Customer Reviews

Sittin in

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Undoubtedly "Sittin' In" was one of the seminal albums for the singer-songwriter genre of the 1970s, and was also highly typical (and yet influential) of the growing California sound. Kenny Loggins's pairing with Jim Messina was one of those magical happenstances you look back on years later with wonder, like Crosby & Nash inviting Stills over one afternoon.

Although the achingly beautiful "Danny's Song" (with which Anne Murray had a big hit later) is worth the entire purchase price of the CD, there are other standouts as well, including the popular "House at Pooh Corner," "Back to Georgia," and the trilogy of "Lovin' Me," "To Make a Woman Feel Wanted," and "Peace of Mind."

Though their other albums together may not have been as strong, "Sittin' In" is a clear and enjoyable demonstration of the potential they had and the songwriting gifts they both possessed.

This is an album which moved mainstream rock into a country groove and introduced the genius of Kenny Loggins to the world. We have here, the brillance of Kenny's and Jim's music and the budding of Michael Omartian's producing skills. It's a timeless album.

What can I say? This pairing of Loggins and Messina really jells on this record. Rock, acoustic, blues, and even a little carribean soul. That Vaheevalah number really has a nice spirit. Danny's Song and House At Pooh Corner are just so pretty. And Nobody But You and Back to Georgia have a good rock beat. Perfectly sequenced this one is a winner on all accounts.

Sittin' In is easily the best example of Loggins and Messina - the CD is a showcase collection of L&M's variety of musical styles. There are some classic songs on this CD that will show off your home music system, which is why the LP version was so popular as a demo source in high-end audio stores back in the day. If you enjoy these guys at all you should get this CD.

to create a beautiful mix! The acoustical tone of this album is superb as are the songs. I've had the LP, cassette, and now the CD and MP3. I think I listened to the first side more than the rest, mostly because I'd put it on and go take a bubble bath and kick back.

The cassette rearranged the tracks, so it messed up the flow of the album, glad to have them back the original way on this CD.

Sorry I'm not good with words. I just put the thing on the stereo and it lifts my spirits, it's simple fun without all the production crap everyone gets into in later years in the music world. On the 2nd side (last half) they start getting a little political, so it serves many purposes for why a person would listen to music including love songs and nostalgia. You just have to start "pickin' and a grinnin'".

If you prefer acoustical guitars like I do, this is a perfect album!

Jimmy Messina was a recording engineer and producer for the Buffalo Springfield. When their bass player, Bruce Palmer was arrested for drug possession and deported (twice) Jim Messina stepped in to play bass as a permanent member of the group. Neil Young was also threatening to, and eventually did, leave the group and Messina was also an accomplished electric and acoustic guitar player, so his requirements in the band were often stretched. Eventually the group, comprised of all 5 type-A personalities folded for good on completion of the 3rd and last album, Stills and Young moved on to their super-group and solo careers, and Richie Furay and Jim Messina went on to form Poco. Poco itself was a band of type-A's including Rusty Young and future Eagle, Randy Meisner. Again after 3 albums there was a group shake-up and Jim abandoned the group (as well as others). Once again a producer and engineer, Jim came across a talented young songwriter, Kenny Loggins, trying to become a performer. They began recording in Messina's living room and with Jimmy actually "sitting in" but what began as a producer assisting a new artist in releasing a debut album, turned into the launching of a new group:
Loggins & Messina.

SITTIN IN was not an instant commercial success but over the next year '71-'72, us college kids (and the more adventurous high schoolers) got our hands on it through word of mouth and by L&M engaging in a lot of campus touring. The personnel line up which Jimmy assembled, originally for Loggins studio and touring efforts, were some of the best unknown talent he could find. These musicians would propel Loggins & Messina through all of three critically praised albums and through most of three more studio and one live album. SITTIN IN is the beginnings of another super-group story which recently (2005) toured again to sell-out crowds.

This album is a powerhouse of simple yet complex, acoustic yet electric, country-folk yet rock with a splash of jazz, lyrical yet instrumental-jam, songs and ballads. SITTIN IN, like the follow-up LOGGINS & MESSINA, and FULL SAIL after that, have no clunkers, no weak tracks, no filler, no poor efforts. Every song gives us 100% of pure unadulterated talent and hours of listening pleasure. If you like gentle acoustic love songs, and post-psychedelic lead-exchanging music jam sessions, and thoughtful introspective lyrics, and grass-roots feel-good music, and even a little protest-music, then this album is for you. Ditto for the two follow-on albums. SITTIN IN was a pioneer in the early 70's period as a pioneer of the burgeoning progressive rock, album oriented rock, and all-encompassing classic rock genres. Don't miss this one!

Talk about memories... Nothing but great songs and smiles. You can feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair!
Let your mind travel back to those times you loved sooo much.

David A. Koop, Bestselling Author
Cancer - It's a Good Thing I Got It !: The Life Story of a Very Lucky Man

Great music. Converted my old obsolete vinyl Albums to CD with this purchase and then downloaded into my MP3 player. Listen to all the oldies driving to and from work. It brings me back to College days listening to the tunes I grew up on.

The reality is that this album took an unknown, Loggins, and teamed him up with an old pro, Messina. Jim's great success at writing, guitar playing and producing with Buffalo Springfield and Poco were all good fortune for Kenny Loggins. Messina wrote or co-wrote half the album, played lead guitar and produced the album with a little guiding input from the great record producer Clive Davis. For me it seems the most overlooked cut on the album is Same Old Wine by Messina. It captures a timeless political sentiment from the late 60's and early 70's that resonates again today. Jim's guitar solo here is one of the best you'll ever hear and a strong testament to his place as one of rock n' roll's greatest contributors.

In forty years, this album still remains one of my top three favorite albums of all time. To give this perspective, even though I'm 60, I have enjoyed genre's from each decade as music has evolved. I discovered "The Eighties" living in Germany. Still my favorite music genre. The nineties through my teenagers. And the new millennium through a progressive rock station here in town. (Currently, "Mates of State" is off the charts, IMHO)

But I digress (-; It's rare for me to find an album where every single song is a five star stand up work of art. "Sittin' In" is one of three. And, it's also rare that songs I really like thirty or forty years ago, still hold the same esteem. "Sittin' In" is one of them. I had the rare privilege to see them live in 1973 at Constitution Hall in DC. Oh, my heart. "Danny's Song" could only be written by a father and "Loving You" could only be written by a man flat stupid in love. None of this "Get naked and we can make love forever." Oh, shut up. "The Trilogy" still gives me goosebumps and I am not Mr. Touchy-Feely.

I guess I am somewhat chagrinned that this true work of art can be had for seven bucks. What do I know?