Keep the Fire
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Robert Christgau | C+[2] |
| Rolling Stone[3] | (favorable) |
Keep the Fire is a soft rock album released in 1979 by Kenny Loggins. It was his third solo album after Loggins & Messina disbanded, and is perhaps best known for the hit single "This is It". The song was co-written by Michael McDonald, who also performed on the track. Michael Jackson sings backup vocals on the track "Who's Right, Who's Wrong".
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Guest | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love Has Come of Age" | Kenny Loggins | 3:51 | |
| 2. | "Mr. Night" | Loggins, Richard Stekol | 3:20 | |
| 3. | "This Is It" | Loggins, Michael McDonald | Michael McDonald: backing vocals | 4:06 |
| 4. | "Junkanoo Holiday (Fallin'-Flyin')" | Loggins | 4:30 | |
| 5. | "Now and Then" | Jeff Bouchard, Loggins | 3:52 | |
| 6. | "Who's Right, Who's Wrong" | Loggins, Richard Page | Michael Jackson, Richard Page: backing vocals | 5:38 |
| 7. | "Keep the Fire" | Eva Ein, Loggins | 4:34 | |
| 8. | "Give It Half a Chance" | Stephen Bishop, Loggins | 4:57 | |
| 9. | "Will It Last" | Ein, Loggins | 5:50 |
Personnel
- Kenny Loggins: vocals, guitars, keyboards
- Jeff Bouchard, Richard Page, Richard Stekol: backing vocals
- Mike Hamilton: guitars, backing vocals
- Fred Tackett: guitars
- Michael McDonald, Brian Mann: keyboards, backing vocals
- Michael Jackson: backing vocals (Track 6)
- Michael Brecker: saxophone
- Vince Denham: woodwinds, backing vocals
- George Hawkins: bass, backing vocals
- Tris Imboden: drums, percussion, harmonica
- Paulinho da Costa: percussion
- Jon Clarke: percussion, woodwinds
- Milt Holland: percussion
Reception
Rolling Stone magazine described it as "the new sound of Southern California: a sophisticated, diffuse, jazz-inflected pop rock performed by an augmented rock band in which guitar and keyboards share equal prominence" and "churning romantic atmosphere constructed around a matinee idol's voice".[3]
Legacy
"We Will Survive" by Nas from the album I Am... sampled the song "This Is It".
The award-winning short film, "Keep the Fire" by Jake Rice serves as a fictionalized "Behind The Album Cover" story, detailing the origin of the glowing white orb in Kenny's hands on the cover and the people who were involved in the creation of his hit record. The film includes computer graphics enhanced dramatizations depicting Michael McDonald, Tom Dowd, George Daly, Scott Thom, and Eva Ein. It features musical performances of "This Is It" and the acoustic version of "What A Fool Believes" as performed by Loggins and McDonald on the live recording "Outside: Live From The Redwoods".[4]
References
- ^ Keep the Fire at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (1979). "Album: Kenny Loggins: Keep the Fire". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Consumer Guide. Retrieved 2011-08-06.
- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (February 7, 1980). "Album reviews: Keep the Fire". Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Rice, Jake. Keep the Fire (A/V stream). Retrieved June 28, 2013.