We continue our look back the music of 50 years ago…..
After their first LP went from a Loggins solo project to a duo LP featuring producer Jim Messina both of the musicians and the record company realized thay had something that should be explored. The second, self-titled LP was released in the fall of 1972 and immediatly became a hit.
The songs are a nice mix of Loggins & Messina originals and feature the pleasing harmonies and the clean, tight playing of both principals along with some excellent support from their touring band…. bassist Larry Sims, drummer Merel Bregante, Al Garth on violin and sax and Jon Clarke on sax flute and other assorted reed instruments.
The album featured some hit singles, the pleasant ‘Thinking Of You” and the upbeat ‘Your Mama Don’t Dance” which they did live during an appearance on ‘The Midnight Special”. The latter went to #4 on the charts.
Other standouts for me include “Angry Eyes” feauring some great sax & flute work and guitar solos…some really solid harmonies on “Golden Ribbons” and the Dixieland influence of “Long Tail Cat” which features some nice dobro from Poco’s Rusty Young.
We should also highlight the guest contribution of Michael Omartian on keyboards. His playing is really nice on many of the tunes.
Their were lots of duos working in the early and mid 70’s…few, if any, hit the heights of these guys.
