Even though it could do without the duet with Michael McDonald at the end (out of order since it goes from LEAP OF FAITH to MORE SONGS FROM POOH CORNER to THE UNIMAGINABLE LIFE, it is the most complete collection of Loggins' works to date. It would be nice to see a box set of Loggins' works including some of his rareties (eg. his early work with Gator Creek with whom he did the first recorded version of "Danny's Song" with, his session work with Bill Champlin, Pages, Jim Brickman, Everett
Harp, etc.) How's about it Kenny:D)

Kenny Loggins has been many things in his long career (has it really been 30 years?). Earnest song-writer, proto-folkrocker with Jim Messina, middle-of-the-road hitmaker as a solo artist, and 80's movie soundtrack go-to guy. It fills up the two CD's on this set and still manages to run out of room. Which makes this "Essential" collection the best buy for an instant Kenny Loggins library.

One of the things that really pulls this CD past the single disc Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow is the inclusion of some Loggins and Messina hits. (Where is their comprehensive best of?) The tender originals of "Danny's Song" and "Love Song" eventually became pop smashes for Anne Murray, and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band made a career high out of "House at Pooh Corner." Once Kenny and Jim split off for solo careers, Loggins took flight. When Stevie Nicks joined him for "Whenever I Call You Friend" (from Nightwatch), he had his first major hit.

Loggins epitomized the perfect middle of the road sounds of the period, like his friend and occasional co-writer, Michael McDonald. Keep the Fire boasted the perfect collaboration between the two men on "This Is It." Then came that first stroke of cinematic magic, when the theme to a Bill Murray vehicle roared into the top ten. "I'm Alright" was a jaunty shout-along that made Kenny not just a middle of the road icon, but a pop star. It was reflected in the harder rock stance of High Adventure, down the the faux Indiana Jones cover and Steve Perry from Journey guesting on "Don't Fight It." Even with the tougher image, the romantic "Heart to Heart" showed that Kenny did not stray too far from his roots.

Then came more soundtrack gigs. Number ones from Footloose and top tens from "Over The Top" and "Top Gun" kept Kenny on the charts, even if they just scream 80's MTV these days. It also seemed like Kenny's albums were getting rudderless; the title track to Vox Humana is little more than a lame re-write of "Footloose" and "I'm Alright," but "Forever" is a lost romantic hit. When he got back to making solo albums apart from Hollywood, they became more MOR (think James Taylor or Dan Fogelberg) and more introspective. Both Back to Avalon and Leap of Faith are more in tune with his Loggins and Messina work than before (despite a pair of soundtrack blasters on "Avalon"). Then Kenny made a wild left turn, making the delightful Return to Pooh Corner. it could easily be one of his best albums, and it was recorded as a children's lullaby disc. Subtle and moving, with Kenny covering Paul Simon, Rikki Lee Jones and revisiting his own "House at Pooh Corner," it strips away all the 80's bombast and has the feel of a homegrown record.

The last song here is a reminder of the creative synergy that Kenny shares with Michael McDonald. They duet live on "What A Fool Believes" (from Outside: From the Redwoods), again proving that when it comes to that perfect, immaculate sound that permeated the mid-seventies, few did it better. This is a close to a five star collection. About the only thing that could improve it would be a third disc and make the thing into a box-set. Which, come to think of it, isn't such a bad idea.

PS - it's time to remaster Loggins' catolog; from Loggins & Messina up.

Liking Kenny Loggins' music growing up, I was glad to see there was finally a comprehensive anthology assembled. Finding little fault with the Loggins & Messina sides (except that there weren't enough of them), I soldiered on to Loggins' solo material. It didn't take long to realize most of it has not aged well, particularly the '80s material and beyond. The production is dated and, with few exceptions, the songs are horrid pieces of sap and drone. The entire second disc is unnecessary and demonstrates only that Loggins began making music for money (i.e. the soundtrack songs). There's nothing wrong with that, per se, but that doesn't make it worth hearing. For a guy who wrote from his heart in the early days, it's a sad decline and letdown. Ultimately though, a Loggins collection with "Angry Eyes", "House at Pooh Corner", "I'm Alright", "Celebrate Me Home" and even "Don't Fight It" can't be all bad, but you're better off getting it from your local library. And by the way, what was up with those sweaters??

Kenny L combines the best of his songs in this great 2 volume CD. It's a pleasure listening to most of the songs.

This collection contains all of Kenny Loggins' fans' favorites. YOUR MAMA DON'T DANCE with Jim Messina is an awesome classic rock tune. THIS IS IT is an awesome duet with his close friend ex-Doobie Brother Michael McDonald. I love the showtunes I'M ALRIGHT from the 1980 Warner Bros. film CADDYSHACK,FOOTLOOSE from the '84 Paramount film of the same title and DANGER ZONE from Paramount's '86 blockbuster TOP GUN. This collection also includes a cover of another Loggins-McDonald hit WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES which won a multitude of Grammys for the Doobies in '79. WHENEVER I CALL YOU "FRIEND" is another Loggins duet,this one with Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks. VOX HUMANA from '85 is OK. Loggins should have recorded a personal cover of WE ARE THE WORLD(he was a USA FOR AFRICA participant in the hit recording which was '85's biggest-selling song). The other songs are great.