Search - Poco :: Live at Columbia Studios Hollywood 9/30/71

Howie W. (Otheriver)
Reviewed on 6/25/2022...

I had had this performance on a high quality stereo bootleg called "Country Bump" since the mid seventies and had enjoyed it immensely and played it often.

It turns out it was a private performance for CBS executives and promotional people. Poco was out to impress with their replacement for Jim Messina, Paul Cotton. They don't disappoint. The performance is high octane Poco showcasing, at the time, new, as well as, older material. Showing that the band had not lost a step.

Imagine my surprise when it shows up on an official CD! Needless to say I purchased it right away. It remains in my collection to this day.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

There's Just A Little Bit Of Magic In The Country

Shell-Zee | Long Island, NY | 05/18/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Poco's original lineup produced two superb and groundbreaking studio Lp's. Born out of the wreckage of Buffalo Springfield, Richie Furay and Jim Mesina blazed a new trail which came to be known as "country rock". Yes the Byrds were the true pioneers of this new genera, with their criticly acclaimed "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" Lp. Bob Dylan follwed with "Nashville Skyline". Soon former Byrd members Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons formed The Flying Burito Brothers and the new sound was in full swing. But Poco took a slightly different approach. Their music was more mainstream country. Songs like "You Better Think Twice" and "Honky Tonk Downstairs" were straight ahead Buck Owens/Bakersfield Sound. Rusty Young's pedel steel licks were so sweet and so hot, that you just could't keep your feet from breaking out into a little toe tapping hoe down.



But soon after the release of their third album Delivein' (recorded live at the Boston Music Hall and NYC's Felt Forum) Jim Messina left the group to produce and record with Kenny Loggins. As his replacement Paul Cotton, formally of the Illinois Speed Press took over on guitar and vocals and the group continued on without missing a beat. This new release of their 1971 Columbia Studios live recording was made shortly after Cotton and new member Timothy Schmidt joined the group. Most of the material (9 of the 16 tracks) were songs recorded by the new lineup from what was then, their recent release "From The Inside". That album contained some of their finest songwriting to date. This live recording captures the raw energy of the new material almost impecably. Standouts include, "Railroad Days", "C'mon", "Ol' Forgiver", "Just For You & Me", "What A Day" and Richie Furay's beautiful ballard, "What If I Should Say I Love You".



Yes for Poco fans like me, who have waited almost forty years for a chance to hear their favorite band live and at their peak, the wait is finally over. There's just no way you can not love this album. The song selection, the sound and the overall feel of this live recording are all outstanding. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore. Yes, I'll be playin' this new disc all summer long....."There's Just a Little Bit of Magic in the Country"."

Vintage live document of West Coast country-rock pioneers

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 05/18/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The West Coast country-rock band Poco was known early on for their live shows. Their third album, a live set titled Deliverin', was recorded in late-1970 and cracked the Top 30 - something their two previous albums had failed to do. Epic set up a private showcase in Columbia's Hollywood studio, having the band play in an intimate setting for an audience of label employees. With the group's latest studio album, From the Inside, having just hit the streets, this set was a rally for the employees, a warm-up for supporting gigs, and an opportunity to lock down the set and solidify the latest band line-up. By this point, Jim Messina had been replaced by guitarist/singer Paul Cotton, joining another recent addition, Timothy B. Schmit, and founding members Richie Furay and Rusty Young.



Unlike the new material debuted on Deliverin', this hour-long set cherry-picked material from all four of the band's previous albums, with half drawn from their latest studio release. The medley of "Hard Luck," "Child's Claim to Fame," and "Pickin' Up the Pieces" had appeared on their previous live outing, and remains notable for the inclusion of Furray's Buffalo Springfield-era "Child's Claim to Fame." The live arrangements were generally kept concise and tight, though they allowed themselves to jam a bit on "Hurry Up," and the single "C'mon" is stretched to five minutes with a breakdown and guitar solo. They also slow down mid-set for a pair of acoustic tunes, "You Are the One" and "Bad Weather."



Cotton's role as lead guitarist and singer gave this line-up an edgier sound than the founding quintet. Young's pedal steel is still prominently featured on songs like "Ol' Forgiver" and "Bad Weather," and the band sings fine country-rock harmonies, but the electric guitars cut a bit deeper, and there are some progressive elements in the melodies and vocal arrangements - particularly in the newer material. Furay would leave the band a couple of years later, making this the only officially released document of this line-up's live prowess. Collectors' Choice digipack includes a four-panel booklet with detailed (but unsigned) liner notes; this is one of four previously unreleased live albums the label is releasing concurrently. [©2010 hyperbolium dot com]"