Kenny Loggins and David Foster have worked together several times in the course of their long and successful careers. In the archives area of this website you can already find a couple of their best efforts. This week we have picked another beautiful composition co-written by them. “Daddy’s Back” is taken from Loggins’ solo debut album, “Celebrate Me Home.” Released in 1977 right after the singer ended his successful partnership with Jim Messina that first brought Loggins in the spotlight, “Celebrate Me Home” is a fine collection of brilliant and sophisticated pop songs produced by Phil Ramone (Paul Simon and Billy Joel) and fusion master Bob James who clearly influenced the album’s sound architecture with his jazz flavors.
Kenny Loggins’ tenor voice steals the show here with its mellow tones and crystal clear high notes on songs like “I Believe In Love,” “Set It Free,” and the famous, inspirational title track. “Daddy’s Back” is another winning moment. It is a pretty, smooth song that starts in a slow tempo with the singer only surrounded by acoustic guitars, electric piano and percussion. It then gently builds to a rich, orchestral up-tempo ending. The producers assembled a stunning line-up to play on the record, calling several session aces; drummers Harvey Mason and Steve Gadd, guitarists Lee Ritenour, Robben Ford, Dean Parks and Eric Gale. Bob James played all the keyboards together with Richard Tee. “Celebrate Me Home” reached Billboard’s top 30 and was a platinum seller. It started a string of hit records for Loggins that would bring him superstar status in just a few years.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/daddy_s_back.mp3|titles=Daddy’s back|artists=Kenny Loggins]

Lead Vocals: Kenny Loggins
Keyboards: Bob James
Guitars: Eric Gale & Robben Ford
Drums: Harvey Mason
Bass: George Hawkins
Percussion: Steve Forman & Laudir de Oliveira
Saxes & Woodwinds: Jon Clarke & Vince Denham
Background vocals: George Hawkins & Kenny Loggins
Musical Direction & String Arrangements: Bob James
Horn Arrangements: Bob James, Jon Clarke & Vince Denham
Produced by Phil Ramone & Bob James

Lyrics

So far away
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore
It will be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn’t help to know that your just time away
Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
Oh how I wish I could
But you’re so far away

One more song about moving along the highway
I can’t say much of anything that’s new
But if I could only work this life out my way
I’d rather spend it being close to you
But you’re so far away
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore
It will be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn’t help to know you’re so far away
So far away, yeah you’re so far away

Travelling around sure gets me down and lonely
Nothing else to do but close my mind
And I sure hope the road don’t get to own me
There’s so many dreams that I’ve yet to find
But you’re so far away
Doesn’t anybody stay in one place anymore
It will be so fine to see your face at my door
And it doesn’t help to know

David Foster and Kenny Loggins have been writing songs together for almost thirty years. The first co-writing credit was “Daddy’s Back” on Loggins’ debut album, “Celebrate Me Home” way back in 1977. Starting from that first song there have been many other collaborations, hits like “Heart To Heart” (check out our review in the archives) , “The Real Thing” or “I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man)” on the “Footloose” soundtrack.

“Forever” is one of those successful stories, a power ballad released in 1985 as part of the “Vox Humana” album. The song was a good adult contemporary hit and it reached # 40 on the Hot 100, it also remains one of the concert favorites among Loggins’ fans still today. The tune is intense, the intro has Foster’s keyboards all over it and it develops into his typical ballad style with heavy guitars played by Steve Lukather and Buzzy Feiten and with the keyboards adding color to the final result. The song is also another good evidence of Kenny Loggins’ world class vocal talent.

“Vox Humana” has other great songs co-written by Loggins and Foster, “I’ll Be There” is a nice funky/pop ditty with guests DeBarge singing along with Kenny, “At last” is a classy pop song co-written with bassist extraordinaire Nathan East, while “Loraine” is a good uptempo number.

There’s another gem on the record that Foster didn’t co-write but needs to be mentioned anyway, it is “Love Will Follow” which is a gorgeous pop/soul song with an incredible vocal performance by Loggins.

Listen

[audio:https://www.fozfan.com/archives/clips/forever.mp3|titles=Forever|artists=Kenny Loggins]

Lead Vocal: Kenny Loggins
Keyboards: David Foster & Steve Wood
Guitars: Buzzy Feiten
Guitar solo: Steve Lukather
Bass: Nathan East
Drums: Tris Imboden
Produced by David Foster & Kenny Loggins

Lyrics

Now, while we’re here alone
And all is said and done
Now I can let you know
Because of all you’ve shown
I’ve grown enough to tell you
You’ll always be inside of me

How many roads have gone by
So many words left unspoken
I needed to be by your side
If only to hold you

Forever in my heart
Forever we will be
And even when I’m gone
You’ll be here in me
Forever

Once, I dreamed that you were gone
I cried out trying to find you
I begged the dream to fade away
And please awaken me

But night took a hold of my heart
And left me with no one to follow
the love that I lost to the dark
I’ll always remember

Forever in my heart
Forever we will be
And know that when I’m gone
You’ll be near to me
Forever in my heart
Always thought I’d be
I’d be yours
Forever