On Stage

The first time I saw Loggins & Messina was in the early 70's in Asbury Park, NJ. Jim Croce was the opening act. I was floored by how diverse their music was and how great a band they had assembled. This CD captures th eband at their creative high. "Finale" as a medicre live CD and even thogh "Sitting In Again - Live" was some great moments, if you were to buy one Loggins & Messina CD, this is the one to get.

When I toured Graceland, I noticed this album was in Elvis' collection of albums. That's good enough for me.

My very first concert was L&M in Jackson, Mississippi in 1976. The set they played that night was basically what is on this album and it was just an awesome experience. Heart opened the show, which was fun in itself, and I was totally caught up in every L&M song that night. The full band just filled the stadium. I love listening to this album and remembering that night, it was the best 'first concert' I could have had.

JFC...! I had forgotten how absolutely incredible this album is. An unlikely array of instruments (how do you make a pedal steel work with a horn section...???), stylistically diverse, instrumental virtuosity, passionate, light-hearted, serious, funky, jazzy, sophisticated/bucolic. Need I say more...???

For five years L and M were my favorite performers. I saw them in concert five times, from Seattle south to San Diego. On their recordings it is Kenny Loggins' acoustic performances that carries the band. But live, I don't know of any other band which provided the vibrant and enchanting musical experience, sans theatrics, that L and M and their ensemble could. Its true that their music was pure middle-of-the-road, but that accessibility was their metier, and from '74 to '78 no one was greater. Their live recording "On Stage" captures exquisitely the experience of their shows, with the set piece "Vahevala" exhibiting the individual musicians in short solos, devoid of flash and ego, as well as the perfect cohesion usually experienced only at classical music performances. "On Stage" is one of the most valuable and enjoyable timepieces of the 70's and will certainly earn repeated plays by anyone who owns it.

The first time I ever saw Loggins & Messina was at the San Francisco recording for this album. I had never heard of either one of them, and 'till this day, I have never forgotten that great performance. I haven't seen Jimmy Messina perform live since & I've proceeded to see Kenny Loggins at least 6 times over the years. Nothing ever came close to the perfection they made that night. That being said... I am not a fan of 'live' CD's. But 'On Stage' is the exception to the rule. Teenage memories aside, they were flawless... and they got it on tape. Vahevala, Angry Eyes.... This is the one to own! Trust me. It doesn't get any better than this!