Poco
Head Over Heels

THE REVIEW

Notable album, the eighth in the career of this excellent Los Angeles-based group, released in 1974 during the peak years of the so-called country rock genre: in the USA, Eagles, Crosby Stills & Nash, Loggins & Messina, America, Jackson Browne, Bruce Cockburn, Dan Fogelberg, Linda Rondstadt, Seals & Crofts, James Taylor, Neil Young and many other followers were flourishing.

As is almost the norm in bands that tackle this musical style, all members participate in singing and, except for drummer George Grantham, also in composing the repertoire. Thus, by examining the eleven contributions of the album, one can focus on the characteristics and virtues of each member. Bassist Tim Schmit is the author of three tracks, the most remarkable of which is placed at the opening and is titled “Keep On Trying”: a true gem, played with the simple accompaniment of an acoustic guitar that softly articulates the chords, allowing maximum prominence first to Tim’s silky tenor voice and then to the emphatic four-part harmonies. The track was also released as a single, achieving respectable success across America; it is still performed at each of their concerts today (sung by multi-instrumentalist Rusty Young, since Schmit is no longer with them, having joined the Eagles back in 1976).

Guitarist and singer Paul Cotton contributes three of his own compositions, the most notable of which is the rock-tinged “Down In the Quarter” while the other two appear more stale and predictable. Cotton hails from northern Chicago, the most distant and misaligned with the rounded country tones and Californian brightness; his work has more of a rhythm & blues flavor, and his singing style is somewhat crooner-like. His interpretation also covers the only cover present, which was three years earlier the debut single of Steely Dan, the lovely yet not too successful “Dallas”.

Multi-instrumentalist Rusty Young, a virtuoso of the pedal steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, and dobro, assigns himself four compositions and begins with this album to also venture into solo vocal parts (for now, only on one of them, the brief “Us”). Young is a musician with exquisite melodic flair, and this virtue shines brightly in “Lovin’ Arms”, beautifully sung in three-part harmony from beginning to end and an absolute pinnacle of the album. Another successful track of his is “Sitting On A Fence”, featuring successful solo interludes of steel guitar and Schmit's incredibly soaring and pitch-perfect voice, more piercing than ever.

Fresh, compact album, with no or almost no drop in tone, among the best of the fifteen or so released by this amiable and reliable group.