Under the Gun [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Poco

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Mca Special Products
• ASIN: B000008JHL
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #190,575 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MCA was Not a Good record label! , July 12, 2008

By	David J. Spuria "David J" (Webster, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

Wow. First, I disagree vehemently with the few reviews that are here on this site. I broke ranks with my fellow high schoolers back in 1980 and checked the box for "Under The Gun" on my Columbia Record and Tape Club order form and what arrived in full vinyl form was a shiny black album with the now famous Poco horse logo. And as the other reviewers mention, this was the follow up to the gold album "Legend", the album that spawned tha band's two biggest hits to that point, "In The Heart of The Night" and "Crazy Love". The band's new approach combined a more adult contemporary flavor which subdued some of the more country elements. But the country elements morphed into a more robust rock prototype-one that would inspire those who would compose ballads with a country tinge.

This album could be the most difficult to pigeonhole based on the time period. Even a hint of new-wave shows up on tunes like "Down To The Wire". But the main thrust of UTG rides the rough terrain between pop, country and rock. And for the serious music reviewer, the results are astonishing. "Midnight Rain" is an ample companion to "Heart of The Night" with Rusty Young's "lead" pedal steel guitar. The broken ground is further opened with "Friends In The Distance" with its understated melody, which then bursts forth with Paul Cotton's amazing solo. For me, the most experimental song of the band's career is "Made of Stone" which features a lead dobro that is played over some 80's sounding synths. This is no one-off follow up. This is a collection ignored by the record label, MCA. Who chose to release Poco albums with almost zero promotional muscle. This collection runs start to finish. And even though the music tide was beginning to turn, 1980 was still 1970's enough to support this kind of music. In fact, the band made a conscious effort to not sound dated or stale. This collection is the band's best effort in the modern era. The rodeo, the pop-rock shop, and the cutting edge-all rolled into one offering. You'd be stupid not to seek this album out, and turn it up loud!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Little Light, Lots of Shadows, April 30, 2001

By	C. Kuschel-Toerber "Christian Kuschel" (Frankfurt, Hessen) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While I do not think that the early (i.e. Richie Furay) POCO was generally better than the later group, both outfits are hard to compare. Times change, and I rather listen to a later "new" POCO than to a band trying to repeat the same sound all over again.

"Under the Gun" is admittedly not among the best post-Furay albums but it does have its moments. The sax is plainly awful, right, and makes my hair stand on end every time I listen to the whole CD. "Legend" (1978), "Ghost Town" (1982) and "Inamorata" (1984) were better by far - great music in its own right, and the latter two are available on a single bargain CD.

4.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD LISTEN, June 3, 2009

By	Ogg Oggelby (Deadwood, S.D.) - See all my reviews

Slip this disc on your home system and tell your friends that it's the great lost Eagles album. Chances are they'll go off trying to find a copy of their own. This is a very good album with some great moments. I fail to understand what is driving the stratospheric price. Looks like it's ripe for a reissue and remaster job. Why not, everything else is?