Customer Reviews

Celebrate Me Home

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If only the rest of his solo career had built on the promise of this jazzy masterpiece.... For some reason (probably because Columbia's A&R guys told him to), Loggins teamed up with Bob James who produced (along with Phil Ramone), arranged and staffed the album, and the results are stunning. The song mix is perfect, the groove shifts from ballad to pop to shoop-shoop, yet stays within a range of common appeal that makes the whole seem greater and more thoughtful than the sum of its component tracks.

Loggins can write when he wants to (and when he is not working out his realtionship therapy on disk like so many of his recent works), and his songs played by the likes of Eric Gale, Lee Ritenour, Harvey Mason, James, Hiram Bullock, Robben Ford, and other "jazz planet" guys of the '70s sound fabulous. And the album is so well engineered that it sounds arguably better on LP than on CD (something you analog audiophiles can verify).

Even if the words "Kenny Loggins" cause the post-disco, movie-soundtrack bile to rise in yor throat (a widely-held, but I think unfair, sentiment), anyone who is a fan of contempo jazz vocals must give this album a try. It is almost 30 years old and it still holds up, in the timeless way that really good music should. It is one of my true Desert Island disks, and it might become one of yours, too.

Kenny Loggins was not on the top of my list the day I wandered into the record store in 1977, but I walked out with Celebrate Me Home under my arm and I've been enjoying it ever since. This is one of those uniquely timed recordings in an artists career when all the pieces work perfectly together. For his first solo album he was in a creative groove and surrounded by some of the hottest fusion jazz/rock studio musicians around at the time. This entire album clicks like a fine watch all the way through with a well balanced variety of song styles from sweet to hot. Over the years Kenny's albums have come and gone from my collection, but for me this one is in with the "stranded on a desert isle" section. A must-have Pop/Jazz/Rock Fusion milestone and always fun to hear.

This CD fits in with the mellow rock sounds that is strongly identified with the '70s. Having said that, this is a very solid work. The best cuts are If You Be Wise, Why Do People Lie, I've Got the Melody (a duet with Patti Austin), and You Don't Know Me. Loggins' rendition of I Believe in Love rivals the version of this song done by Barbra Streisand on A Star is Born.

This is a great CD for just letting your mind drift & be carried away by the music and melody...or to indulge in a romantic evening with the person of your choice.

This CD made a remarkable change of pace for the Loggins and Messina frontman. Honestly, I Do NOT like the L&M days, never have never will, but when you get down to the nuts and bolts...cut away the soundtrack trash, and pop-izms in Kenny's Career, you are left with soulful jazzy classics. In the case of Celebrate me Home, you have an album full of Soulful gems. Produced by the incomparable Phil Ramone, and jazzman Bob James, it was unavoidably soft. The record has a feel of a Journeyman settling in for a restful night. Every song here including the bouncy I Believe In Love, make for an amazingly mellow, sweet sounding journey. 45 minutes made it a perfect length and the vocals and instrumentation are flawless. I can't see any reason why this wouldnt be loved by many. I may get some flack on this one, but I Like Loggins the R&B man, not the rocker/country guy. That probably explains why The Unimaginable Life is my all time favorite Loggins CD. and why I don't own any of his 80's garbage...Save for Love Will Follow not much from that era excites me. But to each his own right? Check this out if you like mellow soulful pop/rock.

By 1977 when this album was released, Kenny Loggins was hot property by dint of his songwriting/singing and production as part of Loggins and Messina. His songs had shown increasing sophistication and and even on the last of the duo's records 'Native Sons' (itself a disappointment) Loggin's had some outstanding contributions. As it was, 'Celebrate me Home' was a magnificent collection of songs in the AOR/West Coast genre. Produced by Bob James of jazz piano fame, it had a jazzy, soulful, AOR production. All the songs stand alone as strong compositions with strong themes and competent lyrics. The instrumentation is innovative and colourful, with mandolins and other exotic instruments lying on top of the jazz/soul groove. The female back up singing on 'Ïf you be wise' ( a Jimmy Webb composition) is spine tinglingly evocative and some of Loggin's own compositions are quite outstanding (Enter my dream, I believe in Love). So if you're looking at 70s/80s West Coast music this is up there on the pinnacle. There's no country flavour at all (this was in the twilight of the heyday of country rock) and Loggin's folk music roots aren't apparent either but surely contribute to the backbone of the magnificent song writing. Essential.

During the mid 70's and early 80's artists like Gino Vannelli, Herbie Hancock, Lee Ritenour, Danny O'Keefe, Al Jarreau, Brenda Russell, Michael Franks, Jess Roden and Bobby Caldwell mixed a great blend of pop, soul and jazz resulting in some of the best vocal tunes ever made. Kenny Loggins entered the mix with the fabulous and beautiful Celebrate Me Home. I first heard "I've Got The Melody (Deep In My Heart)" and was left astounded by it's strong vocals, beautiful string arrangement and happy melody. During that time radio wasn't afraid to play non-single cuts from albums and the next great tune I'd hear from "Celebrate Me Home" was "Enter My Dream" and that was enough for me to obtain what would become a 30 year love affair with a musical masterpiece.

Prior to Celebrate Me Home, I was only familiar with a few Loggins and Messina pop songs like "Your Mama Don't Dance" and "My Music" and couldn't believe that half of that duo would create one of the best albums that I've ever heard. Later I'd hear other L&M songs and could detect Kenny's love for jazz evolving. Actually Jimmy Messina's "Oasis" solo album was really good too.

I really miss those early days of Kenny Loggins and wish he stayed on that course because what he made in 1977 was pure magic and despite other fine attempts (primarily "Nightwatch" and "Keep The Fire") that followed nothing quite compared to "Celebrate Me Home." I guess that was Kenny's "Dark Side of the Moon" and you know how often those kind of albums come out. Of course later Hollywood would tap into Kenny's talents and made him into Mr. Soundtrack and then following the 80's I honestly haven't kept up with his music or what I heard not nearly as impressive.

But if you really love 70's and 80's vocals "Celebrate Me Home" is one great album that I highly recommend. When CDs first came out it was on top of my "gotta get list" because I wore out 2 vinyl copies and several homemade cassettes because I could never get enough. It should have been his biggest seller or at least respected more from the critics, but it's still not too late to relive the magic and enjoy early Kenny Loggins at his best!

I've owned this for years on vinyl, now on CD. I'm not really a Loggins fan but this was a perfect album on vinyl and upon repeated listening on CD some kind of a minor masterpiece.

The songs are memorable and the arrangements by jazz master Bob James sparkle.

Some girlfriend in the past turned me on to this and I'm glad she did! Great for gettin' mellow by the fire.

Celebrate me home... a perfect CD. Enjoy

This is Mr. Loggins first attempt at a solo career after departing
his stint with Loggins & Messina.This Cd is fresh,with an abundance
of muscial colors that would make you want to listen to the whole
thing from start to finish. This is the CD where Kenny was himself
and did not have to "change" to fit that musical industry standard.
Each song is well put together. His ballads strike the heart, his
faster tunes are an expression of himself that no one can express
but him. He really tries to create this same type of feeling with his
second CD "Night Watch", but does not even come close to this one. (Even with the duet with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks) Yes the reviewers before be said it very well. A Suberb CD. Like I stated, if this is the only one you are getting,this is all you need. By the way Kenny and Jimmy will be making another attempt this summer touring as the "Reunited again Loggins & Messina". Go out and buy this,again its well worth it!

After splitting up with Jim Messina. Kenny Loggins was asked to do an unusual chore write a song for A STAR IS BORN with Barbra Streisand. The song was "I Believe in Love" co-written with Alan and Marliyn Bergman and Loggins does his own cover here. While he seems to be emulating Barbra (whose then husband Jon Peters would produce Caddyshack his first real outing into the world of movie music.
The album was co-produced by Bob James who also wrote the title song which recently won acclaim when Ruben Studdard sang it on the season farewell of American Idol. The other tracks are somewhat too jazzy for Loggins, but he was of course exploring new territory.

this is kenny's classic solo album. every song is sounds so great. it's a must buy cd for any kenny loogins fan.