It to Heart" | 98 | — | 4 | — | — | — | Take It to Heart |
| "Tear It Up" | — | — | 27 | — | — | — | ||
| 1991 | "All We Got" | — | 88 | — | 9 | — | — | |
| 1993 | "I Stand for You" | 114 | — | 21 | — | — | — | Blink of an Eye |
| "Hey Girl" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "For a Child" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994 | "Matters of the Heart" | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2003 | "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | Motown |
| 2004 | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | 111 | — | 5 | — | — | — | |
| 2005 | "Reach Out, I'll Be There" | — | — | 12 | — | — | — | Motown Two |
| "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Deck the Halls/Jingle Bells" | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | Through the Many Winters | |
| 2008 | "Walk On By" | — | — | — | — | — | — | Soul Speak |
| "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | ||
| "Love T.K.O." | — | 92 | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Enemy Within" | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | ||
| 2009 | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | — | — | — | — | — | — | This Christmas |
| "—" denotes the single was not released or didn't chart. | ||||||||
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [3] |
US R&B [3] |
US AC [3] |
US Country [3] |
UK [2] |
|||
| 1980 | "Let Me Go, Love" (w/ Nicolette Larson) | 35 | 96 | 9 | — | — | In the Nick of Time |
| 1983 | "Yah Mo B There" (w/ James Ingram) | 19 | 5 | 10 | — | 44 | It's Your Night |
| 1985 | "Yah Mo B There" (w/ James Ingram) [UK re-release] | — | — | — | — | 12 | |
| 1986 | "On My Own" (w/ Patti Labelle) | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | Winner in You |
| "I Just Can't Let Go" (w/ David Pack & James Ingram) | — | — | 13 | — | — | The Voice of Michael McDonald | |
| 1987 | "What a Fool Believes" (w/ Doobie Brothers) [UK 1987 release] | — | — | — | — | 57 | Minute by Minute |
| "Love Has No Color" (w/ The Winans) | — | — | — | — | — | Decision | |
| 1992 | "Ever Changing Times" (w/ Aretha Franklin) | — | 19 | 11 | — | — | What You See Is What You Sweat |
| 1998 | "One Heart at a Time" (w/ Garth Brooks, Billy Dean, Faith Hill, Olivia Newton-John, Neal McCoy, Victoria Shaw, and Bryan White) |
56 | — | — | 69 | — | single only |
| 1999 | "Among the Missing" (w/ Kathy Mattea) | — | — | — | 73 | — | |
| 2002 | "Sweet Freedom" (w/ Safri Duo) | — | — | — | — | 54 | Episode II |
| 2005 | "Heart of America" (w/ Wynonna Judd, Eric Benet and Terry Dexter) | — | — | — | — | — | Hurricane Relief: Come Together Now |
| 2006 | "My Love's Leavin' " (w/ Fourplay) | — | — | — | — | — | X |
| 2009 | "While You Wait for the Others" (w/ Grizzly Bear) | — | — | — | — | — | single only |
| 2011 | "Some Children" (w/ Holy Ghost!) | — | — | — | — | — | Holy Ghost! |
In 1999, McDonald recorded the song "Eyes of a Child" for the South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut movie soundtrack. It was also used at the ending credits for the movie.
In 2009, Michael McDonald, along with West Angeles COGIC Mass, released the song “Storm Before The Calm” on the compilation album Oh Happy Day.[4]
| Year | Video |
|---|---|
| 1998 | "One Heart at a Time" (with Olivia Newton-John, Bryan White, Neal McCoy, Faith Hill, Victoria Shaw, Billy Dean and Garth Brooks) |
| 2000 | "Among the Missing" (with Kathy Mattea) |