Mother Lode (album)

Last updated
Mother Lode
LogginsMessina-MotherLodeAlbumCover.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 1974
RecordedJim Messina's home ranch studio, Ojai, California
Genre Rock
Length44:27
Label Columbia
Producer Jim Messina
Loggins and Messina chronology
On Stage
(1974)
Mother Lode
(1974)
So Fine
(1975)

Mother Lode is the fourth studio album (fifth release overall) by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1974. It was their final album with their original backing band, because multireedist and violinist Al Garth would soon leave the band, but multireedist Jon Clarke, bassist Larry Sims and drummer Merel Bregante remained, and saxophonist Don Roberts made his debut on this record. Future Toto keyboardist David Paich plays keyboards on this album while percussionist Milt Holland is augmented by Victor Feldman and the album was recorded on location at Jim Messina's California ranch. The Jim Messina composition "Keep Me in Mind" was sung by bassist Sims, [1] whom Messina praised for having a phenomenal voice in a 2009 interview with Loggins for KCTS-TV. [2]

Contents

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Growin'" (Kenny Loggins, Ronnie Wilkins) – 2:39 (lead singer: Kenny Loggins)
  2. "Be Free" (Jim Messina) – 7:01 (lead singer: Jim Messina)
  3. "Changes" (Messina) – 3:53 (lead singer: Jim Messina)
  4. "Brighter Days" (Loggins, Dona Lyn George) – 3:42 (lead singer: Kenny Loggins)
  5. "Time to Space" (Loggins, George) – 5:48 (lead singers: Kenny Loggins, Larry Sims)

Side two

  1. "Lately My Love" (Messina) – 3:32 (lead singer: Jim Messina)
  2. "Move On" (Messina) – 7:29 (lead singer: Jim Messina)
  3. "Get a Hold" (Loggins) – 3:37 (lead singer: Kenny Loggins)
  4. "Keep Me in Mind" (Messina) – 3:38 (lead singer: Larry Sims)
  5. "Fever Dream" (Loggins, Maury Muehleisen) – 3:03 (lead singer: Kenny Loggins)

Personnel

Loggins & Messina band

Sidemen

Production

Charts

Album - Billboard (United States)

YearChartPosition
1974Pop Albums8
1974Australia (Kent Music Report) [3] 89

Singles - Billboard (United States)

YearSongPosition
1975Changes84
1975Growin'52

Related Research Articles

Jim Messina (musician) American musician

James Messina is an American musician, songwriter, singer, guitarist, recording engineer and record producer. He was a member of the folk rock group Buffalo Springfield, a founding member of the pioneering country rock band Poco, and half of the soft rock duo Loggins and Messina with Kenny Loggins.

Loggins and Messina

Loggins and Messina was an American rock-pop duo consisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina, who achieved their success in the early to mid-1970s. Among their well-known songs are "Danny's Song", "House at Pooh Corner", and "Your Mama Don't Dance". After selling more than 16 million records and becoming one of the leading musical duos of the 1970s, Loggins and Messina broke up in 1976. Although Messina would find only limited popularity following the breakup, Loggins went on to further success in the 1980s. In 2005 and again in 2009, Loggins and Messina reformed for tours in the United States.

<i>Sittin In</i> (Loggins and Messina album) 1971 studio album by Loggins and Messina

Sittin' In is the first album by singer-songwriters Loggins and Messina, released in 1971.

<i>Loggins and Messina</i> (album) 1972 studio album by Loggins and Messina

Loggins and Messina is the second album by singer/songwriters Loggins and Messina, released in 1972.

<i>Full Sail</i> (Loggins and Messina album) 1973 studio album by Loggins and Messina

Full Sail is the third album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in 1973. It showed the versatility of the duo, with everything from 1950s retro to island-style to soft ballads. The single "My Music" charted at No. 16, and the follow-up, "Watching the River Run", made it to No. 71. The album as a whole did better, reaching No. 10 on the Pop Charts.

<i>On Stage</i> (Loggins and Messina album) 1974 live album by Loggins and Messina

On Stage is the fourth album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in 1974. As their first live album, it was released as a double album and featured a side-long version of their hit song "Vahevala".

<i>So Fine</i> (Loggins and Messina album) 1975 studio album by Loggins and Messina

So Fine is the fifth studio album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in 1975. It consists of a collection of covers of 1950s and 1960s rock, country and rockabilly songs.

<i>Native Sons</i> (Loggins and Messina album) 1976 studio album by Loggins and Messina

Native Sons is the sixth and final studio album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in January 1976. It was a departure from previous recordings owing to the presence of string sections, stronger emphasis on flute, minimized use of saxophone, downplayed country influences and Jim Messina's signature guitar work was barely in evidence. After a final concert in Hawaii, the duo quietly went their separate ways. The Messina-penned rock and roll song "Boogie Man" was later covered by Australian rock band The Blue Echoes.

<i>Finale</i> (album) 1977 live album by Loggins and Messina

Finale is the second live double album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in early 1977. Tracks on the album are from performances while touring in 1975 and 1976.

<i>The Best of Friends</i> (album) 1976 compilation album by Loggins and Messina

The Best of Friends is a compilation album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1976.

<i>The Best of Loggins & Messina</i> 1980 greatest hits album by Loggins and Messina

The Best of Loggins & Messina is a compilation album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1980. This album was released by their new label, Embassy Records.

<i>The Best: Sittin in Again</i> 2005 greatest hits album by Loggins and Messina

The Best: Sittin' In Again is the 10th release by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, a compilation album released in mid-2005. This release was timed to preview the duo's subsequent reunion tour. It contains most of their hits and provides a retrospective view of their music from 1971 to 1974. The 18 tracks appearing on the collection were personally selected by Loggins and Messina. Six of the tracks are from their debut album Sittin' In, six are from their 2nd release Loggins and Messina, four are off the 3rd album Full Sail, and two are featured on their 4th LP Mother Lode. No tracks from either of their last two studio albums are included.

<i>Live: Sittin In Again at the Santa Barbara Bowl</i> 2005 live album by Loggins and Messina

Live: Sittin' in Again at Santa Barbara Bowl is a live compilation album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 2005. It was recorded in Santa Barbara at one of the first performances of their reunion tour. The physical CD features thirteen tracks, however an online download-only version includes five additional tracks: "Sailin' the Wind", "Long Tail Cat", "Thinking of You", "Be Free", and "You Need a Man" which can also be heard on the DVD release of the concert.

<i>The Essential Kenny Loggins</i> 2002 compilation album by Kenny Loggins

The Essential Kenny Loggins is the third compilation and second greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, released on November 19, 2002. It is part of Sony BMG's Essential series of compilation albums and includes tracks from Loggins' solo output, as well as tracks from his Loggins and Messina days. A limited edition was released with seven additional tracks.

A Love Song (Loggins and Messina song)

"A Love Song" is a song written by Kenny Loggins and Dona Lyn George, first released by the folk-rock duo Loggins and Messina in 1973 on their album Full Sail. Country artist Anne Murray covered the song later that year for her album of the same name.

Your Mama Dont Dance

"Your Mama Don't Dance" is a hit 1972 song by the rock duo Loggins and Messina. Released on their self-titled album Loggins and Messina, it reached number four on the Billboard pop chart and number 19 on the Billboard Easy Listening Chart as a single in early 1973.

House at Pooh Corner (song) 1971 single by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

"House at Pooh Corner" is a song written by Kenny Loggins, based on the children's book of the same name. It was first performed by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on their 1970 album Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy and then recorded by Loggins and Messina on their 1971 album Sittin' In. It is told from the perspective of both Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin, and serves as an allegory for loss of innocence and nostalgia for childhood. Loggins was a 17-year-old senior in high school when he wrote the song. It has since become one of Loggins' most popular and beloved compositions, and it remains a staple of his live performances.

"Danny's Song" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, as a gift for his brother Danny for the birth of his son, Colin. It first appeared on an album by Gator Creek and a year later on the album Sittin' In, the debut album by Loggins and Messina. The song is well remembered for both the Loggins and Messina original, as well as for Anne Murray's 1972 top-ten-charting cover.

Listen to a Country Song (song) 1971 single by Lynn Anderson

"Listen to a Country Song" is a song written by Al Garth and Jim Messina. It was originally recorded by Loggins and Messina on their 1971 album Sittin' In. Drummer Merel Bregante is using brushes on his drum kit rather than sticks, which helps to reflect the country feel of the song, Al Garth is playing violin and Michael Omartian is playing both tack piano and grand piano.

Thinking of You (Loggins and Messina song) Loggins and Messina song

"Thinking of You" is a song by American duo Loggins and Messina. It was released in 1973 as the second single from their second album, Loggins and Messina. The uptempo rendition released on the single is different from the somewhat more mellow LP mix.

References

  1. "In Memoriam: Larry Sims". 18 December 2014.
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJb0_7o4vaY
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 180. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.