Keep the Fire
1979 studio album by Kenny Loggins
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Keep the Fire is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, released in 1979.[1] It 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".
- Filmways/Wally Heider Recording (Hollywood, California)
- Santa Barbara Sound Recording (Santa Barbara, California)
- Criteria (Miami, Florida)
| Keep the Fire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 28, 1979 | |||
| Recorded | 1979 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | Pop rock | |||
| Length | 40:48 | |||
| Label | Columbia | |||
| Producer | Tom Dowd | |||
| Kenny Loggins chronology | ||||
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Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C+[2] |
| MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide | [3] |
| Record Collector | [4] |
| Record Mirror | [5] |
Rolling Stone described the album 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".[6] The Globe and Mail noted that, "occasionally, he stumbles into some of the good-time hokey rockin' fun that made such Loggins and Messina numbers as 'Your Mama Don't Dance' so nauseating."[7]
Film
The award-winning short film "Keep the Fire", by Jake Rice, is a fictionalized "Behind the Album Cover" story.[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Harmony Vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Love Has Come of Age" | Kenny Loggins | 3:51 | |
| 2. | "Mr. Night" | Loggins, Richard Stekol | George Hawkins, Stekol | 3:20 |
| 3. | "This Is It" | Loggins, Michael McDonald | Mike Hamilton, Hawkins, McDonald | 3:57 |
| 4. | "Junkanoo Holiday (Fallin'-Flyin')" | Loggins | 4:30 | |
| 5. | "Now and Then" | Jeff Bouchard, Loggins | 3:52 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Harmony vocals | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Who's Right, Who's Wrong" | Loggins, Richard Page | Michael Jackson, Page | 5:38 |
| 2. | "Keep the Fire" | Eva Ein, Loggins | 4:34 | |
| 3. | "Give It Half a Chance" | Stephen Bishop, Loggins | Jeff Bouchard, Hamilton, Hawkins | 4:57 |
| 4. | "Will It Last" | Ein, Loggins | 5:50 |
Personnel
Musicians and vocalists
- Kenny Loggins – vocals, guitars, Sennheiser Vocoder (7)
- Brian Mann – keyboards, accordion solo (5)
- Max Gronenthal – ARP synthesizer programming
- Michael McDonald – acoustic piano (3), harmony vocals (3)
- Mike Hamilton – guitars, backing vocals, harmony vocals (3, 8)
- Fred Tackett – acoustic guitar (8, 9)
- George Hawkins – bass, backing vocals, harmony vocals (2, 3, 8)
- Tris Imboden – drums, percussion
- Milt Holland – percussion (1, 2, 4–9)
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion (3)
- Jon Clarke – tambourine, English horn, flute, oboe, recorder, saxophones
- Vince Denham – cabasa, saxophones, flute
- Michael Brecker – tenor sax solo (6)
- Richard Stekol – harmony vocals (2)
- Michael Jackson – harmony vocals (6)
- Richard Page – harmony vocals (6)
- Jeff Bouchard – harmony vocals (8)
Music arrangements
- Brian Mann – horn arrangements, string arrangements (5)
- Albhy Galuten – string arrangements (2, 8)
- Jon Clarke – horn arrangements (2, 7)
Production
- Tom Dowd – producer
- Steve Gersky – first engineer
- Michael Carnavale – second engineer
- Samii Taylor – second mix engineer
- Mike Fuller – mastering at Criteria Studios
- Wayne Williams – guitar synthesizer technician
- Tony Lane – visual coordinator
- Kenny Loggins – cover concept
- Scott Thom – cover concept, cover painting
- Ed Caraeff – cover photography
- Eva Ein Loggins – sleeve photography
Charts
Weekly charts
| Chart (1979–80) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 95 |
| US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard) | 16 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top Albums[citation needed] | 16 |