Customer Reviews

Very Best of

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Is it just me or do others find the liner notes for this "best of" collection a little confusing? Turns out by they're by a rather legendary (in the NYC area anyway) DJ named Peter Fornatale, but since he describes himself in the first sentence as being "Poco's elder statesman," I at first(logically, I think) surmised that the notes were written by a group member. I mean, even the most devoted and, quite likely, INFLUENTIAL FAN (and I'd include DJ's here) would still be more of a "disciple" or "acolyte" than an actual "elder statesman." Maybe I'm just being picky here.

But there's no mistaking the overall drift of Mr. Fornatale's missive. He's frankly baffled that this talented and enduring country-rock group has never managed to achieve actual superstar status. Now, I know loads of musicians who would kill to have Poco's career, BUT then again, Poco didn't have quite the career of a "supergroup" like CSN(Y), and I'd kind of have to agree w/ Mr. F. that they did indeed deserve at least as much attention as Jim Messina and Richie Furay's former bandmates from the BS days (ahem, I mean "Buffalo Springfield," of course) and the assembled refugees from the Byrds and the Hollies they (legendarily) hooked up with.

My own theory? Poco's biggest mistake was not BILLING themselves as a supergroup in the first place. They were treated more a "successor group," another branch on the Buffalo-Byrds-Hollies family tree. Compare any of the tracks from this compilation to the somewhat diffuse and meandering CSN debut--or even the follow up with Neil Young (who, in my view, did manage to give 'em some much needed EDGE) and you may find yourself wondering if the wrong band wasn't reaping the lion's share of the attention.

Actually, I dunno how apt a comparison others will find THIS ONE, but in a way, they remind me (of all bands) MOBY GRAPE, or at least the Moby Grape of the first, eponymous album. I mean, the band is just plain tight, not show-offy: the harmonies are solid but unobtrusive (no showing off THERE either). And of course, the Grape never really got THEIR due either--not quite "avant-garde" enough or something. Solid chops seem to only get you so far in the music biz, it seems.

One thing that IS noticeably lacking on this collection are any real ballads, however. CSN(Y) had their fair share of those, as did just about every other vocally oriented group from the era. Now, I'm something of a "Poco newbie" here myself, I gotta admit. (That is to say, I'd heard their records at friends houses and on the '70s FM radio, but never actually sat down and given 'em a close listen.) So maybe they've recorded a ton of ballads over the years, but the fact that none of them seem to have merited inclusion on this "VERY BEST OF..." anthology suggests that that was NOT the band's forte. The numbers that come close (enough) to the sub-genre ("Sweet Lovin'" and "Faith In the Families") are tuneful enough and suggest a winning way with slower tempo numbers, but they don't have a "Guinnevere" or "Teach Your Children" on hand to demonstrate just how "sensitive" they could be.

Oh, well, like I say, success in the music biz is verrrry relative. Poco's a long and enduring saga, and like I say, there are tons of marvelous--and totally unknown musicians--who would justifiedly be envious of the level of success this talented band has actually enjoyed. But still, it's understanble just why the bands acolytes and self-proclaimed "elder statesmen" feel Poco hasn't quite been given their due.

I hope the fact that this collection has won the group new converts (like me)is some small, if belated, consolation. Yes, I intend to--slowly but surely and as my budget allows--pick up more of the band's original efforts (to say nothing of the "PIECES" lol) Whatever's still in print, I wanna hear!!

I am not a fan of country music whether it's old or new. These guys aren't country. They are country/rock. Poco along with other bands of the 70's...such as NRPS, Commander Cody, and The Marshall Tucker Band highlighted this category of music. The quality of this recording is decent. The best selections are You'd Better Think Twice, Bad Weather, Faith In The Families, and Rocky Mountain Breakdown. Overall, this is a good collection of songs!!! If you aren't familiar with their music this is a great place to start!!!

THE VERY BEST OF POCO contains much of the best music that Poco did in their early years- or ever, for that matter. My cassette copy has at least one song not on the original CD, the hard-driving guitar rocker "Skatin'", which I feel is indispensible. I advise you to seek out the cassette version of this album, or, better yet, spring for THE FORGOTTEN TRAIL, which gives you the best early Poco experience. It sure as heck is a long way downhill from "A Good Feelin' To Know" and "Skatin'" to "Crazy Love" and "Call It Love."

This is a good starting point for sampling the early Poco hits.
You can hear the early Eagles influences in this material.