But the music gets 5 stars!
Music fan in the Midwest | USA | 03/17/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"As a lifelong Poco fan, I was thrilled to see their first five studio albums with Richie Furay issued as a box set. I had previously purchased "Janis Joplin: The Collection" (a slipcase containing actual jewel cases of "Cheap Thrills," "Kozmic Blues," and "Pearl" with improved sound and bonus tracks). I figured Sony would give the same treatment to Poco -- at least in the area of improved sound. I figured wrong.
I A/B'd three of these five discs with older versions I've had in my collection for years, and I A/B'd selected songs from the other two discs in this set with their counterparts on the superb Epic/Legacy 2-disc anthology from 1990, "The Forgotten Trail." After repeated listenings, I've concluded that "Pickin' Up The Pieces" and "Poco" received an upgrade. "A Good Feelin' To Know" unfortunately sounds just as flat as an earlier release I bought years ago. (No appreciable boost in volume or overall dynamic range, and, more important, it's certainly no warmer-sounding than its predecessor.) "From The Inside" on the whole sounds pretty good and compares favorably with its handful of tracks found on "The Forgotten Trail." I'd have to say the same for "Crazy Eyes" -- no major upgrade in sound over the same tracks included on "The Forgotten Trail," but overall it sounds pretty good.
Two other key points about this 5-disc set: (1) The discs are in replica album covers, not jewel cases. So, fans don't get all the original artwork -- just the front and back covers. The track listing for each album is listed on the back of the slipcase below a picture of its respective album cover. (And the albums are shown out of chronological order, by the way.) But for many of the songs, if you want to know who wrote what, you'll need to visit a website (noted on the slipcase) to get the songwriting credits and track times. (2) "Pickin' Up The Pieces" (from 1969) features a bonus track not on the original vinyl Lp. The song, "Do You Feel It Too," runs at slightly more than 3 minutes and is uptempo, whereas the better-known version on the 1971 album, "From The Inside," runs a bit over 5 and a half minutes and is decidedly funkier (producer Steve Cropper's influence, no doubt). I enjoy hearing both versions back to back; they are way different!
Look, I made the soul connection to these albums, these songs, and this band a long time ago. The music itself is deserving of 5 stars. And the idea for packaging these particular albums together also deserves 5 stars. But we're well into the digital age now, and I was expecting a major upgrade in the sound of these albums. This 5-disc box set is a bit underwhelming on that front. I am especially disappointed that "A Good Feelin' To Know" sounds as flat as it does. But then, that album has special meaning to this fan. Richie kindly autographed the original gatefold album jacket's inside photo for me back in 1972."
Can't Beat The Value, But....
R. D. Towle | 08/11/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"....I think, as others have indicated, this collection is a case of missed opportunity(s) (sic, I know)...I wholeheartedly agree with the poster who was disappointed that A Good Feeling To Know doesn't sound like a major upgrade. It is probably my favorite Furay era Poco record (depending on mood) and the one that really got me into the band back when it came out in the early '70s, but I have yet to find a CD version that sounds as good my LP did, and I have bought them all, BGO, early Epic releases (at least 2), etc....I suspect that the masters have been lost, as to my ears this is one record that has never been improved upon in the CD format, and since Pickin' Up The Pieces and Crazy Eyes sound a lot better on later CD releases, I have to think that's the case.
I think the major error, though, was including From The Inside instead of Deliverin', which was long unavailable on CD but is now back in print for less than $10. With all due respect to FTI, Deliverin' really gives you a sense of who this band was and how uplifting and just damn FUN they were live, which was their forte. Although I never caught 'em in concert, which I am still kicking myself for, (except for Richie with his solo band in the late '70s, and he was GREAT) Deliverin' puts you front and center of the Poco vibe....and when they were on, they were few better. They just made you FEEL good, and nowadays that is a very rare thing. Many Poco fans cite Deliverin' as their favorite Poco record, and when you're blasting that CD at home or in your car with a big grin on your face while you're singing along, it's hard to disagree.
Overall, though, this is a fine set as are almost all of the Original Album Classics series, especially the jazz releases. For those who have been too intimidated by the complexity of that music or the immensity of it, pick up the Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk or Sonny Rollins sets....at these prices, it's almost criminal not to - and you'll be glad you did. It's an almost risk-free way to be introduced to some of the greatest music and musicians this country has ever produced, and it may just open a whole new world for you...."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1