Part 6/16:
In Los Angeles, McDonald recorded a solo album with an impressive array of session musicians—strings, horns, and the best players of the time. Despite the high-quality production, the album was shelved before release, which he views as a blessing in disguise. Nonetheless, these sessions endowed him with invaluable experience in studio craftsmanship.
He also began to write songs for his solo projects, collaborating with songwriters such as Patrick Henderson, Ed Sanford, and Jackie DeShannon. McDonald’s songwriting was both inspired and pragmatic—his goal was to create music that resonated emotionally, even if some tracks were not ultimately released.