Customer Reviews

Head Over Heels

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Poco went through many personnel changes over the course of their long career, and with each change, the sounds of the corresponding albums changed as well. It seems that Poco fans tend to fall into two groups: those that prefer the earlier, more country-sounding albums from the Richie Furay years (1969-1974); and those that came aboard for the later, more commercial albums beginning with their big hit, 1978's "Legend". This 1975 album is right smack in the middle, with early leaders Furay and Jim Messina having departed, and Timothy B. Schmit soon to exit to join the Eagles, and with Rusty Young and Paul Cotton growing more comfortable and confident in their new roles as leaders. There's still plenty of country in Poco's country-rock mix, and they are becoming more polished, but they have not yet started the pandering to more commercial sensibilities that would soon begin. The songs written by Young and Cotton are actually stronger than prior efforts by more celebrated Poco alumni Furay, Messina, and Schmit (although Schmit contributes two especially fine songs to this collection, "Keep On Tryin'" and "Flyin' Solo"). This album also features a fine cover of an extremely rare Steely Dan song, "Dallas". (Steely Dan's version of the song appeared on a 12" vinyl import E.P. in the 70s). I happen to enjoy both the earlier and later editions of this groundbreaking, underappreciated band, but this album blends the best of both styles and is my favorite Poco album.

....to the days when they were "pickin' up the pieces." The songs are shorter and the melodies brighter; no major epics like "Crazy Eyes" or "You've Got Your Reasons." That's not a slam, though. "Keep On Tryin'" is a sweet harmony song with just an acoustic guitbox for back-up. "Makin' Love" could've been a real hot single for the band back in '75 if MCA had gotten behind it; as it is, it's a great Poco rocker, similar to "A Good Feelin' To Know." "Sittin' On A Fence" has a wonderful West Indies feel to it with, once again, those harmonies! This album is one of the best Poco did and serves to remind those who listen that "country-rock" (or whatever) isn't the bland, Californy granola it's detractors keep painting it as. Head over heels indeed!

Though a tad uneven at times, this album is probably one of the better examples of how versatile Poco could be. The acoustic "Keep on Tryin" features Poco's harmonic sound at its best and was one of the best songs bassist Tim Schmit contributed during his time in the band. "Makin Love" and "Georgia, Bind My Ties" highlight the band's ability to rock and their cover of the obscure Steely Dan song "Dallas" and "Lovin' Arms" pay homage to the band's country-rock roots. This album has some really great moments, but also a couple of weaker spots. All together it stands up as a very nice collection of music, even if it isn't up to the level of some of the other releases by the band during this period.

Music is largely a matter of personal taste. Same deal with favorite Poco albums.
I own them all in several formats. I've seen the members come and go, and heard the
audio evidence of their arrival and departures. Head Over Heels is a slick, country rock album and in this reviewers opinion, a must have, along with Rose of Cimarron.
Quite frankly, I would not consider any of the tracks as weak. Listening to it in it's entirety, it is a total fulfilling Poco experience and at least two of the tracks should have jettisoned the band into super stardom. Making Love is as good a country rocker circa 1975 as you will ever hear. Same with Sitting on a Fence. If you don't own this one, folks, sorry, you really don't know Poco. Get it any way you can. 5 stars.

I was a little hesitant to order a used CD, but it looked and sounded like a brand new one. By the way, I chose a used one because a new Poco Head Over Heels CD was $143.00!!! Unbelievable!! I don't know why they are so much, but thats not a price I can afford, I already have the album. so to say the least, I am a very happy person to now have this wonderful CD!

Six years and eight albums into the band's existence and Poco was still looking for recognition and acceptance. Those of us who jumped on board in '69 were still there. However, notwithstanding the fact that the band had released one solid LP after another, converts to Poco's affecting Country-Rock music were hard to find. As I read reviews of the group's music I see the same adjectives repeated time and again - unappreciated, underrated and commercially unsuccessful. True, true and, alas, true yet again. As I searched for a reason why it was that these talented performers had to plod away without the record-buying public catching on I was forced to conclude that it wasn't bad luck or the record company's failure to promote or competition from another band. The answer is much more basic - Poco's music simply fell through the crack between rock and country. Rock fans found it just too country. Country fans, being country fans, had no appetite for what they perceived as the bastardization of their beloved genre.

Head Over Heals was the second album recorded after the departure of founding member and driving force Richie Furay. The first, Seven, ventured more into rock. To my ears Head Over Heals marks a return to the band's roots. There are eleven short, bright and snappy songs. This is the LP where the talented Rusty Young finally steps out of the shadows and is permitted to grab some of the spotlight. As much as I really like a couple of the songs and have no particular problem with any I must admit that of the ten or so Poco records in my collection this is probably one of the last that I would choose to play. It is competent but not exciting.

This is one Poco's best CDs. The songs are dversified in that they cover country,
rock, and straight forward ballads. The mastering on the CD leaves a lot to be desired.
They should definitely remaster this one. The sound is somewhat low and muffled at
times. The mix boxes in the bass and percussion. Please remaster this one, it deserves it. The standouts are Keep On Tryin', Sittin' On A Fence, Flyng Solo, and I'll Be Back Again. This is a must for any avid Poco fan. Great CD des[pite the technical flaws.

This was their first album after leaving Epic Records. It was originally released in 1975. Keep On Tryin' sounds great. Dallas is another good song. Dallas was written by Walter Becker & Donald Fagen from Steely Dan. Poco does a really nice version of this song. Poco never received the respect they deserved. I feel that they were one of the best sounding bands from the 70's. Buy this CD. You won't be sorry.

"Head Over Heals" coulda/shoulda been the album to break POCO to the next level. Something that didn't happen for 3 more years past this release. With Poco, we fans were always asking WHY? Why don't more people "get it"?
"Good Feeling To Know" should have been the big breakthrough. It's followup "Crazy Eyes" may have been the true lost masterpiece but it too never took the band to the stratosphere they deserved to reside in. I like both "7" and "Cantamos" the follow-ups but "Head Over Heels" is another highwater mark for our country rock troopers.
As is so often the case, an artist needs a big hit single to propel their fortunes. For POCO, they were always 4 minutes away from that. Not until "Crazy Love" 8 years into their career did they finally get a smidgeon of their belated due. This long after the famous alumni, Furay, Messina, Meisner, Schmidt were departed.
And why "Crazy Love" of all songs? It's a good song but not necessarily legions beyond scores of other Poco delights.
<>Poco's first on a new label (ABC) this album showcases some of the best songs in the entire Poco canon, in spite of Richie Furay's exit two albums previous. There's not a dud song in this batch, and the varying texture between the songs makes for a very satisfying listen start to finish.<>
There was however one always nagging concern about this release and that was the sound. The mix is clearly not A grade. There's an excess of compression that causes a pumping arch on several songs and there are some dull and muddy frequencies on certain instruments...especially the drums. If you've got high end audiophile equipment and take the time you can tweak the EQ to make it tolerable but one can't help but wonder what could have been if previous stellar producer Jack Richardson(Good Feeling, Crazy Eyes, Seven) had been on board for this one. Head's sonic problems were there on the vinyl too so don't blame the digital CD transfer. Clearly this is one release this is crying out for a remaster. What could Bill Inglot do with this?

I bought this album over a year ago in a record store in good condition that was originally released on ABC RECORDS, a label that sold out to MCA RECORDS. This is when pedal steel guitarist RUSTY YOUNG makes his debut lead vocal (unless he actually sang on their previous albums) on the mandolin (played by RUSTY)/acoustic ballad US that also features the pipe organ, piano, and harmony vocal by bass guitarist TIM SCHMIT who wrote and sang the quiet acoustical ballad KEEP ON TRYIN'. Why RUSTY did not sing more songs that he wrote on this album and on the earlier POCO albums is a mystery to me because his song would have sound so much better; then again he might have too. Plus, I feel the more singers in a band, the better. The next song LOVIN' ARMS features excellent harmony vocals, drums, violin, banjo, acoustic, dobro, and pedal steel guitar playing. LET ME TURN BACK TO YOU that is written and sung by PAUL COTTON is a great song with his lead guitar playing and RUSTY'S mandolin and pedal steel guitar playing. MAKIN' LOVE is an excellent rock song with the harmony vocals, TIM'S bass guitar playing, GEORGE GRANTHAM'S drumming, PAUL'S guitar playing, RUSTY'S steel guitar playing, and THE BAND'S GARTH HUDSON playing the high-pitch piano, but SITTIN' ON A FENCE that features excellent harmony vocals, RUSTY'S steel guitar riffs, PAUL COTTON'S lead guitar riffs, GEORGE'S drumming, TIM'S bass guitar playing is better. Plus, the whatever type of percusion by VICTOR FELDMAN at the beginning of the song that comes after the excellent sounding bass guitar intro made me think is was either a CARIBBEAN or JAMAICAN song. PAUL'S DOWN BY THE RIVER is a good slow song with the orchestra, (a mellotron would have been better), harmony vocals, lead and pedal steel guitar riffs, and his guitar rockin' GEORGIA BIND MY TIES with the drum playing, bass guitar, harmony vocals, leslie steel and clean lead guitar riffs is excellent. Plus, DOWN BY THE RIVER reminds me of FAITH HILL'S PEARL HARBOR THEME "THERE YOU'LL BE." TIM'S FLYIN' SOLO is good, but I do not understand why RUSTY does not play pedal steel guitar or anything on this song. The STEELY DAN written DALLAS that is sung by PAUL is excellent with the harmony vocals, the orchestra, the pedal steel guitar riffs, the drums, and the bass guitar. TIM'S I'LL BE BACK AGAIN is great with the harmony vocals, drums, guitar and bass guitar riffs, although RUSTY should have played more of the pedal steel guitar on this song too. Overall, this is definitely a must for all POCO FANS, especially all country lovin' music fans. More importantly, POCO had a whole lot more country sound to offer than THE EAGLES.