Customer Reviews

Poco

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Too country for rock and too rock for country." Probably the most common criticism of a band that, for all it's greatness, never quite decided what it wanted to be. For this listener's money, "Poco", the band's eponymous second effort affectionately refered to as "The Orange Blossom" album back in the day, is hands down the group's best record. From the opening Richie Furay vocal on "Hurry Up" to the closing cymbal flourish by George Grantham on "El Tanto De Nadie Regresa", this album shimmers with the promise of its inviting cover art- an american pastoral of snow-capped mountains, green fields and sunshine. The hope of a new decade that, well, didn't quite live up to youthful expectations. But, back to the music. For those of you who like your country rock with the emphasis on ROCK, with blues and jazz phrasings that truly swing tossed into the mix, this album delivers (no pun intended as to its successor) like none other by the band and like few other bands. "Hurry Up" is an immediate departure from the tight, pleasant country rock of "Pickin'Up the Pieces", featuring deeper contemplation of loves many sides by Richie, and an extended, funky break fueled by Jim Messina's guitar, the tune culminating in a classic Poco 5-part vocal harmony. "You Better Think Twice" follows, an up-tempo country-rocker sung by Jimmy, which became the band's first big radio song. Good effort, but frankly, the all-accoustic version on "Deliverin'" is more memorable and captures all the joys of upbeat Poco in 4-plus minutes. Next up is "Honky Tonk Downstairs" a nod to country-side Poco fans which now plays as a pleasant, if uneventful tune, but at the time was nothing if not a distraction from the momentum built through the first two songs. Would that there had been programmable CD players back when; this tune would have magically disappeared. The group rebounds on "Keep on Believin'", a title which just about summed up the socio-political optimism which drew so many of us to the band at a time when there was increasingly less reason to feel that way. "Good times have finally arrived, it's been so long..." The vocals soar and the gutiars drive the tempo. Side one ends with a true masterpiece, the often overlooked, achingly beautiful "Anyway Bye Bye." I cannot think of a better vocal performance by Richie Furay in any song, at any time, for any band or label, than this one. Even the closing yowls resonate with deep feeling, and the musicianship is first-rate. The extended jam allows the band to show off its versatility, with Tim Schmit's jazzy bass leading the way. Rusty kicks in with his "is that a steel guitar or organ" tricks, and George and Jimmy help carry the jam to a place of blended country funk, blues and jazz where no band (least of all the Eagles - had to get one jealous insult in) would dare to tread. Truly remarkable, only to be followed by the sit-up-and take-notice second side, one that established Poco's short-lived reputation as among the most innovative, happening bands in America. A full-sided suite of love, betrayal and revenge, opening with the sweetness of "Don't Let It Pass Bye" (a must through the headphones late at night), perhaps the band's vocal harmony tour-de-force. This dreamy love song of waking up with your perfect love beside you, gives way to "Nobody's Fool", a new and improved take on the version included on the first album, and a jarring departure in theme from the romantic reverie of "Don't Let It Pass Bye." The boys segue impressively into "El Tanto de Nadie, Regresa" from there, and the 15 minutes of fun begins. Mad percussion (thank you Joe Lala ) blending with Tim's rolling bass and George's precise timekeeping propel this jam with Jimmy and Rusty taking turns in the lead. Think of the Stones' classic "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'" as an apt comparison to this funkified jam. (which came first?) The music simmers and soars, never drags, then climaxes with a positively scorching lead rave-up by Rusty (reminding one and all how truly remarkable are his chops). As a nice closing touch, the boys pull out of the jam to culminate ("Regresa"?)their brilliant effort with one final burst of thematic harmony: "Cause I got the same...from you." As perfect a side of music as could be. Say what you will about Poco, and they certainly have their detractors, it's hard to deny them their due on this album. Why they didn't stay with this winning formula of combining the best of rock, country blues, and jazz, who knows. Perhaps the quest for the all-important Top 40 hit got the best of them; perhaps too much of the talent drifted away. All I can say is that it was a rare moment on subsequent albums in which the band reached for, or grasped, the musical highs that distinguished this album from those that came after. But for all the disppointments which followed, Poco can still point to this album and say, in 5-part harmony of course, we did this. And few have done it better.

My brother owns this record and nearly wore the grooves off it (see my Better Days review).

It's the best Poco record, period. "Hurry Up" is in my Top 10 of great songs no one ever hears on the radio. "You Better Think Twice" I used to play on the radio when I was a DJ. It was made for the Top 10 but never got there. Sad.

Pound for pound this record has guts. Tight harmonies, outstanding production value, solid arrangements, it's all good. If you wish to introduce yourself to Poco, buy this record then buy their first. Listen to how they changed between the two albums. Both fine in their own respects but two very different records.

I've enjoyed this album all my life. It's high time you enjoyed it too!

This was the first Poco album I ever bought. I got it when it first came out in 1970 and "You Better Think Twice" was getting frequent radio play. Even though the single peaked at only No. 72, I was hooked. I bought every Poco album that came out for the next twenty years. However, Poco's finest hour was with Jim Messina and Richie Furay on board.

On this, their sophomore effort, the band rocks out harder than on their debut, especially on the opening track "Hurry Up." Furay wrote or co-wrote all of the songs except for "Honky Tonk Downstairs," a song that showed that the band hadn't completely abandoned its country leanings. All of the band's trademarks are here: tight harmony singing, soulful vocals, Messina's economic lead guitar work, and Rusty Young's pedal steel as organ.

This is the only studio album that this configuration of the band released and it's one of the strongest albums of their career. Even the 15-minute-plus instrumental "El Tonto de Nadie, Regresa" is an amazing example of the band's instrumental prowess. [Unlike many of the mindless jams found on other albums of that era.] I have on vinyl every album Poco ever released; this is one of a handful that I upgraded to CD. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Though Pickin' Up the Pieces is a great record, this album was the first to put the rock in country rock. The music is in full technicolor, like the oranges on the cover! The production values (thanks to Jim Messina) were unbelievable when it came out, with Timmy Schmitt's bouncing bass much fuller than anyone else's, and George Grantham's drums "right there" kickin' inside your head. Rusty Youngs' pedal steel sounds alternately like an organ-on-acid or like Clapton on an arc-welder. Then there's Richie Furay's perfect voice and the harmony! As good as the individuals were, the sum was more than the parts. This band invented "tight". Hurry Up and Anyway Bye Bye are all-time classic songs, and Don't Let it Pass By is one of the most beautiful. I turned half of New Jersey on to Poco with this record in 1970, and it still sounds great today. (By the way, if you like this one, there are a few songs recorded at about the same time that never made it to vinyl. They're on "The Forgotten Trail" cd and they'll blow you away.)

The second of Poco's albums and the first with Timothy B. Schmit. The harmony from all members is incredible and blended. The guitar work of Jim Messina is as should be, very placed. Timothy B. Schmit's bass work is right in the pocket and his harmony has never been matched by any in my view. Richie's writing and take charge vocals lead the band through some very tight songs both country and country rock. I had the pleasure of seeing them in concert right after the release of this album and the song (Nobody's Fool/ El Tonto De Nadie, Regresa) was done in it entirety, with a masterful drum solo by George Grantham. Every sound is duplicated by Rusty Young on his amazing pedal steel guitar played through Hammond organ leslie speakers. His sound on the pedal steel has never been done before, sounding sometime as an organ and then hitting such high notes and turning it into a trumpet. To me this is Poco's finest album in both rock and country. A must for all Poco fans.

I bought the cassette of this when it was first released and instantly fell in love with it--and what's not to love? The band was more cohesive and more adventuresome (pushing the rock and roll and jazz elements) on this sophomore effort than on the debut (with the addition of Tim Schmit on bass). And though the "live" album which followed was an electric experience (Poco was always known for their legendary dazzling concerts), it was not the revelation that this eponymous release was. Country rock had never witnessed such a fusion of country, western, rock, and jazz--and never would again. The Messina/Furay axis had created something totally unique. This was Poco at their apex. It would all come unglued after this, and they would never be quite the same, but this definitely was their zenith.

Messina's production and arrangements were beyond superb. Furay's melodies and voice were breathtakingly pristine. Young's steel guitar (amped through a Leslie organ revolving speaker) was revelatory! The rhythm section of Grantham and Schmit were meticulous. The song writing was flawless--is there a better Poco song than "You Better Think Twice?" The instumentals were deliciously innovative and perfectly played. And those trademark heavenly harmonies! There was not a misstep on this project. It all came together for one recording.

This is the one to get!

P.S. You have got to love that fruit crate art on the cover!

This the first vinyl lp that I wore out by playing it so much that the upper end highs and lows got trashed. Ironically, back in the 70's this was one of the last lp's we listened to from a pile a friend of mine brought back from school during a summer break.

Side 1 was interesting, but the falsetto harmonies in the country context kept me flashing on the Vienna Boys Choir singing really fast.

Then there's the entire side 2 that starts off very "aw-shucks another broken heart" ballady, but goes nuclear with pedal steel frenzy (there goes that waa-waa sound again) and sizzling guitar
energy that works on the level of spine-and-reproductive-organs.

I like the CD more than the vinyl because now I can play side 2 of this mother and not worry about burning out the signal.

A classic at its best.....A great blend of music from the early 70's or late 60's

Furay's incredible exuberance is so evident in "Hurry Up." Sung with a theatric passion, he pours his heart into his music, and that's likely what has always made him the consummate professional since adding his 'country influence' in early Buffalo Springfield tunes. Jim Messina is the toe tapping, melodic lead guitarist who really makes the music move. In recent years, the funky 'newer version' of "Nobody's Fool" seems somewhat dated itself, originally intended to be a 1970 update to the now favored original version as heard on "Pickin' Up the Pieces." All of the other musicians are excellent as well, particularily Rusty Young on his amazing steel guitar and Dobro, and Bassist, Timothy B. Schmidt; later the talented Eagles member.

The surviving group, with Rusty Young and Paul Cotton, has a totally different sound and effect. You gain melodic hit songs, but you lose the passionate toe tapping exuberance. Enjoy some of the early Poco tunes before the group underwent major changes!

The first three POCO albums were the best. When Jim Messina left, they started downhill. This was the second and a MUST have for any POCO fan!