On Stage

Amazon.com Even those around for the decade may find it hard to believe that Loggins & Messina were an excellent live act throughout the '70s. Some might argue they were superior to Crosby, Stills & Nash onstage in their ability to leap between introspective singer/songwriter and rock & roll modes. (Lest we forget, Messina was a Buffalo Springfield alumnus who'd agreed to produce the lesser-known Loggins's debut LP). Which is why On Stage--featuring a crack band, the hits from "House at Pooh Corner" to "Your Mama Don't Dance," and extended versions of all the other faves--was not only the duo's highest charting album, but, along with the Sittin' In debut, their best effort. --Bill Holdship Product description Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina's combined talents reached a kind of apotheosis in concert, all based on the same relationship they'd had in the studio -- Loggins' songwriting and singing, supported by Messina's performing and his long experience with Poco, came to a head on the tour leading up to this concert album, recorded at two East Coast venues in March of 1973 and at Winterland in San Francisco the following month. After a gorgeous yet subdued introduction by Loggins as a solo performer on a handful of numbers, Messina and the band take the stage and loft the proceedings into a bracing mix of folk- and country-rock. And they break those boundaries, soaring into psychedelic territory on the 21-minute "Vahevala," which took up all of side three on the original LP. One would think that everything after that would be anti-climactic, but all involved are just as sharp on the fourth side of more modestly proportioned gems. As praiseworthy as the duo's playing and singing is, one must also credit the rhythm section of Larry Simms (bass) and Merle Brigante (drums), and Al Garth (violin, horns) and Jon Clarke (flute, horns) for their performances. This is a live album that hits on all cylinders, and its only flaw, if there is one, is actually a byproduct of one of its virtues: On Stage was recorded so early in their history that it only really represents the songs off the duo's first two albums (Full Sail wouldn't be out until six months after these shows). Otherwise, it could easily have copped the "best-of" designation in substance, if not actual name.
ASIN: B0000062FH
VSKU: DBV.B0000062FH.G
Condition: Good
Author/Artist:Loggins & Messina
Binding: Audio cd
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