Mother Lode is the fourth studio album (fifth release overall) by singer-songwriter duo Loggins and Messina, released in late 1974. It was their final album with their original backing band, because multireedist and violinist Al Garth would soon leave the band, but multireedist Jon Clarke, bassist Larry Sims and drummer Merel Bregante remained, and saxophonist Don Roberts made his debut on this record. Future Toto keyboardist David Paich plays keyboards on this album while percussionist Milt Holland is augmented by Victor Feldman and the album was recorded on location at Jim Messina's California ranch. The Jim Messina composition "Keep Me in Mind" was sung by bassist Sims, whom Messina praised for having a phenomenal voice in a 2009 interview with Loggins for KCTS-TV.
In 2001, French duo Daft Punk, along with American producer Todd Edwards, sampled the track ''Be Free'' on their song Face To Face from their album Discovery.
Contents
Track listing
All songs written and sung by Jim Messina unless otherwise indicated.
Personnel
Kenny Loggins – vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Jim Messina – vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin
Loggins and Messina band
Larry Sims – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Keep Me in Mind"
Merel Bregante – drums, timbales, backing vocals
Jon Clarke – flute, oboe, bass flute, English horn, tenor saxophone, alto flute, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass saxophone
Al Garth – violin, recorder, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, bass clarinet
Sidemen
Chris Brooks – koto
Milt Holland – percussion
Victor Feldman – percussion
David Paich – keyboards
Don Roberts – flute, bass flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass saxophone, bass clarinet, alto flute
David Wallace – synthesizers
Production
Producer – Jim Messina
Engineers – Corey Bailey, Alex Kazanegras and Jim Messina.
Technical Assistance – Lou Shatzer
Recorded on location at Jim Messina's Ranch, Ojai, California using Haji Sound.
Photography – Tyler Thornton
Color Prints – Ted Staidle
Art Direction and Design – Ron Coro
Personal Management – Schiffman and Larsen
Road Management – David Cieslak and Jim Recor
Charts
Album – Billboard (United States)
Singles - Billboard (United States)