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“Loggins and Messina: Sitting In Again”
Reviewed by: Wayne Klein
Genre: Concert
Video: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Languages English
Subtitles None
Length 121 minutes
Rating NR
Release Date 11/15/05
Studio Rhino Home Video
Commentary: None
Documentaries: None
Featurettes: None
Filmography/Biography: None
Interviews: None
Trailers/TV Spots: None
Alternate/Deleted Scenes: None
Music Video: None
Other: Six vintage performances from 1973 “The Midnight Special” TV show
Cast and Crew:

Jim Messina, Kenny Loggins, Shem Von Schroeck, Steve Di Stanislao, Gabe Dixmon, Gabe Witcher, Jeff Nathanson, Steve Nieves,

Written By: Loggins and Messina
Produced By: Jim Kraft, Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina
Directed By: Jim Gable
Music: Loggins & Messina
The Review:

Before he became famous for top forty goop like “Danger Zone”, Kenny Loggins in partnership with Jim Messina recorded a series of strong rock albums that touched on country and folk. Although their best album “Mother Lode” (the superb “Changes” is included and features an inspired performance) isn’t very well represented here, this live concert recorded by the reunited duo in Santa Barbara this year features a generous helping of their best album tracks and singles. Featuring a top notch band of session players “Sitting In Again” is a terrific live document of the duo’s performance. Messina and Loggins got back together purely by accident and realized hat they could actually get past the difficulties that they had had when they original performed as a duo in the 70’s. There was an intense rivalry that drove their music and allowed them to create a number of memorable songs and albums. Messina who got his start with the Buffalo Springfield (he was an engineer and producer for two of the band’s albums and, ultimately, became their bassist before moving on to co found Poco). When he volunteered to produce Kenny Loggins debut album it was clear that the duo had chemistry and the album that was supposed to feature Dan Loggins’ (Loggins wrote “Please Come to Boston”) cousin instead became an album that focused on both artists. The duo went on to have a seriesof radio hits including “Your Mama Don’t Dance”, “House at Pooh Corner”, “My Music”, “Danny’s Song” and “Angry Eyes” recording 8 albums before going their separate ways. Loggins had huge commercial success on his own with “Whenever I Call You Friend” (featuring Stevie Nicks), “Danger Zone”, “Footloose”, “I’m Alright”, “Celebrate Me Home” and writing with The Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald (“What a Fool Believes”, “This is It”). Messina struggled with a solo career met with marked indifference recording a number of strong albums (“Oasis” being the best of them) never charting above the top 60. He and Loggins got involved in a bitter disagreement which eventually led to Messina composing a song not unlike John Lennon’s “How Do You Sleep?” about his former partner. ***

It’s clear that these guys have gotten past their difficulties and renewed their friendship. The performances here are stellar with both in fine voice and Messina’s distinctive guitar playing to the fore. Covering most of their hits as well as a couple of obscure tracks from their various albums, this concert represents the best recorded performance available of the duo on video. While neither man focuses on their solo material (which is appropriate) the material from their studio albums more than make up for this. ---

Image and Sound:

The concert looks extremely good with rich colors and natural skin tones. While there were some issues with pixilation related to the compression, the overall look of the show is very pleasing with extremely good clarity. The issue with pixilation occurs most often when the camera is moving around quite a bit suggesting that it’s due to the digital authoring or not a high enough bit rate for the visuals. Sonically this DVD is a masterpiece capturing the tight band in top form and reproducing the performances in rich 5.1 clarity.

The Extras:

A real treat are a series of live performances that the duo did for “The Midnight Special” during their peak popularity in 1973. The video for this is quite good with solid color reproduction and while the colors appear smeared a bit due to the age of the videotape the clarity is solid here as well. It was quite something to see the duo in their hirsuit prime. They perform six songs on the show including “My Music”, “Danny’s Song”, “Your Mama Don’t Dance”, “You Need a Man”, “Coming to You” and “Sailin’ in the Wind”. Both are in fine voice and the band is extremely good. The sound is, not surprisingly, a bit tinny sounding because it was recorded in mono. As a result, the sound comes across a bit flat missing the full bodied power of the 5.1 mix for the DVD reunion concert. Nevertheless, it is a real treat to have these performances. ***

While the duo’s career is briefly summarized at the beginning of this DVD, I would have loved to see a featurette on their success and the trials and tribulations that separated them at the peak of their popularity. ---

Commentary: There’s no commentary track and that’s just as well. The commentary track on The Who set was distracting despite the fact that it provided a lot of background on the band and the concert. It really should have been a separate featurette or documentary. It’s no surprise then that Loggins and Messina chose not to record a commentary track. ---
Final Words:

A terrific concert featuring this popular 70’s duo, “Sitting in Again” is a marvelous concert. The inclusion of vintage footage of the band from 1973 was a masterstroke on the part of the producer/director (or the artists themselves) and brings added value to this set making it essential for fans.

 

 
 
 
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