Michael McDonald - "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)"

(Debuted August 7, 1982, Peaked #4, 19 Weeks on the Chart)

By 1982, Michael McDonald was appearing on what seemed like half the hit records coming out of L.A. in addition to his duties as a member of The Doobie Brothers. It seems logical that he would get around to putting out his own LP eventually, and that album came out in 1982. His first solo hit was a song about dealing with a breakup.

"I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" was co-written by McDonald along with Ed Sanford of The Sanford Townsend Band. While a different song from a 1962 Chuck Jackson hit called "I Keep Forgettin'," it was similar enough to earn a songwriting credit for Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. In return, this song has been sampled several times over the years, most notably on Warren G's 1994 hit "Regulate."

Since McDonald was a stalwart session player, his friends were happy to help with his album. Louis Johnson of The Brothers Johnson provides the distinctive bass line, while several members of Toto are also among the musicians. A future Toto member, Greg Phillinganes, handled the notable clavinet line. The female voice in the chorus belongs to his sister Maureen.