Loggins and Messina’s Sittin’ In album is one of maybe four albums I can recall that my parents used to listen to a lot in the early/mid 1970s and as a result are some of my earliest musical memories. Before albums like Dire Straits and Billy Joel’s The Stranger and 52nd Street that I’ve mentioned hearing cause my dad listened to them a lot in the late 70s, there was Exodus by Bob Marley, some John Denver albums, Dylan’s Slow Train Coming and Loggins and Messina’s Sittin’ In. I mean I’ve known this stuff since I was maybe 5-7 years old so it is truly the beginnings of my love of music. I can’t be sure I can even be objective about it cause it is so connected to a time in my life that is so far back I barely remember much. It is the musical equivalent of a smell that you are unaware of until you smell it and are transported to some time or place that you probably wouldn’t ever have thought of or remembered without the sensory prompt. Music is like that also sometimes and this album does exactly that.
So short story long, Loggins in his early days wrote some songs that were recorded by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (aka Will The Circle Be Unbroken). That led to him recording an album with Jim Messina producing. Jim had been in the band Poco which formed on the dissolution of Neil Young and Steven Stills’ The Buffalo Springfield group. Jim started writing with Kenny and thus the actual title of the first album by Loggins and Messina is “Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In” though it is often just referred to as Sittin’ In. If you ever wanted to know why…now you know. This album led to a partnership that lasted from 1971 through 1976 and six studio albums. I have absolutely no idea what anyone thinks of this album but for me it is absolutely awesome. But like I said I am also fundamentally aware of my complete lack of objectivity about it as well. Truth be told though, I’m pretty sure it is actually an amazingly good album. It is an incredibly well played and written record. Lots of various instrumentation, horns, hammond organ, guitars, great drumming, fiddle, tambourines, harmonica etc. It is REALLY well produced and mixed and every single song on the album is catchy as hell but without trying to be commercial in any way. It is one of those albums you can tell someone just wrote cause they love writing music and came up with some killer songs. Nobody But You is a kicking upbeat fun opening song. Danny’s Song is an absolutely gorgeous acoustic guitar based tune that was a huge hit – if you don’t recognize the title…its the one without goes “Even though we ain’t got money I’m so in love with you honey and everything will bring a chain of love. In the morning when I rise you bring a tear of joy to my eyes and tell me everything is gonna be alright”. Gorgeous harmonies and lovely fiddle and stand up bass as well. Vahevala is another great upbeat uptempo song…kind of caribbean inspired…at least I think it is…it is inspired by something. Love it either way. No fucking idea what a Vahevala is. In my mind it is where Nordic gods go when they die. I’m very likely incorrect. Trilogy is a rare little mashup of three songs – like someone made me a little acoustic based 11 minute long prog-lite song that sounds like it could easily fit on Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album. Lovin’ Me/To Make A Woman Feel Wanted/Peace Of Mind are the three parts – the middle section is the shortest and in my opinion the lesser of the three sections as the first section is amazing and the last part is absolutely awesome. Again the backing vocals are stellar on this song as they are on every song on the record. Back To Georgia is a fun honky tonk kind of sound. House At Pooh Corner is…well I mean it is one of my all time favourite songs by anyone….ever…it is such an incredible piece of music in its simplicity, message, lyrics, and execution. It is truly a perfect song and I never, EVER tire of hearing it. It can bring me to tears at times…maybe I need some help…Anyway where was I? Oh right counting all the bees in the hive…The last three songs on the record are Listen To A Country Song which not surprising, is the most country sounding song on the album and is probably my least favourite song the record. Same Old Wine is an amazing slow burn song at just over 8 minutes. Last up is Rock ’N Roll Mood which is a lovely piano solo song turned chest beating full on band anthem ending. Shit man, this album is just so freaking good and I find it really hard to classify stylistically…It isn’t really country nor it is soft rock…it sounds like if you took an album like Exile On Main Street and dipped it in Music From Big Pink…made it a bit more commercial, gave everyone ecstasy and let them loose to have as much fun as they could, Sittin’ In would be the result.
Loggins and Messina recorded five albums after this one and I haven’t listened to a single song from any of them. They weren’t a band I sought out or specifically got into. They were just a part of my formative early years and I simply never listened to anything else by them. I am aware however that they did make some good albums after this one. If you have any personal favourites lay them on me. I’m willing to take some suggestions.
Following the duo’s breakup Loggins then went on to harvest a highly successful solo career in soft rock and movie soundtracks. Other than songs like Footloose and Danger Zone I really couldn’t name many of his solo hits other than I’m Alright from Caddyshack which I love due to the fact that it is a great song from a great movie. Either that or it is a shit song from a great movie. Regardless, the movie makes me like the song enough to not consider it shit. So I decided to drop a digital needle on Kenny’s greatest hits to see if my suspicion that his solo work is pretty much intolerable was correct. Lo and behold here is what I found…This Is It…I don’t think so…Heart To Heart…no thanks….Don’t Fight It…yikes…Playing With The Boys…My God Man! no thank you….Meet Me Half Way…someone please make it stop….What the fuck man? How could this be? He writes one of my most cherished albums from my youth and on a quick assessment of his hits it’s all shit…OR maybe just the hits are shit but the album tracks are in fact fucking awesome…I’ve thought about that as a truly viable possibility but in the end I decided I’m not willing to risk the time required to find out…I have a pretty good sense for these things and I’m leaning in the direction that the non-hits are just shit songs that no one knows…I must really need some sleep or a sandwich or maybe I’m right on target…or maybe not….I mean a lot of people love Kenny Loggins music and he has churned out 14 likely bland slabs of time suckage so what do I know – I stand by music I love and I call em like I see em but I NEVER make fun of anyone for liking any kind of music at all so if Kenny Loggins is what really gets you…Into the Danger Zone I guess…let me know…what is it you like that I should give a listen to….Otherwise I have a feeling this may be the last time I mention Kenny Loggins…Sorry Kenny if you’re listening…FYI I randomly heard your song Tell Her from your Back To Avalon album and I’m formally banning music in your town. It’s for the good of everyone. Only a lot of Molly at a bar on the day Covid restrictions end could make it tolerable in any way. Thanks for Sittin’ In though!
