From the Inside

Performer: Poco
Producer: Steve Cropper
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Poco: Ritchie Furay, Timothy B. Schmit, Paul Cotton, George Grantham, Rusty Young. From the Inside is Poco's most unusual record, and one the band -- especially founder Richie Furay, whose songs were sort of pushed into the background -- finally didn't like all that much. But it was a very good one anyway, produced in Memphis by guitar legend Steve Cropper and featuring the group generating a leaner, more stripped-down, somewhat bluesier sound. The harmonies are less radiant and the guitars more subdued, and the spirits also a little more low-key than usual. But the sound they get is still appealing, the singing more reflective and a little bit closer to R&B than to the post-Byrds country-rock for which they were known -- the songs are pretty, and in listening terms George Grantham's drums and Timothy B. Schmit's bass are nice and upfront in the mix, and the guitars have a really close presence, even if they are turned down. Paul Cotton's "Bad Weather" was the best reviewed song, but other highlights were "You Are the One," "Hoe Down," "Railroad Days" (maybe their hardest rocker), and "Ol' Forgiver." ~ Bruce Eder

Poco was part of the first wave of West Coast country-rock bands, emerging from the ashes of the seminal Buffalo Springfield and initially built around Springfield's singer/guitarist Richie Furay and producer/sessionman Randy Meisner. They combined the harmony-laden folk-rock sound of the '60s with a country twang (mostly courtesy of pedal steel guitarist Rusty Young) and made a few noted country-rock albums in the early '70s before their sound turned slicker and poppier later in the decade.

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