Does the Loggins And Messina ‘Full Sail’ album measure up enough to be added in your collection? Indeed, if you are partial to west coast and early 70’s pop, this record has it all.
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Loggins And Messina
ALBUM: Full Sail
LABEL: CBS
SERIAL: KC 32540
YEAR: 1973
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
LINEUP: Kenny Loggins – vocals, guitars, harmonica * Jim Messina – vocals, bass, guitar, mandolin * Merel Bergante – drums * Al Garth – sax, violin, clarinet, recorder * Larry Sims – bass, vocals * Jon Clarke – sax, flute, clarinet, oboe, english horn * Milt Holland – percussion * Michael Omartian – keyboards * Vince Charles – steel drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Lahaina * 02 Travelin’ Blues * 03 My Music * 04 A Love Song * 05 You Need A Man * 06 Coming To You * 07 Watching The River Run * 08 Pathway To Glory * 09 Didn’t I Know You When * 10 Sailin’ In The Wind
Background
Coming off the Top 40 success of ‘Your Momma Don’t Dance’, Loggins And Messina were on something of a roll by the time ‘Full Sail’ saw release, fitting nicely into the Laurel Canyon sound of the Eagles and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Formed in 1970, Kenny Loggins was already an established songwriter for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, while Messina paid his dues in both Buffalo Springfield and Poco.
Both personalities meshed exceedingly well as a duo, Loggins And Messina recording six studio albums and releasing two live recordings. A sure sign that their live shows is where they excelled as both a headliner and opening act for Steve Miller Band, Linda Rondstadt and New Riders Of The Purple Sage.
The Songs
With their impressive history out of the way, does ‘Full Sail’ measure up enough to be added in your collection? Indeed, if you are partial to west coast sounds and early 70’s pop, this record has it all. This is one of those examples where you can judge an album by its cover.
Kenny Loggins frighteningly heavy facial hair aside, ‘Full Sail’ is a light and breezy affair opening with the island flavoured ‘Lahaina’. Fun, but ‘Travelin’ Blues’ finds Loggins And Messina at their best in my opinion. A nice mid tempo ballad with jazzy inclinations and a sneak peek at the direction Loggins would take with his solo career.
‘My Music’ the albums single is a bouncy made for radio track that is just a little too ‘Your Momma Don’t Dance’ for my tastes, but record buyers loved it getting up to number 16 on the U.S charts. ‘A Love Song’ is the classic acoustic ballad Loggins would re-record later and become one of his most beloved tracks sung ad nauseum around campfires around the world and as you might imagine not my thing at all.
But ‘You Need A Man/Coming To You’ is a good if somewhat rambling rock jam that brings the record up a bit. Good stuff and ‘Sailin’ The Wind’ closes the album on a high note with some gorgeous acoustic guitar/saxophone interplay.
In Summary
‘Full Sail’ receives a lot of play in my household, since it’s one of my wife’s favourite albums. Because of this and despite its inconsistencies I have warmed to the record over the years and on a lazy Saturday evening on the patio with a glass of wine Loggins And Messina certainly hits the spot. Rockers need not apply.
