Kenny Loggins - High Adventure (1982) [2016 AOR City 1000]

Famous worldwide for his string of soundtrack successes in the mid ’80s, KENNY LOGGINS had a strong solo career as well, and this 1982’s “High Adventure” is one of his most celebrated albums.

As used to happen with ‘major production’ recordings back in the ’80s, the who’s who play here on “High Adventure”; from Toto’s Steve Lukather & David Paich to David Foster, Richard Page, Steve George and Tom Snow, or Journey frontman Steve Perry who performs a duet on “Don’t Fight It”, also co-written by him.

“High Adventure” is brimming with great tunes sporting the typical commercial AOR sound you would associate with the early ’80s, mixed with radio-friendly Rock&pop plus some smooth L.A. West Coast ballads.
The album spawned three Top 40 hits including the aforementioned duet “Don’t Fight It” (with the added bonus of Pat Benatar’s Neil Giraldo on guitar) “Heart To Heart” and “Welcome To Heartlight.”

It feels like these songs were written with radio airplay in mind as tracks like “Swear Your Love” and “If It’s Not What You’re Looking For” (co-penned by David Foster) scream radio hit gold.
Production is top notch highlighting Lukather’s cool guitar riffs & solos, plus sparkling keyboards mixed with infectious vocal melodies and broadly shows off similarities to famous AOR bands of the time like Toto and REO Speedwagon – but Loggins will occasionally throw in some poppy touches here and there, which make it a little more mainstream than your average AOR band.

Fans of the early Eighties AOR era should dig “High Adventure” for its upbeat and anthemic nature. It’s not a classic but it is worthy of your time, it’s smooth and bright and makes for a very enjoyable listen. Toto / Lukather fans as well need this album in your collection.
This Japanese remastered edition. It uses the last remastering and sound million bucks.
Pure ’80s stuff.

Tracks:

01 – Don’t Fight It (feat Steve Perry)
02 – Welcome To Heartlight
03 – I Gotta Try
04 – Swear Your Love
05 – The More We Try
06 – Heart To Heart
07 – If It’s Not What You’re Looking For
08 – It Must Be Imagination
09 – Only A Miracle


Kenny Loggins: vocals, guitar
Steve Perry: vocals on “Don’t Fight It”
Steve Lukather: guitar
Mike Hamilton: guitar, backing vocals
Neil Giraldo: guitar
Steve Wood, Neil Larsen: keyboards, synth programming
Michael McDonald: keyboards, piano
James Newton Howard: keyboards, synths
David Paich: keyboards, synths
David Foster: piano
Nathan East, Vernon Porter, Derek Jackson: bass
Tris Imboden, Dennis Conway: drums
Lenny Castro, Steve Forman, Paulinho da Costa: percussion
Lenny Castro: percussion
David Sanborn: saxophone
Richard Page, Steve George, Tom Snow: backing vocals