HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS

OR THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED A MATERNAL ROLE

Jim Messina, formerly of Poco and Buffalo Springfield, was working as an independent record producer for Columbia Records in 1970 when he met Kenny Loggins, a little-known singer/songwriter and guitarist who was signed to ABC-Dunhill as a staff songwriter. The two recorded a number of Loggins’ compositions in Messina’s home living room. When Columbia signed Loggins to a six-album contract (with the assistance of Messina), recording began in earnest for Loggins’ debut album, with Messina as producer. Messina originally intended to lend his name to the Loggins project only to help introduce the unknown Loggins to Messina’s well-established Buffalo Springfield and Poco audiences. But by the time the album was completed, Messina had contributed so much to the album – in terms of songwriting, arrangement, instrumentation, and vocals – that an “accidental” duo was born.

Full Sail is the third album by singer/songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in 1973. It showed the versatility of the duo, with everything from 1950s retro to island-style to soft ballads. The single “My Music” charted at #16, and the follow-up, “Watching the River Run”, made it to #71. The album as a whole did better, reaching #10 on the Pop Charts.

I used to own the album, “Full Sail,” and I can’t think of a better name for it, as it is as breezy and beautiful as a day sailing.

If you’ve been thinkin’ you’re all that you’ve got
Then don’t feel alone anymore
‘Cause when we’re together then you’ve got a lot
‘Cause I am the river and you are the shore

And it goes on and on, watching the river run
Further and further from things that we’ve done
Leaving them one by one
And we have just begun, watching the river run
Listening and learning and yearning. Run, river, run.

Winding and swirling and dancing along
We passed by the old willow tree
Where lovers caress as we sing them our song,
Rejoicing together when we greet the sea

And it goes on and on, watching the river run
Further and further from things that we’ve done
Leaving them one by one
And we have just begun, watching the river run
Listening and learning and yearning. Run, river, run.

And it goes on and on, watching the river run
Further and further from things that we’ve done
Leaving them one by one
And we have just begun, watching the river run
Listening and learning and yearning. Run, river, run.

Songwriters: Jim Messina / Kenny Loggins