In honor of the late Dash Crofts, who passed away on March 25, 2026, here are five of my favorite recording duos. There are many extraordinary duos, picking five was a challenge. I skipped Simon & Garfunkel and The Everly Brothers, too easy. For each, I will pick five of their songs for a mini playlist – a vinyl album side. The order of songs on each list is also important and helped me choose from many song favorites. The side needs a great lead-off and dynamic closer. In between are songs that define the duo, deeper cuts that have show the emotional range and stylistic depth of the artists. All hits – not necessarily.
On with the show…
Loggins & Messina
Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina released original folk, country, rock, jazz blended music in the first half of the 1970s before splitting on four studio albums, along with three live albums. Each went on to successful solo careers.
“House at Pooh Corner”
“Watching the River Run”
“Angry Eyes”
“Your Mamma Don’t Dance”
“Move On”
Daryl Hall & John Oates
Daryl Hall and John Oates were active from the early 1970s to the 2000s. Their most successful period was 1975-1985 before taking a break. They scored 29 singles in the top 40; 16 top 10 records; 6 number 1 hits. They were termed “blue-eyed soul” for their blend of R&B and soulful delivery.
“You’re Out of Touch”
“She’s Gone”
“Do What You Want, Be What You Are”
“Rich Girl”
“I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”
Seals & Crofts
Jim Seals and Dash Crofts came together in the late 1960s after working in various bands. Their second album as a duo, Summer Breeze, would sell more than 2 million copies and established them across a variety of musical genres. They scored 8 top 40 hits during the 1970s.
“Diamond Girl”
“Summer Breeze”
“Million Dollar Horse”
“Euphrates”
“We May Never Pass This Way (Again)”
England Dan & John Ford Coley
These two guys charted numerous love songs in the 1970’s, mostly written by others, but they too were songwriters. Their voices blended naturally for their soft rock and adult contemporary sound. They started as part of a band in the late 1960’s, but went out on their own, eventually signing with a subsidiary label of Atlantic. Paired with the right song and producer, “I’d Really Love to See You Tonight” was the result, a number two charting hit.
“I’d Really Like-to See You Tonight”
“We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again”
“Nights Are Forever Without You”
“It’s Sad to Belong”
“Love is the Answer”
Crosby & Nash
David Crosby and Graham Nash were two-thirds of CS&N, which is a whole other story. Crosby and Nash recorded and performed together over a forty year period, but their most successful work was in the 1970s, primarily with their 2nd (Wind on the Water) and 3rd (Whistle Down the Wind) albums, which are represented here.
“Take the Money and Run”
“Love Work Out”
“Out of the Darkness”
“Homeward Through the Haze”
“To the Last Whale”
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