Kenny Loggins unnappreciation

vermicious knid · #1 09-05-2005, 06:38 PM

"Kenny and I kept meeting at those awards ceremonies in the 70s, and finally we wrote a song together," Manchester says. She pauses and adds, "It's weird that he chose Stevie Nicks (to record it with.) But you know what? It's business. So I just let it go."
~"The Essence of Melissa Manchester" liner notes, 1997

I think Kenny Loggins is a tool for using Stevie on "Whenever I Call You Friend". Melissa Manchester wrote the song with him, and it would have been natural for her to be the duet partner. But he gave her the shaft and chose someone more commercially potent. Stevie had a greater fame and allure that he could cash in on. I wonder if he told Stevie at the time that he hadn't written the song alone.
I view "Whenever I Call You Friend" as an ironic commentary on how crappy of a friend Kenny Loggins is. If "business" interests get in the way, I'll dump you in favor of this new friend I found.

GateandGarden · #2 09-05-2005, 07:03 PM

Wow, I didn't know about the story behind that.

I always liked the song in all its cheesiness.

lbelle1214 · #3 09-05-2005, 07:53 PM

I absolutely love Kenny Loggin's music, but he is definitely a weird bird! If anyone gets the notion, you can ready his book "An Unimaginable Life" co-written with his wife. Some very, VERY strange things in there.

StevieNicksEO17 · #4 09-05-2005, 07:56 PM

I never knew that either. Good story!

I've always loved Whenever I Call You Friend.

Beachwood Mac · #5 09-05-2005, 08:19 PM

I could never imagine Melissa Manchester singing on that song. It would have taken a totally different turn. I remember that song when it was released and although it was an unexpected collaboration with Stevie - it worked.

Terry

strandinthewind · #6 09-05-2005, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beachwood Mac

I could never imagine Melissa Manchester singing on that song. It would have taken a totally different turn. I remember that song when it was released and although it was an unexpected collaboration with Stevie - it worked.

Terry

I saw her sing it live in the early 90's. She did a good job, but nothing like Loggins and Nicks.

Dreammms · #7 09-05-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I always liked the song in all its cheesiness.

i love this song too. i think it's one of stevie's best vocals.

dissention · #8 09-05-2005, 09:06 PM

I don't appreciate him to begin with, his voice annoys the piss out of me. I would have preferred it if it were a solo Melissa Manchester song, but at least she got some cash out of it.

strandinthewind · #9 09-05-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I don't appreciate him to begin with, his voice annoys the piss out of me. I would have preferred it if it were a solo Melissa Manchester song, but at least she got some cash out of it.

He annoys me too.

You don't think La Nicks did a fantastic job on the vocals

I think they are easily in her top five.

Also, a friend of mine was there for many of the sessions

dissention · #10 09-05-2005, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

He annoys me too.

You don't think La Nicks did a fantastic job on the vocals

I think they are easily in her top five.

Also, a friend of mine was there for many of the sessions

Meh, they're okay. I don't orgasm over them and I rarely listen to the song itself because it's so cheesy. Melissa Manchester is too bland for my taste, but she has a beautiful voice and her last stint at the plastic surgeon's yielded some remarkably good results.

GateandGarden · #11 09-05-2005, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Meh, they're okay. I don't orgasm over them and I rarely listen to the song itself because it's so cheesy.

I think the vocals are better than okay, but I still don't think they're her best by any means.

Dreammms · #12 09-05-2005, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

I think the vocals are better than okay, but I still don't think they're her best by any means.

what songs do you think stevie has the best vocals on? just curious.

SapphireSister · #13 09-05-2005, 09:29 PM

What's the story with him not giving Stevie credit or something for singing on it?

Johnny Stew · #14 09-05-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vermicious knid

I think Kenny Loggins is a tool for using Stevie on "Whenever I Call You Friend". Melissa Manchester wrote the song with him, and it would have been natural for her to be the duet partner. But he gave her the shaft and chose someone more commercially potent. Stevie had a greater fame and allure that he could cash in on.

Loggins & Messina toured with Fleetwood Mac for a while there, and I've read that Kenny chose to record the song with Stevie because they had become friends. I don't think it was as calculated as you made it sound.

Besides, even though Stevie was pretty popular at the time, there were certainly bigger "names" that he could have chosen as his duet partner.
Not to mention the fact that "Midnight Blue," "Just Too Many People" and "Don't Cry Out Loud" were all huge hits for Melissa at the time... so Loggins could have just as easily picked her, if it was solely commercial appeal he was after.

Moony · #15 09-05-2005, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

....and "Don't Cry Out Loud" were all huge hits for Melissa at the time....

Has anyone ever seen the movie Drop Dead Gorgeous?