Vahevala

Album: Sittin' In (1971)
Charted: 84
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Unlike most of Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina's songs, this wasn't written by them but by Dan Loggins (of "Danny's Song" fame, he was Kenny's older brother) and his friend Dann Lottermoser. In the song, a sailor remembers sailing off the coast of Jamaica to a fictitious island called "Vahevala." The name really doesn't mean anything, but evokes a sailor's paradise. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sara - Silver Spring, MD
  • This comes from the pair's debut album, Sittin' In, which was intended to launch Loggins as a solo artist, with Messina producing. But after the sales and good reviews started rolling in, Columbia Records president Clive Davis convinced them to capitalize on the success by continuing as a duo. Messina told The Times-Picayune in 2005, "Clive Davis intervened and said, 'You know, I think you'd be making a mistake if you guys didn't take this opportunity. Things like this only happen once in a lifetime. It may merit you sleeping on it overnight and making a decision that will be in your best interest.' He was absolutely correct. Kenny made the decision as well. It delayed his solo career, but it gave him an opportunity, I think, to have one."

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 22nd 1972, Loggins and Messina performed "Vahevala" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    Three months earlier on April 8th, 1972 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #90; and on April 30th, 1972 it peaked at #84 (for 2 weeks) and spent 5 weeks on the Top 100...
    On the same 'Bandstand' show the duo performed "Nobody But You", it stayed on the Top 100 for 2 weeks, peaking at #86...
    Between 1972 and 1975 the duo had ten Top 100 records, with one reaching the Top 10, "Your Mama Can't Dance" at #4 (for 1 week) on January 21st, 1973.
  • Sara from Silver Spring, MdOn the Loggins and Messina Live at the Santa Barbara Bowl Kenny subs "Jamaica" with "Santa
    Barbara" because that's where both of them currently live.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Bob Daisley

Bob DaisleySongwriter Interviews

Bob was the bass player and lyricist for the first two Ozzy Osbourne albums. Here's how he wrote songs like "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" with Ozzy and Randy Rhoads.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Actors With Hit Songs

Actors With Hit SongsMusic Quiz

Many actors have attempted music, but only a few have managed a hit. Do you know which of these thespians charted?

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Church Lyrics

Church LyricsMusic Quiz

Here is the church, here is the steeple - see if you can identify these lyrics that reference church.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.