When you're in a band that includes songwriters as strong as Stephen Stills and Neil Young (as was the case during Jim Messina's time with Buffalo Springfield), you almost fall victim to George Harrison Syndrome by default. While never considered a hit singles band (although "For What It's Worth" DID make The Top Ten ... and has since become a political anthem of sorts), it wasn't likely that Jim was going to get much of the spotlight within the confines of this group. (He didn't join Buffalo Springfield until after their second album, after original bassist Bruce Palmer left the band ... and by that time, the hits had already stopped.)
Moving on to Poco (along with fellow Buffalo Springfield bandmate Richie Furay), it was Jim Messina's "You Better Think Twice" that launched that band's success on the pop charts, reaching #72 on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart in 1970.
This association was also short-lived ... and soon Messina found himself in the producer's chair, working with and helping to develop other new artists. One of those associations happened to be young singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins ... and the two just clicked.
As Phil mentioned, this was never supposed to be a pairing ... Jim was just trying to help get Kenny's career off the ground. But something clicked and a hit duo was born.
Kenny Loggins has since told the story that "Your Mama Don't Dance" was just kind of a fun thing that he and Messina put together. They never really gave it much consideration ... it was just a funny little ditty to play around with. In fact, they thought it was a bit too corny and deliberately left it off their first album together, thinking that the audience might not take them seriously if they included such a light piece of fluff.
When it came time to record their second album, the label suggested that this might be a good song to include. It had already been going over well whenever the duo performed it in concert ... maybe they should consider including it on their new LP.
Kenny had to admit that it was a fun song that the audience seemed to respond well to ... and agreed to include it as suggested ... but the last thing he and Messina ever wanted was for THIS to be released as a single.
Boy, were THEY wrong. After a couple of low-charting singles from their first LP, "Your Mama Don't Dance" climbed all the way up to #4 ... and became the biggest hit the duo ever had. (In fact, it is their ONLY Top Ten Hit!) It became a Top Ten Hit again when the hard rock band Poison recorded it in 1989.
"Watching The River Run" is one of my very favorite Loggins and Messina tracks ... so it was interesting to hear how that song came about. While it didn't make much of an impact on the charts (#71, 1974), you still hear it today on most of the soft rock and Yacht Rock station ... and it has become a bit of a classic. It just has a beautiful melody and feel to it ... so we're sharing THAT one with you today, too. (kk)
Be sure to listen to Phil Nee's THOSE WERE THE DAYS radio program tonight … and EVERY Saturday Night on WRCO ... 6 pm – Midnight (Central):
WRCO AM FM Radio Richland Center Wisconsin
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