Keep the Fire

Keep the Fire is a soft rock album released in 1979 by Kenny Loggins.[1] It was his third solo album after Loggins & Messina disbanded, and 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".

For the song, see Keep the Fire (song).

Keep the Fire
Studio album by Kenny Loggins
Released	October 1979
Recorded	1979
Genre	Soft rock
Length	40:48
Label	Columbia
Producer	Tom Dowd
Kenny Loggins chronology
Nightwatch (1978) Keep the Fire (1979) Caddyshack: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (1980)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	C+[2]
Record Collector	[3]
Rolling Stone[4]	(favorable)

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Guest	Length
1.	"Love Has Come of Age"	Kenny Loggins		3:51
2.	"Mr. Night"	Loggins, Richard Stekol		3:20
3.	"This Is It"	Loggins, Michael McDonald	Michael McDonald: backing vocals	4:06
4.	"Junkanoo Holiday (Fallin'-Flyin')"	Loggins		4:30
5.	"Now and Then"	Jeff Bouchard, Loggins		3:52
6.	"Who's Right, Who's Wrong"	Loggins, Richard Page	Michael Jackson, Richard Page: backing vocals	5:38
7.	"Keep the Fire"	Eva Ein, Loggins		4:34
8.	"Give It Half a Chance"	Stephen Bishop, Loggins		4:57
9.	"Will It Last"	Ein, Loggins		5:50

Personnel

• Kenny Loggins – lead and backing vocals, guitar, vocoder (7)
• Mike Hamilton – guitar, backing vocals, harmony vocals (3, 8)
• Fred Tackett – acoustic guitar (8, 9)
• Brian Mann – keyboards, horn arrangements (1, 3-6, 8, 9), accordion solo (5)
• Michael McDonald – acoustic piano (3), harmony vocals (3)
• Max Gronenthal – ARP synthesizer programming
• George Hawkins – bass guitar, backing vocals, harmony vocals (2, 3, 8)
• Tris Imboden – drums, percussion
• Milt Holland – percussion
• Paulinho da Costa – percussion (3)
• Jon Clarke – tambourine, English horn, flute, oboe, recorder, saxophone, horn arrangements (2, 7)
• Vince Denham – cabasa, saxophone, 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)

Production

• Producer – Tom Dowd
• Engineer – Steve Gersky
• Second Engineer – Michael Carnavale
• Recorded at Filmways/Heider Recording (Hollywood, CA) and Santa Barbara Sound Recording (Santa Barbara, CA).
• Mastering – Mike Fuller at Criteria Studios (Miami, FL).
• Guitar Synthesizer Technician – Wayne Williams
• Visual Coordinator – Tony Lane
• Design Concept – Kenny Loggins and Scott Thom
• Cover Painting – Scott Thom
• Cover Photography – Ed Caraeff
• Sleeve Photography – Eva Ein Loggins
• Crew – Mitch Miller, Johnny Pace and C. Wolfstock Wittenberg.
• Management – Larson & Recor Associates

Reception

Rolling Stone magazine described it 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".[4]

Legacy

"We Will Survive" by Nas from the album I Am... sampled the song "This Is It".

The award-winning short film, "Keep the Fire" by Jake Rice serves as a fictionalized "Behind The Album Cover" story, detailing the origin of the glowing white orb in Kenny's hands on the cover and the people who were involved in the creation of his hit record. The film includes computer graphics enhanced dramatizations depicting Michael McDonald, Tom Dowd, George Daly, Scott Thom, and Eva Ein. It features musical performances of "This Is It" and the acoustic version of "What A Fool Believes" as performed by Loggins and McDonald on the live recording "Outside: Live From The Redwoods".[5]

Charting History

Weekly Charts Chart (1979-1980) Peak position 'U.S.' Billboard 200 16

Year End Charts Year End Chart (1980) Peak position U.S. Billboard 200 16

Charting Singles

Single	Chart	Position
"This Is It"	Australian (ARIA Chart)	85
	Canada (RPM)	9
	Netherlands Singles Top 100	26
	Official New Zealand Music Chart	35
	U.S.Billboard Hot 100	11
	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	17
	U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	19
"Keep The Fire"	Canada (RPM)	52
	U.S.Billboard Hot 100	36
	U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary	40

References

1. Keep the Fire at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-17.
2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: L". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 1, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
3. Pinfold, William. "Kenny Loggins-Keep the Fire". Record Collector. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
4. Holden, Stephen (February 7, 1980). "Album reviews: Keep the Fire". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 30, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
5. Rice, Jake. Keep the Fire (A/V stream). Retrieved June 28, 2013.