Search - Michael McDonald - A Gathering of Friends on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 12/19/2020...

Solid Michael McDonald live music performances with lots of musicians and actors that you know. A must see!

Falls pretty flat

05/03/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I am a major Michael McDonald fan. I've got most everything he's contributed to. So when I saw this DVD I was excited to get it. While I see what they were going for here, the ultimate product is pretty weak. It's basically concert footage of a "pay tribute to Michael" night. The show consists entirely of pairings of Michael with other singers. In most of these the other singer is the one featured, not Michael and oddly they pick tunes that Michael didn't write either. Jeff Bridges is the MC and while he's a great actor, this guy should never, never sing in public. He's given the stage for an entire number and that's a sore spot for me because one of my complaints is that this DVD contains too few tracks. The best part of the DVD is the two tunes that Michael does with the Doobie Brothers. Here, he is finally featured as is his songwriting. But the thing that's totally missing from the DVD is anything from his solo efforts, which to me is, along with his Doobie work, his best stuff. "You Belong To Me" a tune written by Michael and recorded by both Carly Simon and the Doobie Brothers is an exception, but he doesn't sing it! He struggles through two tunes with Kenny Loggins, who again is a great artist, but the numbers are under-rehearsed. Adding a final annoyance to the show is Soap-Star-Come-Sax-Player Dave Koz, who steps out in "You Belong To Me" doing his best, in typical Dave Koz fashion, to upstage the other musicians. His body language is as corny as his banal sax playing. Oh, and Dave, the song's over, you can stop playing now. The contrast of Koz's live performance and Dave Sanborn's original on that tune is sad.Moreover, I'd spend your money on Michael's solo CD's. You'll get so much more Michael for your money.PS. I'm remaining annoymous on this one because I know several of the musicians in this production."

What a great night out this must have been

Robert M. Astill | Stoneham, MA United States | 12/29/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recently purchased this on video and love it. For Christmas I recieved a DVD player, and I just ordered the DVD.One of the evenings that I saw Michael McDonald was at Great Woods as part of the New York "Rock & Soul Revival" with Donald Fagen,Phoebe Snow, Boz Scaggs etc..I don't recall a night on which I have been happier, I smiled for days after that. This concert makes that look like just a great night. This concert on the DVD features Michael with Doobie Brothers,Patty LaBelle, Patty Austin,Kenny Loggins Jefferey Osborne and Christopher Cross on some of the great hits and some newer talent on the Blues Obsession songs. Jeff Bridges acts as MC for the evening the background singers have Kim Carnes and Amy Holland McDonald(who is also credited as Monkey Trainer) and the band has David Pack of Ambrosia as its Assistant Music Director and David Koz on Sax.The music is great, the performances outstanding, watching it you can see the performers are having as great a time as the audience.A new song for me was "Maria" with Jeffery Osbourne and David Pack. The harmonies are amazaing. This was a great concert on tape, brought back great memories of the time and you get to see this awesome concert most of can only wish we could have seen.....maybe another time. When GOD gave us the gift of Music I believe he gave us Michael McDonald. If you watch this concert you will love it, and at the very least get it to see Michael McDonald with only a slight beard and Jeffery Osbourne with no hair at all."

Michael McDonald-25 Years and Counting

Robert A. Stern | Chicago, Il. | 10/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I was strolling down the aisle of my favorite music emporium the other day, a very familiar name jumped out at me from the music DVD category. His name was the same but the face couldn't have looked any more different. Michael McDonald not only found a razor blade he is totally happy with (lose the soul patch though) but he also found his greatest collaboraters in Michael McDonald:A Gathering Of Friends. I have been waiting for a Michael McDonald Concert on DVD for a long time and I believe he did it the right way. It seems like Michael's voice has surfaced in 90% of the soft pop music that came out in the 70's and 80's. By bringing the likes of Christofer Cross, Patti Labelle, Kenny Loggins, James Ingram and more together for a night of music taped at the Shrine Auditorium in LA earlier this year, it goes to show you that a great voice singing second lead or backup can be just as dominant as that same voice singing lead vocals on so many songs. I remember a Saturday Night Live skit many years ago showing Michael going from session to session singing on everybody's songs. Well, these are those songs folks. Ride Like The Wind, Yah Mo Be There, On My Own, Heart To Heart and This Is It. You must have heard these songs a thousand times each and the performances are as solid as are his own hits he sings like Minute By Minute and Takin' It To The Streets with the band that brought him, The Doobie Brothers. I have always said that the whiter Michael's hair turns the blacker his voice sounds. Soulful black. At the age of 49 Michael's pipes seem to grow stronger and stronger. This DVD is a must see for any fan wanting an A+ performance from "Mr. Blue Eyed Soul" himself. If nothing else it will be the first performance Michael has made sans mustache and beard since he became a star in 1976 with his first Doobie Brother's album Takin' It To The Streets. The next thing Michael would be to do a full concert reunion with the "Brothers". Thanks for this one."