1985 Michael McDonald – No Lookin’ Back

No Lookin’ Back is the second solo studio album by American musician Michael McDonald. It was originally released in July 1985, on the label Warner Bros. Records, three years after his debut album, If That’s What It Takes; this was his last album to be released by Warner Bros.  For the first time, he co-produced and wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks. It features contributions from guitarists Joe Walsh (Eagles, James Gang), Robben Ford and David Pack from Ambrosia, Jeff Porcaro on drums (Toto, Steely Dan), plus the former Doobie Brothers member Willie Weeks on bass, and Cornelius Bumpus providing horns.

On release, the album was received favorably by the majority of music critics and peaked at No. 45 on the US Billboard 200. Three singles were issued from No Lookin’ Back: “No Lookin’ Back”, “Bad Times” and “Lost in the Parade”. The album’s first and leading single, “No Lookin’ Back”, was co-written by Kenny Loggins and was a commercial success, peaking at No. 4 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and #34 on Billboard Hot 100.

The album was re-released one year later in 1986. The re-released version changed around the track order and featured different album cover artwork, along with the inclusion of the hit single “Sweet Freedom” from the soundtrack of the Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines film Running Scared as well as a slightly shortened version of “Our Love”.

Tracks

No Lookin’ Back (Ed Sanders; Kenny Loggins; Michael McDonald) 03:57
2  Bad Times (Michael McDonald) 04:21
3  (I’ll Be Your) Angel (Chuck Sabatino; Michael McDonald) 03:53
4  By Heart (Chuck Sabatino; David Pack; Michael McDonald) 04:35
5  Any Foolish Thing (Chuck Sabatino; Michael McDonald) 04:23
6  Our Love (David Pack; Michael McDonald) 04:30
7  (I Hang) On Your Every Word (Amy Holland; Michael McDonald) 03:22
8  Lost In The Parade (Grady Walker; Michael McDonald) 03:48
9  Don’t Let Me Down (Michael McDonald; Randy Goodrum) 04:01

Musicians

1 No Lookin’ Back

BassWillie Weeks
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarDavid Pack
KeyboardsMichael McDonald
Tom TomGeorge Perilli
VocalsMichael McDonald


2 Bad Times

BassNathan East
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarDavid Pack
Slide GuitarJoe Walsh
SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerMike Hanna
VocalsMichael McDonald


3 (I’ll Be Your) Angel

BassWillie Weeks
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarRobben Ford
SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerChuck Sabatino
SaxCornelius Bumpus
Background VocalsChuck Sabatino
VocalsMichael McDonald


4 By Heart

BassWillie Weeks
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
Drums (programming)George Perilli
GuitarDavid Pack
SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerDavid Pack
Tom TomStaff Fieldhouse
PercussionPaulinho Da Costa
VocalsMichael McDonald


5 Any Foolish Thing

BassWillie Weeks
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
OrganMichael McDonald
SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerChuck Sabatino
Background VocalsChuck Sabatino
VocalsMichael McDonald


6 Our Love

SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerBrian Mann
CymbalJeffrey Porcaro
PercussionPaulinho Da Costa
VocalsMichael McDonald


7 (I Hang) On Your Every Word

DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
GuitarDavid Pack
OrganMichael McDonald
SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerScott Plunkett
VocalsMichael McDonald


8 Lost In The Parade

BassWillie Weeks
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
Electronic DrumsStaff Fieldhouse
GuitarRobben Ford
SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerBrian Mann
VocalsMichael McDonald


9 Don’t Let Me Down

BassWillie Weeks
DrumsJeffrey Porcaro
Guitar (solo)Robben Ford
GuitarDavid Pack
SynthesizerMichael McDonald
SynthesizerRandy Goodrum
PercussionPaulinho Da Costa
VocalsMichael McDonald

Liner Notes

Producer – Michael McDonald, Ted Templeman
Engineer – Ross Pallone
Engineer (Second) – Mike Wuellner
Engineer (Additional) – Grady Walker, Jim Pace
Mastered By – Howie Weinberg
Mixed By – Ross Pallone
Programmed By (Emulator) – Chris Pelonis (Tracks 3, 4, 7)

Art Direction – Jeffrey Kent Ayeroff
Design – Jeri McManus
Photography – Brian Aris, Joel Levinson

Mastered At Sheffield Lab Matrix
Mastered At Masterdisk
Mixed At Hollywood Sound Recorders
Recorded At Dilling Street Studio
Recorded At The Villa Studio
Phonographic Copyright Warner Bros Records Inc
Copyright Warner Bros Records Inc