Vintage live document of West Coast country-rock pioneers

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 By this point, Jim Messina had been replaced by guitarist/singer Paul Cotton, joining another recent addition, Timothy B. Schmit, and founding members Richie Furay and Rusty Young.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]