Loggins & Messina- Thinking of You

Listening to AT40 from this week in 1973 and I had no idea that there was a totally different mix/version of this song. (I'm 63 years old!) It doesn't appear to have ever made it to any CD although I'm looking into an import of a GH compilation to get some possible verification. There is a video of it on YouTube but the quality isn't there for me. 

The 45 version is definitely a superior version. I asked Google why it's never been released digitally. Kenny Loggins doesn't like the mix.

"The 1973 45 RPM single version of "Thinking of You" by Loggins & Messina remains unreleased digitally primarily due to Kenny Loggins' vocal dislike of the mix. He felt the label forced it to capitalize on the success of "Your Mama Don't Dance," leading to a sound he viewed as commercially compromising.

Why it was altered:
Released as a single from their self-titled sophomore album, Columbia Records wanted an uptempo, sound-alike track to match their recent radio hits. The 45 version differs from the mellower LP mix with:A noticeably faster and funkier tempoA punchier, energetic guitar riff, distinct vocal overdubs and more prominent drum fills.

Why it never got a digital release:
Throughout his career, Kenny Loggins has been fiercely protective of his artistic integrity. In his 2022 autobiography, Still Alright, he openly admitted his dislike for this radio-friendly, label-driven single rearrangement.

Prioritization of LP Mixes: Like many artists from the analog era, Loggins and Messina preferred fans to experience the album as the definitive artistic statement. Because the duo never championed the 45 mix, the master tapes were left off of official compilations and digital reissues, leaving the original album version on digital streaming platforms.

Edited by eriejwg - 8 hours 1 minutes ago at 10:16am

Album versions over singles was probably more Messina's call rather than Kenny Loggins since he was more involved in the production side than Kenny was.