Nightwatch - KENNY LOGGINS***

Nightwatch/Easy Driver/Down N Dirty/Down In The Boondocks/Whenever I Call You Friend/Wait A Little While/What A Fool Believes/Somebody Knows/Angelique

Nightwatch became singer songwriter Kenny Loggins best selling solo album helped by the US No. 5 hit duet with Stevie Nicks Whenever I Call You Friend. His solo albums would not be nearly as successful as those with Jim Messina. (US:7)

“I listened to it and felt deep emotions and a great uplifting. The music is masterful, inspired, and filled with joy. The words are simple but they are true.”

“There are some terrific songs. Wait A Little While is superb, very evocative and as good as anything he’d done previously. In addition, Loggins had co written What A Fool Believes and his version is very good as well. Beyond these though things are not so good. The problem was that Loggins was now being pushed as a rock singer and the songs served up to fulfil this purpose were unconvincing. The tracks packed onto side one might be vaguely foot stomping but are ultimately rather vacuous. The second half lacks the charm and sophistication of his previous release.”

“Though not my favourite Kenny Loggins album, Nightwatch packs a fine selection of songs. Kenny's version of The Doobie Brothers' What A Fool Believes isn't bad at all, giving it a different spice and flavour.”

“Kenny Loggins has had a lustrous, if somewhat up and down, musical career. This release is one of his most interesting, as it explores so many different types of music. Kenny in those days was known for lengthy tunes that showcased not only his vocal prowess, but his wonderful arranger's imagination. This album contains two of his best: Nightwatch, a haunting, moody song, and Angelique, a soaring and wistful mini-opera, with a great instrumental interlude.”

“This album couldn’t be any more different and unique from his first album. The wispy breeziness has been replaced by not only a musical but a production sound that’s a lot more varied and diverse in flavour. It isn't exactly jazz-fusion or folk-rock, but at the same time it isn't entirely West coast AOR either. The title song is an elongated jazzy piece where spacey electric keyboards and bass lines all play in the same river over Kenny's scaling vocal licks. Its moody atmosphere certainly suggests the same idea as the title implies. This album also includes some stronger rock and blues elements.”