If That's What It Takes (album)

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If That's What It Takes
If That's What It Takes (Michael McDonald album).jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 3, 1982
Recorded1981–82
Studio
Genre
Length39:59
Label Warner Bros.
Producer
Michael McDonald chronology
If That's What It Takes
(1982)
No Lookin' Back
(1985)
Singles from If That's What It Takes
  1. "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)"
    Released: August 1982
  2. "I Gotta Try"
    Released: November 1982
  3. "Playin' by the Rules"
    Released: February 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Village Voice C+ [4]

If That's What It Takes is the debut studio album by American musician Michael McDonald, released on August 3, 1982 by Warner Bros. Records. The album peaked at #6 on Billboard 200, while singles "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" and "I Gotta Try" went to #4 and #44 on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.

Contents

Track listing

All tracks are written by Michael McDonald, with additional writers noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Playin' by the Rules" Ed Sanford 4:55
2."I Keep Forgettin'"3:39
3."Love Lies" Randy Goodrum 3:21
4."I Gotta Try" Kenny Loggins 3:53
5."I Can Let Go Now" 2:54
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."That's Why"Goodrum4:24
7."If That's What It Takes" Jackie DeShannon 4:17
8."No Such Luck"
  • Grady Walker
  • Harry Garfield
3:44
9."Losin' End" 4:11
10."Believe in It" 4:41
Total length:39:59

Personnel

Production

Charts

Chart (1982)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [5] 41
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [6] 27
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [7] 30
US Billboard 200 [8] 6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [9] 10

References

  1. Jason Elias. "If That's What It Takes - Michael McDonald | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  2. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. "If That's What It Takes : Michael McDonald : Review : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . September 30, 1982. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  4. Christgau, Robert (November 2, 1982). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, New South Wales: Australian Chart Book. p. 185. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  6. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 6949a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  7. "Norwegiancharts.com – Michael McDonald – If That's What It Takes". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 2, 2025.
  8. "Michael McDonald Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  9. "Michael McDonald Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2015.