Bareback at Big Sky [Live]

Poco | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Thirty Tigers
• ASIN: B000AQKYSW
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #230,486 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Sound @ Big Sky, September 21, 2005

By 

R. D. Fonnesbeck "Poco Fan" (St. George, UT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bareback at Big Sky (Audio CD)

Poco's first unplugged CD attempt, after 35+ years as a band in various lineups, is both satisfying and fun to listen to. Recorded live at a small studio in Bozeman, MT, these pioneers of country rock turn back the clock with renditions of some of their best work, including several excellent songs from the more recent Poco releases. Rusty Young, the only original Poco member who has been in the group from its inception in 1968, runs the show @ Big Sky and his vocals, along with those of longtime member Paul Cotton, will bring back many fond memories to Poco enthusiasts, past and present. Young shows why he has continued to be the backbone of Poco through the years, as he has become a solid vocalist after being reknown for his steel guitar/guitar work early in his career. His acoustic versions of "Save a Corner of Your Heart for Me", "What do People Know" and "When a Heart needs a Hand" will intrigue listeners and can be appreciated by even first-time fans who are not familiar with the voluminous Poco catalogue of tunes. Cotton, who brings his throaty baritone to such classics as J. J. Cale's "Cajun Moon" and a couple of other older Poco tunes, "Barbados" and "Under the Gun", while reminding us that some of his newer material, such as "Bareback" and "Every time I hear that Train" warrant attention as well. New drummer George Lawrence, replacing the great George Grantham who is still recovering from a 2004 stroke, keeps a consistent backbeat for the group, and Jack Sundrud, who has spent several years as Poco's bassist after both Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmitt left the group for greener pastures, contributes his smooth voice to a couple of good tunes as well. Poco fans will enjoy the acoustic nature of the music and intimacy of the venue, and will revel in the fact that Young and Cotton can still make music that is so full of ethereal harmonies that it is undeniably the Poco sound---which is to say among the best in the genre. My thought on first listen was that former band leader and co-founder Richie Furay, who still performs with Poco now and then, would be very proud of the band that he, Young and Jim Messina brought out of the ashes of the demise of the Buffalo Springfield. And for a reminder that in 2005 great songs from the 60's remain as timeless as ever, Poco closes this superb CD with a harmony-filled rendition of Neil Young's "On the Way Home", which has graced the Poco setlist since the days of Furay, who sang it for the Springfield way back when. Rusty Young and Cotton trade verses on the song, expertly putting a finishing exclamation point and quaint touch on the concert/recording, deftly showing that Poco's brand of countrified rock is always worth a listen.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poco "Unplugged", a delightful and satisfying gem, September 20, 2005

By 

Thomas E. Lee III "Tom Lee" (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bareback at Big Sky (Audio CD)

While other bands of this era (i.e. The Eagles) seem to be content with going through the motions and resting on their past achievements adnauseam, these guys still work hard for a living and it shows. Performed over two nights in an intimate setting (the living room of The Goodwin Ranch) at the foot of the Bridger Mountains outside of Bozeman, Montana, this is a tasty and mature offering from Poco stalwarts Rusty Young and Paul Cotton. Both Rusty and Paul have aged like a fine wine and their consummate singing and playing is evident throughout these performances. With help from the multitalented Jack Sundrud (bass, guitar, vocals) and George Lawrence (sitting in for the ailing George Grantham) on Drums, these guys pour their heart and soul into every song. The newer songs show that they haven't lost their knack for writing timely melodies and the older tunes like Under The Gun, Barbados, and Midnight Rain are offered up in a way that makes them sound refreshing and new. The J.J. Cale classic "Cajun Moon" is a standout cut with Goodwin Ranch purveyor and host, "Big" Dave Goodwin sitting in on harmonica. I find this laidback gem from Poco very satisfying and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys real music performed by talented musicians.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Job, Guys!, February 6, 2006

By 

Richard D. Hodgson (Madera, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bareback at Big Sky (Audio CD)

Since their last studio album, the decent but disappointing "Running Horse", Poco have released three live albums-- "Keeping The Legend Alive" (which includes both CD and DVD versions in one package), "The Last Roundup" (a "lost" Poco album originally recorded in the '70s, then shelved by their label and never released), and now, "Bareback". I'm a long time "Poconut" and each of those albums is excellent in its own way. But this one is destined to be among my all-time favorites.

The perfomance is almost entirely acoustic. Recorded "live in the studio" (before a small audience) with no overdubs or enhancements, there is a purity and honesty to this music that is rarely found today, and in many ways relates back to their early days. But really, it's unlike anything they've ever done before. The music is a mixture of old and new, including a couple of songs I've never heard before. But everything here has a freshness that makes it as enjoyable to hear as if you had never heard any of it before. It's obvious that they had fun doing this, and there is an obvious connection with the small but appreciative audience. The last cut is the old Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield classic, "On The Way Home". I've heard and loved the Springfield's version a milllion times, and I've heard Neil play it solo in different versions over the years. But never have I enjoyed any version of the song more than this one. Just wish it was longer-- it always ends too soon. Then after a few seconds of silence, stay tuned for the infamous "rabbit joke", which despite rumors to the contrary, is darned funny!

Overall, this album is a true joy to listen to. If you love Poco, and especially if you love earlier Poco, you absolutely must have this. Even if you don't love Poco but just love good music, you still should have this. If you don't absolutely love it, then you must surely be comatose. Buy it! Now!