The Essential Kenny Loggins [LIMITED EDITION] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Kenny Loggins

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 19, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000787EV
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,914 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best Kenny Loggins collection available!, October 22, 2003

By	guillermoj (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This set is a MUST over the only previously available best of package, titled "Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow" as it digs way deeper into his catalogue for many essential hits previously ignored and it is beautifully remastered to boot. I also appreciate how several key songs are played in their full original versions, instead of "single" versions that are tainting many greatest hits collections. Think of hearing "Convinction of the Heart" without it's full beggining.

Although I have been a fan for so many years, I had forgotten what a hitmaker Kenny Loggins was and hopefully the well is not dry. The man possesses such a beautiful voice and his lyrics are heartfelt, which is rare today. I know that many music critics dismiss many "soft rock" (not my categorization) artists, but this collection proves to me that the songs are great and not just because they remind me of great times, but because they really combine great songwriting, a soothing voice, and a melodic powerhouse that will not be ignored.

I don't give this release a full 5 stars ("only" 4+) because it omitted "Love Will Flow", which is an essential song, and the 2nd CD could have used some finetuning as some of his recent songs are not as strong as other material. My suggestion is to buy this great collection and make your own private 1 CD copy as I did. It was hard to try fit all MY essentials in only one CD, but I reluctantly left out "Danger Zone" to make my songs fit as I'll get my "Top Gun" era Kenny pleasure from the remastered soundtrack, which also includes "Dancing With The Boys". In a nutshell, I'd rather buy a collection such is this and trim it rather than buy a product that excludes important songs. Kenny is awesome, and if you need a reminder just listen to "Heart to Heart" and it will start coming back!!!! I am so happy to have rediscovered Kenny through this release

Kenny Loggins has had a career that easily warrants this 2 CD set, while other artists with only one or two releases under their best are actually daring to put out greatest hits collections.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "This is Kenny LOGGINS?", December 19, 2002

By	M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

That's what those unfamiliar with Mr. Loggins will say over and over again when listening to this album. My wife said it four times on the first disc alone.
His Loggins & Messina cuts, coupled with his early solo work, have a classic 70's sound, and I mean that in a good way. It's a defining sound. You'll be surprised at the number of standards he's now responsible for.
His late 70's/early 80's songs also perfectly capture THAT era, with a smooth, catchy pop-rock sound hallmarked by "This Is It" and "Heart to Heart". I mean, he even does a duet with Journey's Steve Perry!
His 80's soundtrack work has those synth drums, keyboard fills and bouncy guitars that SCREAMS "oh-so-80's", and the movies "Footloose", "Top Gun", and "Caddyshack" (among others) had Mr.Loggins prominently featured during their key moments.
His more recent work is less distinctive, but no less enjoyable.
This is a smartly compiled set, with clearly improved sonics from the previous CD releases.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Was there really a need for this?, February 19, 2003

By	Distant Voyageur "Nicholas Computer" (Io) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

What was the business of putting this collection together? Did the record company think that there were mistakes with the "Yesterday Today Tommorrow" CD released in 1997 and felt that there needed to be correction? Don't know.

Anyhow, this 2 CD set despite it being a double album, still is missing some glaring highlights and some songs should've been re-arranged. For example "Real Thing" should've been put just before "Conviction Of The Heart" and where is "Love Will Follow"? That is one of Loggins best songs of his entire career and

Brushing all of that aside, I can definately say that this is a much more consistant hits retrospective of Loggins 20+ year career of music and none of his albums are cut out of the picture, not even the overlooked masterpiece "The Unimaginable Life" with the spectacular title track although more songs off that 1997 gem could've been put on here. But hey, there isn't such a thing as a true "best of" as what goes onto alot of these kinds of collections aren't as strong or suited to fans taste as some of the songs on the parent albums and not on the 'best of' CDs and that includes this one.

This is a marvelous set, but I just feel that it wasn't a HUGE necessity of being assembled so soon after the previous hit CD a few years ago. If you want the 'best of' Kenny Loggins, get the parent album with the songs you like but for casual fans or those who want to hear Loggins music for the first time, this 2 CD album is a good buy for those. For veteran fans or those who already have his albums, there's little point in getting this CD. I would instead recommend the 80s dance album "Vox Humana", Loggins crowning achievement "Leap Of Faith", or Loggins other masterpiece "The Unimaginable Life", the latter two are astounding and are must-haves.