Customer Reviews

Cowboys & Englishmen

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Cowboys and Englishmen is suitable only for diehard Poco fans, and only after they've stocked up on all of the other Poco releases. The band broke with their past history and recorded an album made up almost entirely of cover material. The result is well below Poco standards. The tunes they chose to cover were mostly weak to begin with, and for the most part the band doesn't add anything to pump them up.

The highlight of the album is the original "Ashes/Feudin'", a Rusty Young instant classic which harkens back to Poco's country-rock heyday. These tunes would have fit in perfectly on Cantamos and other earlier Poco works. Rusty and Paul Cotton return to their country roots frequently on the album, and Rusty breaks out the dobro, pedal steel and mandolin after several albums of playing mostly guitar. Rusty's cover of "Sea of Heartbreak" was pretty good and Paul's cover of JJ Cale's "Cajun Moon" was excellent. The latter tune has been a part of Poco's live setlist for over 20 years. Most of the rest of the album is throwaway.

This album has the feel of something that was thrown together in order to fulfill a contract obligation. If I had to replace my entire Poco collection this is probably the last album I'd get, but as someone who believes that a bad Poco album is better than the best albums that lots of other artists made I would eventually get around to buying it.

Released in 1982 as a last albumm in MCA. Filled with very nice songs including: "Cajun Moon" written by J.J. Cale (I like this song, especially this version of Poco); I recommend listening to a sample); "Sea of Heartbreak" (written by Hal David & Paul Hampton); and "There Goes My Heart" (written by Paul Cotton). After Timothy B. Schmit left, the group had two Englishmen as new members, and a ratio of original songs in an album decreased. But they showed their appealingness nonetheless and made more hits than before. This album gives an impression of being more adult-oriented, less country-flavored, but very enchanting as ever. It's definitely on a line of Poco. I don't know why this CD is not available now. I have a record of this album, but not a CD, to my great regret.

I LOVE this album...maybe it's just the good memories from that period of time... I'm just wondering, though, why is it so expensive? Is the CD rare? Thanks to anyone who responds!

Cowboys and Englishman was an album where most of the material was Country covers. Yes they played and sung with their usual passion and skill but the dirth of ideas and the step back into Country instrumentals (Ashes / Feudin) showed devolution rather than what any Poco fan could justifiably expect after the highs of Blue and Grey. Having said this there are some highlights for the diehard Poco fan, these being, While your`e on your way, Sea of Hearbreak, No Releif in sight (which could have been on Blue and Grey??) It seems that Cowboys & Englishmen was Poco fulfilling some contractual obligations. Still Poco fans should enjoy and also fans of the newer Country music style will too.

This is not one of Poco's best album. The only decent song is "Sea of Heartbreak." I don't know what all the fuss is about. I think that Poco's best album is Legend. That's a keeper!! Don't bother wasting your money on this one.

Track Listings
Side One
1. Sea of Heartbreak
2. No Relief in Sight
3. There Goes My Heart
4. Ashes
5. Feudin' (Instrumental)
Side Two
1. Cajun Moon
2. Ribbon of Darkness
3. If You Could Read My Mind
4. While You're on Your Way
5. Price of Love