March 21, 2025 —– Chart #290
Hello Music Friends,
Hey folks, welcome to another edition of Chart of the Week. Some songs just hit right, like a cold beer on a hot day or a perfectly timed punchline in a Dan Jenkins novel. A Love Song by Loggins & Messina is one of those songs. It’s smooth, it’s heartfelt, and it doesn’t try too hard—just the kind of tune you can imagine Jimmy Buffett humming to himself on a sailboat somewhere, probably with a margarita in hand.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a sucker for Loggins & Messina. These guys knew how to craft a tune that felt effortless. A Love Song was penned by Kenny Loggins, recorded on their 1973 Full Sail album, and later became a bigger hit when Anne Murray covered it in 1974. Her version shot up the country charts, proving once again that Canadians have a way of taking an already great thing (hockey, bacon, now this) and making it wildly popular.
A Song That’ll Keep Your Fingers from Cramping
Now, I won’t lie to you and say this one is a breeze to play. It’s got some tricky chord voicings, and if you’re the type of player who considers a Bm chord to be a personal attack, you might want to brace yourself. But here’s a little pro tip: slap a capo on the second fret and play it in D. It keeps the song in the original key, but suddenly your fingers aren’t twisting into pretzels. Your hand will thank you.
A Love Song That’s Actually About Love
Look, a lot of “love songs” aren’t really love songs. Some are break-up songs in disguise, some are written for people who “love” each other for a weekend in Cabo, and some are just about missing your dog. But this one? This one’s the real deal.
“There’s a wren in a willow wood, flies so high and sings so good, and he brings to you what he sings to you.”
If that isn’t the musical equivalent of a handwritten love letter, I don’t know what is. It’s gentle, it’s poetic, and it doesn’t try too hard—kind of like that one guy in high school who never had to ask anyone to the dance because people just knew.
From Loggins & Messina to Anne Murray… and Probably a Few Wedding Playlists
Loggins & Messina did it first, but Anne Murray took it and ran with it, making it a No. 1 country hit in 1974. And honestly, both versions are fantastic. Loggins & Messina bring that signature laid-back folk feel, while Anne Murray’s version is smoother than a well-aged bourbon. Either way, it’s the kind of song that has undoubtedly been played at weddings, anniversaries, and at least one awkward family barbecue where Uncle Larry got sentimental after two glasses of boxed wine.
So, Why Should You Add A Love Song to Your Setlist?
- It sounds great on an acoustic – Whether you’re fingerpicking or strumming, it just works.
- It makes you look emotionally mature – A guy who can pull off a heartfelt love song? That’s next-level stuff.
- Capo 2 makes it easier on your fingers – Unless you enjoy torturing your hands, this little trick makes all the difference.
In a world full of overproduced, auto-tuned love songs, A Love Song is refreshingly simple. It doesn’t beg for attention. It just exists—like a great old chair or a perfectly broken-in baseball glove. And that, my friends, is what makes it timeless.
So go ahead, pick up your guitar and give it a play. Who knows? You might even impress someone. Or at the very least, your dog will sit and listen politely.
Keep Rockin’,
Stan Bradshaw