Jim Messina is the talented musician whom we came to know as a late addition to and producer of Buffalo Springfield, a founding member of Poco, and a mainstay in Loggins and Messina. He plays guitar and mandolin. He is a gifted songwriter. Given the immaculate sound of the Loggins and Messina albums, he should be recognized for his production work as well. This past Thursday Messina turned 77 and he will be on tour in 2025. He’s still working. I thought it might be enjoyable to take a brief look back at some of his best work with Kenny Loggins.
I saw Loggins and Messina perform live for the first time in the summer of 1972 on the Boston Common. Kenny Loggins seemed too happy to convey the gravity I was looking for. He jumped enthusiastically around the stage. I resisted. I hated the lightweight songs like “Your Mama Don’t Dance.” I couldn’t wait for him/them to get off. I had come to hear John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, for whom they opened that night. The Mahavisnu Orchestra — they were heavy. I responded to the gravity that I found lacking in Loggins and Messina.
I subsequently caught up with the Loggins and Messina albums. By my lights the production of those albums was perfect. Having joined up with Loggins after his work with Buffalo Springfield and Poco, Messina knew what he was doing in the studio. Loggins was an excellent singer and songwriter. Working with Loggins as an independent producer for Columbia, Messina put together a terrific band that reflected the pop craftsmanship of the Loggins and Messina partnership. Even if their albums ranged in quality, the two of them made a stellar duo. Then they went their separate ways in 1977.
“Angry Eyes” is from their self-titled second album. The writing on this one is credited to both Loggins and Messina. This American Songwriter backgrounder suggests that the song originated with Messina. Whatever, the two of them sounded great together backed by the band Messina had assembled.
Mother Lode may be the best Loggins and Messina album and “Brighter Days” may be the best song on it. Written by Kenny Loggins with Dona Lyn George, it’s not a good time song. It’s a bad time song. Messina adds the grace notes on mandolin in the live recording below as he does on Mother Lode‘s studio version.
Messina contributed several of his own compositions to Mother Lode. “Be Free” was one of them. The lyrics are hit and miss or dated, but Messina’s arrangement gave the band a chance to show its stuff on the long instrumental interlude. Again, Messina’s work on mandolin shines.
Messina also contributed “Keep Me In Mind” to Mother Lode. It’s a tortured song of the love hurts variety that seems nakedly confessional. I declare this song a buried gem. Messina gave bassist Larry Sims the haunting vocal.
Loggins and Messina reunited in 2005 for a live album recorded in Santa Barbara to kick off a reunion tour. We caught them at the Target Center in Minneapolis and enjoyed them greatly. Original saxophonist Jon Clarke had died that June at the age of 54. They recalled him with a graphic that brought to mind the band as I saw it on the Boston Common. They opened their reunion show with “Watching the River Run,” a song that they wrote together by trading off lines.
Sittin’ In closed side one with the “Trilogy” ending with Messina’s “Peace of Mind.” I thought their performance of it was the highlight of the 2005 show. Kenny Loggins does some serious testifyin’, but Messina takes the great line: “Blessed be the one who can understand why people have to act that way/If I knew I wouldn’t even want to say.” It’s a Sunday morning song. Thank you, Mr. Messina.
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