Track Listing

1. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
2. Living For The City
3. Love T.K.O.
4. Walk On By
5. Still Not Over You (Getting Over Me)
6. For Once In My Life
7. Into The Mystic
8. Hallelujah
9. Enemy Within
10. (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
11. Only God Can Help Me Now
12. Baby Can I Change My Mind
13. Redemption Song
14. You Don't Know Me

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7884 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
The unforgettable voice of Michael McDonald is back with his follow up to his two Motown tribute albums! The former Doobie Brother and touring member of Steely Dan returns with a 13 track record, featuring some of Michael's favorite songs: "Love TKO" by Teddy Pendergrass, "Walk on By" by Dionne Warwick, "Into The Mystic" by Van Morrison, "Living For The City" by Stevie Wonder, "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley and more. "Soul Speak" also features the brand new song from Michael "Getting Over You". Let Michael's familiar voice take you higher with "Soul Speak".

Customer Reviews

Predictablly enjoyable old school jamz.
The old school, blue-eyed soul veteran returns.
With "Soul Speak", he provides us with a collection of his favourites soul tracks - originally recorded by legends such as Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendergrass, Van Morrison, Jackie Wilson, Lehonard Cohen, Bob Marley - to which he brings his very special vocal magic.
There are also McDonald's three new offerings on the album : "Only God Can Help Me Now", "Enemy Within", and "Can't Get Over You (Getting Over Me)".
He doesn't come close to improving on Dionne, Teddy and Stevie, but there's no denying his voice was made for this type of material.
He also shows imagination by getting aboard the international soul train for Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic" and Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". Add in a smattering of originals that could pass for crate-digger finds and you've got a blue-eyed retro r & b set that can be enjoyed without guilt.
From the infectious "Love T.K.O" (check also Our Kind of Soul and Baby Come to Me: The Best of Regina Belle) to the great sound of "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" plus "Still Not Over You" and "Walk on By", the collection shows that he is a true soul great.
According to Billboard, ..."Highlights include a winning, sultry take on Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" and subtle versions of Teddy Pendergrass' "Love TKO" and Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic," while a too-lush treatment of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" is the album's only outright miss..."
Mixed into this are a couple of originals by Michael and his producer, Simon Climie. Both reflect the shining, over-polished, full of slightly-too-prominent-guitar-wailing-type production that stops "Soul Speak" being a genuine classic.
On this project some music heavy weights join in : producer Simon Climie (of Eric Clapton fame), Nathan East on bass, Abe Laboriel jr. on drums, Michael Thompson on guitar, Stevie Wonder on harmonica, Vinnie Colaiuta on drums.
He gives a new vibe to old school jams, keeping the legacy alive.
Motown
Motown Two
Don't Mess with Mr. T/James Taylor Quartet Plays Motown

Nice Try. Get back to basics
I've read the other reviews so I won't repeat the main points of his great voice and tepid remakes. If you want to hear Michael with an inspired voice and interpretation listen to his guest track on Foreplays "X" cd, My Love's Leaving Me. You wil replay it again and again. I have been a fan since his first cuts with the Doobie Brothers. Been to a dozen of his shows. He's jumped the shark here and needs to retreat and find his voice again with songs he can truly leave his mark on. If you haven't seen him live, go. But don't waste your money on this cd.

Michael, where are you?
What happened to the Michael McDonald who produced the great gems in "Blink Of An Eye", "If That's What It Takes", "No Lookin' Back, and "Take It To Heart".
Please stop with the Motown already. I'm from Motown. The Motown sounds were great, and still are, but enough already.

Please come back to "Your" old style. We miss you.