Loggins & Messina..early Trop Rockers

[TraderRick]

Listening to Loggins & Messina's "Vahevala" (from "Sittin' In") recently took me back to that 1972 college party when I heard it for the first time as the sun was coming up. I remember thinking what a great sound that was- and wanting more of the same. Then came the "Full Sail" album. Not too long after that Jimmy was opening for the boys. So here's to Kenny & Jim...for introducing some of the earliest elements of Trop Rock that I can remember.

[surfpirate]

Because a few years later, it was "Footloose Time".
It's 1984, and *The Boy Who Dances Away Oppression* starring Kevin Bacon (Jason Lee!) is on the horizon.
Jimmy Buffett and his evil Margaritavillains trap Kenny Loggins
so he can't record a sweet theme song.
Will Michael McDonald and James Ingram
arrive to cut his foot loose and save the day?

Oh .... There will be blood. Bwahahahaha!



(SORRY ... ANY EXCUSE TO DRAG OUT THIS CLASSIC)

[TraderRick]

Now if you wanted to get liberal with your definition of "Trop Rock" there's always this...

[citcat]

Oh my gosh. My church had a 'talent' show a few weeks ago and the hubby and I did the Rock a Hula song. He was dressed up as Elvis (hair-wig, clothes, everything) and I was his hula girl with grass skirt, leis, flowered maracas and everything. I really shook my grass around. It was filmed and is on a dvd.

Which will never see the light of day outside of our little town. I must say, we cracked them up.

[MacPhin]

Love L& M. Used to listen to them all the time back in the 70's....... you're mamma don't dance ...... and daddy don't rock n' roll

[TraderRick]

Love L& M. Used to listen to them all the time back in the 70's....... you're mamma don't dance ...... and daddy don't rock n' roll

I don't think they ever really got their due in terms of the great music they made back then. Kenny Loggins is one of the greatest songwriters of his generation. House at Pooh Corner, Danny's Song and many others have shown themselves to be classics of that rock genre. The footnote here though would be that Kenny did get way commercial in the '80s with all those slick soundtracks... I'm guessing they definitely paid the bills, though.

[MonumentBeach]

Saw them a couple times on their reunion tour last year. We knew it was going to be a good show, but we walked away extremely impressed. One of the best shows we saw last year.

And I agree....I think they are underrated.

[TraderRick]

Saw them a couple times on their reunion tour last year. We knew it was going to be a good show, but we walked away extremely impressed. One of the best shows we saw last year.

And I agree....I think they are underrated.

In 1974 I attended Loggins & Messina's "Full Sail" Tour as it passed thru Spokane- and the stage set looked incredibly similar to what many Buffett concerts look like today. So I wouldn't be surprised if Jimmy took one or two cues from L&M in those early years. Bubba is one very observant, savvy businessman. Why do you think he's still filling arenas 30+ years later and (unfortunately) L&M aren't. In fact I would have to say that Jimmy is much more businessman than artist these last few years...just my opinion.

[popcornjack]

Thanks for posting this! I love this song, and although I always knew it was Loggins and Messina, I never knew the name of it. (And as for what i was doing in 1972, I think my parents were trying to get me to take my first steps. )