Loggins and Messina “On Stage”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#185 in the Series and) is Loggins and Messina, On Stage.

Loggins and Messina was a VERY good 70s band that history has not treated as well as it should. Why, my guess is that Kenny Loggins solo success, especially in the soundtrack realm, has had the most to do with it. Plus I don’t think their largest hit, ‘Your Momma Don’t Dance,’ was a very good representation of their sound. As good as it was, I always like others better. 

But do you ever hear Loggins and Messina on classic rock stations, hardly. Not even great stations like WXRT play them nearly as much as they used to, if at all.  I’d rather hear “Angry Eyes,” “Vahevala” or “Thinking of You” anytime over “Eminence Front.” How many times can you hear a song?

OK, let’s get back On Stage. This double album came out in 1974 which was a year or two before the big ‘live double album’ boom of 1976. (Skynyrd, Outlaws, REO and of course, Frampton etc.)

Side one begins with some solo Kenny Loggins. Remember that Loggins and Messina wasn’t actually expected to be a duet. Kenny Loggins was a up and coming solo act. Jimmy Messina was brought in to produce and add a ‘name’ to the project. They clicked so well that he became part of the band. You can see this since the name of the first album was Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina – Sittin’ In. Those songs were “House At Pooh Corner,” “Danny’s Song” and “You Could Break My Heart.”

All those songs were written by Kenny Loggins. Jimmy Messina co-writes some of the best songs on the album. Represented on the live album here are “Listen to a Country Song,” “Holiday Hotel,” “Back to Georgia,” and the “Trilogy: Lovin’ Me/To Make A Woman Feel Wanted/Peace Of Mind.”

Also on here are the previously mentioned great jam songs of “Angry Eyes” and “Vahevala.” And yes, So is “You’re Momma Don’t Dance.”

Loggins and Messina – On Stage peaked at #5 on the Billboard Album Charts.

— Larry Carta 

Track Listing

Side One

1. “House at Pooh Corner” (Kenny Loggins) – 2:40
2. “Danny’s Song” (Loggins) – 3:55
3. “You Could Break My Heart” (Loggins) – 3:06
4. “Lady of my Heart” (Loggins) – 1:50
5. “Long Tail Cat” (Loggins) – 3:23
6. “Listen to a Country Song” (Jim Messina, Al Garth) – 2:33
7. “Holiday Hotel” (Messina, Garth) – 2:08

Side Two

1. “Just Before the News” (Messina) – 1:08
2. “Angry Eyes” (Loggins, Messina) – 10:06
3. “Golden Ribbons” (Messina) – 5:57
4. “Another Road” (Loggins) – 2:22

Side Three

1. “Vahevala” (Loggins, Dann Lottermoser) – 21:00

Side Four

1. “Back to Georgia” (Loggins) – 2:59
2. “Trilogy: Lovin’ Me/To Make a Woman Feel Wanted/Peace of Mind” (Loggins, Messina, Murray MacLeod) – 12:12
3. “Your Mama Don’t Dance” (Loggins, Messina) – 3:02
4. “Nobody But You” (Messina) – 4:32

Personnel

• Kenny Loggins – vocals, guitar
• Jim Messina – vocals, guitar, bass guitar
• Merle Brigante – drums
• Jon Clarke – flute, horns
• Al Garth – violin, horns
• Larry Sims – bass guitar