The Best of Friends | ||||
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Compilation album by | ||||
Released | Nov 1976 | |||
Genre | Rock | |||
Length | 38:16 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Loggins and Messina chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Christgau's Record Guide | C+ [2] |
The Best of Friends is a compilation album (9th release) by singer-songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1976.
It consists of 10 of their most popular and best loved songs in what is essentially a "greatest hits" LP. To promote the compilation's release, Columbia issued a single version of the album track 'Angry Eyes' in a truncated 2:23 version as opposed to its 7 minute length.
The CD release featured the same tracks as the original 1976 LP; "Angry Eyes" is still the shorter version and no additional tracks were added to fill the CD to the 80-minute limit.
Chart (1977) | Peak position |
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US Billboard Top LPs [3] | 61 |
Loggins and Messina was an American pop rock duo consisting of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina, who achieved major chart success during the early-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 separated in 1976. Although Messina would find only limited popularity following the breakup, Loggins went on to achieve major chart success in the 1980s. In 2005 and again in 2009, Loggins and Messina reformed for tours in the United States.
Sittin' In is the debut studio album by singer-songwriters Loggins and Messina, released in 1971.
Loggins and Messina is the second album by singer-songwriters Loggins and Messina, released in 1972.
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.
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".
Mother Lode is the fourth studio album 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, whom Messina praised for having a phenomenal voice in a 2009 interview with Loggins for KCTS-TV.
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.
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.
The Best of Loggins & Messina is a compilation album by singer-songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1980 in Britain and Europe by Embassy Records, an imprint of their usual European label CBS Records.
The Best: Sittin' In Again is a greatest hits album by American singer-songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released on May 24, 2005. This release was timed to preview the duo's subsequent reunion tour. It contains most of their hit singles 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 sophomore album Loggins and Messina, four are off their third album Full Sail, and two are featured on their fourth album Mother Lode. No tracks from either of their last two studio albums are included.
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.
Celebrate Me Home is the debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. It was released on April 13, 1977, by Columbia Records. The album was Loggins' first since Loggins and Messina ended in 1976, represents a slight move away from the folk-rock leanings of his previous recordings towards a more polished, soft rock sound.
Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair) is the ninth studio album by American country music singer Kenny Chesney, released on January 25, 2005. The album debuted at number one album on the US Billboard 200 chart.
Keep the Fire is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, released in 1979. It is perhaps best known for the hit single "This is It". The song was co-written by Michael McDonald, who also performed on the track. Michael Jackson sings backup vocals on the track "Who's Right, Who's Wrong".
Vox Humana is the fifth studio album released by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in 1985, it was Loggins' first album released after his appearance upon the soundtrack to the motion picture Footloose during the year prior.
Back to Avalon is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in 1988, it yielded the hit singles "Nobody's Fool ", "I'm Gonna Miss You", "Tell Her", and "Meet Me Half Way", the last of which is a ballad which had already become a top 40 hit the previous year through the film Over the Top. It is the only studio album by Loggins to feature songs from motion picture soundtracks to date.
Outside: From the Redwoods is the second live album released by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins. Released in August 1993, it is the recording of his June 1993 concert held "outside" at a venue located within a stand of giant redwood trees. The album features reworked versions of many of Loggins's songs, both from his solo work and his earlier work in Loggins and Messina. Michael McDonald gives a guest performance on a reworked version of their classic co-written, "What a Fool Believes", and R&B singer Shanice gives guest performances on "I Would Do Anything" and "Love Will Follow".
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.
Greatest Hits is Linda Ronstadt's first major compilation album, released at the end of 1976 for the holiday shopping season. It includes material from both her Capitol Records and Asylum Records output, and goes back to 1967 for The Stone Poneys' hit "Different Drum."
Les Plus Grands Succès De Chic: Chic's Greatest Hits, also known as The Best of Chic, is a greatest hits album by the American R&B band Chic, released on Atlantic Records in late 1979. It includes the biggest hits from their first three albums: Chic (1977), C'est Chic (1978) and Risqué (1979).