rockofallages81-tvgda

Before Kenny Loggins went solo, he and former Buffalo Springfield bassist Jim Messina were Loggins & Messina. They had a huge hit with their 1972 single, “Your Mama Don’t Dance,” but within just a few years, they were ready to part ways. They released their sixth studio album, Native Sons, in January 1976 and then broke up in September of the same year.
The album sold decently well, being certified Gold in the U.S. And as far as I could tell, critics seemed to think it was just okay. But this album was less a collaboration and more a collection of songs from two separate guys. The first three Loggins & Messina albums each had at least one song that the two men wrote together. 1974’s Mother Lode had no such songs and 1975’s So Fine was a covers album so it doesn’t count. But Kenny and Jim are still good songwriters, so Native Sons has a decent amount to recommend, though most to all of the best songs are on Side A. Side B opens with the single “Peacemaker,” which I like but I probably wouldn’t have picked it as the single. “It’s Alright” is an… attempt at a political song. Everything after that is just okay.
Maybe listen up to “Peacemaker,” and then proceed further if you’re really, really curious.