Customer Reviews

Seven

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

 

 

While Poco was never the same band after founding members Richie Furay and Jim Messina left the band, they would continue to make terrific music through the end of the seventies. [Yes, they continued to record through the mid-eighties, but by then they'd lost much of their spark. However, Paul Cotton, Rusty Young and George Grantham have kept the band together and released their first CD of new material in 13 years in 2002.] This 1974 release was their first post-Furay album, and like Cantamos which followed later that same year, it's dominated by guitarist Paul Cotton. Cotton wrote half of the album's songs and "Drivin' Wheel" and "You've Got Your Reasons" are highlights. Timothy B. Schmit emerges as a songwriter to contend with, writing three tracks, including the rocking "Just Call My Name." My favorite track, however, is Rusty Young's bluegrassy "Rocky Mountain Breakdown," which features ex-bandmate Jim Messina on mandolin. Overall, this is a solid country-rock album by one of the genre's pioneering bands. RECOMMENDED

This band could've faltered when founding member Ritchie Furay followed co-founder Jim Messina out the door in 1973, right on the heels of one of Poco's best albums, CRAZY EYES. And some Poco fans were also disappointed with this album because the shift away from the "pickin' and grinnin' music that made you smile" style of their first few albums is pretty well complete by this one. But the group clearly shows that it was always much more than just it's founders. SEVEN has it all; chugging rockers ("Drivin' Wheel," "Skatin'"), bluegrass ("Rocky Mountain Breakdown"), ballads ("Krikkit's Song") and even a "Crazy Eyes" type of epic ("You've Got Your Reasons"). Everyone here does a top-notch job, with Rusty Young particularly shining on pedal steel. All in all, SEVEN boasts an energy and power that is damn near majestic at times; it's definetely one of the best albums in the "country-rock" catagory and certainly one of the best albums, period, from the Seventies.

Poco - Seven is in my opinion Poco`s finest album. Seven sits between two albums one of which Crazy Eyes signalled Richie Furay exit from the band and Cantamos which continued the direction derived from Good Feelin to Know and Crazy Eyes, that is slightly Country but with some good rockers, lyrics influenced by the south and the old west. But smack in the middle came Seven a modern album with a modern driving sound. Slide Guitar and greater influence from Paul Cotton and Tim Schmit occur here. Rusty Youn`gs sole track Rocky Mountain Breakdown is the only concession to their previous sound. This is Country Rock more reminiscent of what the Eagles were starting to do on On the Border. Highlights include Angel, You`ve got your Reasons and Krikkits Song. However there are no weak tracks on the album. This was my first Poco purchase and forced me to invest in more Poco. This is the only album in this vein however as Cantamos retreats back into the old style albeit with excellent musicianship and great songs.

SEVEN is one of Poco's best CDs ever. Richie Furay had left before this one was recorded, but the other members more than pick up the slack as far as singing and writing is concerned. "Skatin'", which is the best song the band ever did, is here, as is another gem, "Drivin' Wheel." This CD helps prove that the Eagles were not the be-all-end-all of country-rock.

..."You've Got Your Reasons" still makes me cry...Paul Cotton expresses romance from the male perspective better than any songwriter I have ever heard. This CD is the biggest bargain in music, it rocks, it's soulful, it's some of the best rock musicians in history. This proved that jettisoning the much overrated, gooshy Richie Furay was addition by subtraction. Buy this and you'll thank yourself over and over.

Yes, I'm in the minority probably, but I think this album is Poco's strongest. The album is a little more on the heavier side and it seems that with the departure of Richie Furay, the band had lost it's twang. Well that may be the case, although Rocky Mountain Breakdown tries to keep that spirit alive.

Highlights include side 1 (tracks 1-4) - Drivin' Wheel is just that (a good driving song)... Skatin' is probably my all time favorite Tim Schmitt song - it should have been a hit! Rocky Mountain Breakdown - adding a little country flavor to the album, and Just Call My Name - a slinky rocker with great slide.

Faith In The Families is a nice mellow track as well as the following track Krikkit's Song. Two Cotton classics "Angel" and "You've Got Your Reasons" close out the record.

Basically every song is a gem.

Highly recommended!

One of Poco's best releases, the whole thing comes together not unlike a country/bluegrass concept album, sliding down your ear canal like a smooth aural whiskey. I like the consistency of the song quality with nary a bad cut on the disc, unlike some of their other offerings - most notably, the "Crazy Eyes" LP which is presented in a similar format, but with lesser impact and mixed results. If I were to recommend one Poco album (not counting greatest hits or live collections), it would have to be Seven.

Seven has always been my favorite Poco album. I've bought it on vinyl,
8-track, cassette, and finally CD. I never get tired of it. The vocals and harmonies are just too excellent. It's 1974 at it's finest. The whole album is great, but the last 5 songs still get to me after all these years.

Some bands go two decades or more without any personnel change at all. Poco, on the other hand, was plagued throughout the band's history by band members joining and then departing. The amazing thing is that this revolving door had little effect on the quality of music. From 1969 until about 1980 Poco released one strong LP after another. The changes in personnel did undeniably, and obviously, result in changes in the band's musical direction. Seven was the first record without founder Richie Furay. Aside from Rusty Young's sole contribution, Rocky Mountain Breakdown, this LP is less country and more rock than any of the previous six studio albums. Now I'm not suggesting that Poco here abandons its country rock roots - that would come later - it's just that the emphasis has shifted. I had been a fan of Furay's sweet, light, country ditties ever since his days with Buffalo Springfield. I would be lying if I said that I didn't miss him on Seven. However, both Paul Cotton and Timothy B. Schmidt continue to develop as a writers and singers. They almost make up for Furay's absence. Cotton's beautiful Faith in the Families is one of the band's best songs. Schmidt's Krikitt's Song is very reminiscent of Furay.

Seven was another fine outing that Poco fans would very much enjoy but one that didn't earn the band any new followers. After seven studio albums it seemed that Poco would forever toil in the nether regions of popular music. Stay tuned.

I purchased an original vinyl version of this album kind of on a whim, more for the sake of having original Poco on vinyl than anything, and was aware that it's not considered that great a record. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I put it on the turntable because although the songs aren't as brilliant as many other Poco tracks I enjoy, it was better than I'd been led to believe. Certainly, "Rocky Mountain Breakdown" is the best song. Another strong one is "Just Call My Name". As someone who became familiar with the band by digging deeper at the roots of the Eagles, I'd originally only been familiar with Timothy Schmit's singing in a couple of softie songs by them, so it's a real treat to hear him rock out on "Just Call My Name", more so than other songs from earlier albums. I think there are about two songs on the record that may not grab you, it depends on how much you like Paul Cotton, I guess. Overall, it's a record that any Poconut probably should add to their collection.