This week I’ve been enjoying some old classics by Michael McDonald and the Doobie Brothers.
Michael has been churning out hits for years, and is a singer that I wish more modern singers would emulate. What is particularly impressive is how well he delivers so many of his songs whilst simultaneously nailing quite tricky piano parts. While I find him a bit gruff from time to time, his vocals really are something special.
The rhythm and arrangement of the piano is especially interesting for songwriters, as it moves through multiple different keys, has some special modulations, and also directs the vocal line into some unusual places. A lot of songwriters around this time (like Michael McDonald) used this more rhythmic and harmonically sophisticated approach to create more complex songs. But through clever lyrics and melody, they made them very accessible rather than impenetrable.
Have a listen and enjoy!