Paul McDonald

2376 fans

"So Long To The Dark Side" out now!

There’s a weathered beauty in Paul McDonald’s voice—equal parts grit and grace, hard-won from years spent chasing the muse through fame, flameouts, and quiet reinvention. With “So Long to the Dark Side”, the Alabama-born troubadour delivers his most honest and unfiltered work to date. Cut live in a single day with Grammy-nominated producer Bobby Holland, the album feels timeless—leaning into the raw soul of vintage rock & roll and the poetic ache of classic Americana.

McDonald first turned heads on national television back in 2011, but his story goes way beyond that: dive bars in the Deep South, van tours with “The Grand Magnolias”, and a long stretch off the grid, rebuilding his life one song at a time. Out of that silence came “The Mourning Doves”, a band with real chemistry, and “One Big Love”, a grassroots Nashville festival that’s become a local institution.

This record is McDonald’s testimony. It’s about loss, healing, and letting the light back in. The title track, “Dark Side,” serves as both confession and turning point—a raw, redemptive anthem written in the depths of addiction and personal reckoning. It lit the way forward, setting the emotional tone for the album that followed. From the existential haze of “What’s the Point?” to the road-worn hope of “Unwind,” these songs don’t just tell a story—they carry one.

“So Long to the Dark Side” isn’t just a return—it’s a reckoning. A reminder that some artists don’t fade. They just go deeper.
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Top tracks

01
Unwind
Paul McDonald
Unwind
03:23
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears - Hailey Steele / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears - Hailey Steele
11
All I've Ever Needed
Paul McDonald
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
03:56
Writer: Nikki Reed - Paul McDonald
07
No More One More Nights
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
03:51
Writer: William Paul McDonald / Composers: William Paul McDonald
01
Now That I've Found You
Paul McDonald
Now That I've Found You
04:10
01
How Long? (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
How Long?
03:55
Composers: Paul McDonald
01
American Dreams
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
03:46
Writer: William Paul McDonald / Composers: William Paul McDonald
01
What's the Point?
Paul McDonald
What's the Point?
02:44
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Sean McConnell / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Sean McConnell

Playlists

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  • Discography
Albums
Paul McDonald
01-10-2021
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
01
New Lovers (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
04:11
Composers: Paul McDonald
02
Hold On (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
02:57
Composers: Paul McDonald
03
Wildcard (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
03:44
Composers: Paul McDonald
04
Call On Me (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
03:44
Composers: Paul McDonald
05
Modern Hearts (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
03:15
Composers: Paul McDonald
06
How Long? (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
03:55
Composers: Paul McDonald
07
So Much Better (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts (Deluxe Edition)
03:52
Composers: Paul McDonald
Access the complete album info (16 songs)
(P) 2018 Paul McDonald Music LLC
01-06-2018
Modern Hearts
01
New Lovers
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts
04:09
02
Hold On
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts
02:59
03
Wildcard
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts
03:41
04
Call on Me
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts
03:31
05
Modern Hearts
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts
03:14
06
How Long?
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts
03:54
07
So Much Better
Paul McDonald
Modern Hearts
03:52
Access the complete album info (14 songs)
℗ 2016 UPPM RECORDS
30-06-2016
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
01
Take the Challenge
Paul McDonald
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
03:34
Writer: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young / Composers: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young
02
Sweet Success
Paul McDonald
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
02:10
Writer: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young / Composers: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young
03
Fall from the Sky
Paul McDonald
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
02:16
Writer: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young / Composers: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young
04
Nitty Gritty
Paul McDonald
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
03:33
Writer: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young / Composers: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young
05
Long Road Home
Paul McDonald
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
02:11
Writer: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young / Composers: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young
06
High Speed
Paul McDonald
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
02:50
Writer: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young / Composers: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young
07
Close to the Wire
Paul McDonald
Dirty Rockin' Scoundrels
02:36
Writer: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young / Composers: Paul McDonald - Jet Black - Ethan Young
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
Paul McDonald Music LLC
01-11-2010
The Grand Magnolias
01
Sing Out
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias
04:07
02
American Dreams
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias
03:45
03
Fly Me to the Moon
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias
03:27
04
I Can't Remember
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias
03:14
05
No More One More Nights
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias
03:51
06
Heartbreak
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias
05:01
07
Four Fifteen
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias
05:06
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
℗ 2022 OBL Records
01-11-2010
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
01
American Dreams
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
03:46
Writer: William Paul McDonald / Composers: William Paul McDonald
02
Sing Out
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
04:07
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears
03
Heartbreak
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
05:02
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears
04
Four Fifteen
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
05:07
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears
05
Fly Me To The Moon
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
03:28
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears
06
I Can't Remember
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
03:14
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears
07
No More One More Nights
Paul McDonald
The Grand Magnolias (Deluxe Edition)
03:51
Writer: William Paul McDonald / Composers: William Paul McDonald
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
2007 Paul McDonald
01-01-2007
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
01
Make My Way
Paul McDonald
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
03:33
Composers: Paul Allen McDonald
02
Halo
Paul McDonald
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
04:01
Composers: Paul Allen McDonald
03
Be Someone
Paul McDonald
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
03:10
Composers: Paul Allen McDonald
04
Envy of the World
Paul McDonald
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
03:07
Composers: Paul Allen McDonald
05
Nearly Lost My Head
Paul McDonald
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
03:20
Composers: Paul Allen McDonald
06
My Street
Paul McDonald
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
03:04
Composers: Paul Allen McDonald
07
April's Showers
Paul McDonald
I Wish My Girl Was This Dirty
03:36
Composers: Paul Allen McDonald
Access the complete album info (15 songs)
Singles
℗ 2025 OBL Records
13-06-2025
Rosemarie
01
Rosemarie
Paul McDonald
Rosemarie
03:38
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Brian Wright / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Brian Wright
℗ 2025 OBL Records
16-05-2025
Unwind
01
Unwind
Paul McDonald
Unwind
03:23
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears - Hailey Steele / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Jonathan Pears - Hailey Steele
℗ 2025 OBL Records
11-04-2025
What's the Point?
01
What's the Point?
Paul McDonald
What's the Point?
02:44
Writer: William Paul McDonald - Sean McConnell / Composers: William Paul McDonald - Sean McConnell
℗ 2025 OBL Records
14-03-2025
Dark Side
01
Dark Side
Paul McDonald
Dark Side
04:12
Writer: William Paul McDonald - John Goolsby - Matthew Warren / Composers: William Paul McDonald - John Goolsby - Matthew Warren
(P) 2023 Paul McDonald / Soundly Music
10-11-2023
Maybe This Christmas
01
Maybe This Christmas
Paul McDonald
Maybe This Christmas
03:10
Composers: Paul McDonald
2022 Paul McDonald Music LLC
20-04-2022
Once You Were Mine
01
First Loves (Demo)
Paul McDonald
Once You Were Mine
03:33
Writer: William Paul McDonald / Composers: William Paul McDonald
02
Once You Were Mine (Demo)
Paul McDonald
Once You Were Mine
04:09
Writer: William Paul McDonald - David Borne / Composers: William Paul McDonald - David Borne
Paul McDonald
10-09-2021
How Long?
01
How Long? (Remastered 2021)
Paul McDonald
How Long?
03:55
Composers: Paul McDonald
2019 Dawson Records
16-08-2019
I, Me, Mine
01
I, Me, Mine
Paul McDonald
I, Me, Mine
02:31
Writer: Paul McDonald
2018 Talkbox Rodeo
28-12-2018
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
01
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
Parish f/t
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
03:09