Trivia Corner: Kenny the Wet Sprocket

Back in 2003, a lot of people were picking up the phone and replying, "Kenny who? Loggins? No kidding? Sure I'll meet you halfway and do a song with you!"

Soundtrack god and AOR mastermind Kenny Loggins released "It's About Time" later that year, trying to redeem himself from the gut-wrenchingly awful "The Unimaginable Life" from 1997. Not quite the return to form that would be "How About Now" (read our review here), "It's About Time" ain't half bad and boasts a surprising number of diverse collaborators of songwriters and performers I have enjoyed over the decades.

First up, 70s singer/songwriter Michael McDonald joins in on the title track, trying to recapture a little of the soulful feel of their previous work together, 1979's "This Is It" and 1982's "Heart To Heart".

Then enter 80s singer/songwriter Richard Marx, who works with Loggins on plenty of the ballads (surprise). They actually sound good harmonizing together, and I did not need the linear notes to tell me that Marx was doing back up vocals. His distinctive rasp sounds great on these tracks - I just wish he could remember how to write an uptempo song.

Next up we have 90s singer/songwriter Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket helping out with a track called "This Is How My Song Goes". I would never have guessed this match up, but it was a pleasant surprise to see them working together. I don't like the song too much, though.

And appropriately, we have Clint Back helping out with the country-flavored track, "Alive N' Kickin'".

Curiously, all of these guests are thanked in the linear notes EXCEPT Glen Phillips. What's up with that, Ken?