"Vagabonds Of The Western World: 50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set" Edition by THIN LIZZY – Sept 1973 Album Remastered with Seven Bonuses on CD1, Rarities, Outtakes and Live BBC Radio One Sessions and In Concert Shows from 1972 and 1973 on CD2 and CD3 with ATMOS and 5.1 Surrounds Mixes on the BLU RAY – featuring Phil Lynott, Eric Bell and Brian Downey, Jr. (December 2023 UK Universal/Decca '50th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' 10" x 10" Reissue with a 60-Page 10" x 10" Hardback Book - 2023 Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

<iframe sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" style="width:120px;height:240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" src="//ws-eu.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=GB&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=mabasreofcdbl-21&language=en_GB&marketplace=amazon&region=GB&placement=B0CHSGV8YK&asins=B0CHSGV8YK&linkId=7af8cfe28eea1d3623ea24a3fba19b63&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true"></iframe>

"... Baby's Been Messin' All Over Town..."

Back in October 2010 - Lizzy's third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World" got the Universal '2CD Deluxe Edition' treatment - and I for one raved about its audio, presentation and extras (it was also their final LP with original Lead Guitarist Eric Bell). Time to re-rave frankly.

You have to say that Universal has done the absolute dog's you-know-what by their 1973 third studio album for its 50th Anniversary Reissue Series of releases here in late 2023. I love these things so much that I've only gone and committed to all three big formats - the 50^th Anniversary 2-LP Purple Vinyl set with a fantastically complimentary Extras LP and the 50^th Anniversary 4-LP Box Set (both reviewed elsewhere). The 4LP Box has a 60-page book to drool over with the album on LP1 and LPs 2, 3 and 4 being the 'Radio One In Concert/John Peel/Bob Harris Sessions' from 1972 and 1973 that first appeared on "At The BBC" 6CD Box Set in 2011. Those BBC Sessions are first-issue on vinyl in the 4LP Box. The 'Extras' LP on the 2-LP Purple Vinyl Set does not duplicate anything on the 4LP Box. Both vinyl sets hits the streets of Blighty on Friday, 17 November 2023.

Door number three (released Friday, 1 December 2023) is the 4-Disc Super Deluxe '50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set' variant - also a thing of digital lust even if it's only ten-by-ten-inches in size. The ATMOS and 5.1 Mixes on the BLU RAY are first-time-ever for any Lizzy release and CD2 and CD3 contain unreleased material some of which is not on either of the VINYL sets. The 60-page Hardback Book is exactly the same as the one in the 4LP Box Set except that instead of 12 x 12 size you get 10 x 10-inches (so for fans who bought that will have unfortunate duplication - but more of the book and its gorgeousness later). At this point in time there appears to be no 2023 single LP, single CD or 2CD sets - just the above 3 variants in the 50th Anniversary Reissues Series.

Some history - originally released as an album 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca Records SKL 5170 (May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with a slightly edited version of "Little Girl In Bloom") – the LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" had huge tunes like the manic guitar-fest of "The Rocker", the slide guitar meets environmental statement song "Mama Nature Said" and the deeply touching and melodious "Little Girl In Bloom" - it was a huge song-writing step forward after "Thin Lizzy" of 1971 and "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage" in 1972. Hip British DJ of the moment (1973) - David Kid Jensen narrated the story in "The Hero And The Madman", Jan Schelhass plays Organ on "Mother Nature Said" and Fiachra Trench arranged Strings for "A Song For While I'm Away". 

1973's "Vagabonds Of The Western World" was also the first album to feature their trademark look via Jim Fitzpatrick artwork (more of which is thrillingly used in the book and on the inner sleeves) and the first album that pointed towards a commercial Rock future – a hard-won success that would take them three more albums to arrive at via the worldwide breakthroughs of "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" - both in 1976 (their sixth and seventh studio albums). The ultimate triumph would come in 1978 with the legendary double "Live And Dangerous" which sold in cartloads – and rightly so. But this is where that road really started and arriving here – 50-years down the line at a 3-Versions 2023 reissue of higher heroes and flaming motorcycles. To the details for the 3CD and BLU RAY variant...

UK released Friday, 1 December 2023 - "Vagabonds Of The Western World" by THIN LIZZY on Universal/Decca 5587532 (Barcode 602455875327) is a Super Deluxe 10" x 10" Limited Edition 50^th Anniversary 3CD/BLU-RAY Box Set with a 60-Page Hardback Book. New Sleeve Notes are by MARK BLAKE (Rare Memorabilia etc) and Unpublished Artwork is by JIM FITZPATRICK – an artist intrinsically linked with the band. It plays out as follows:

CD1 "Vagabonds Of The Western World" (68:21 minutes):

1. Mama Nature Said [Side 1]

2. The Hero And The Madman 

3. Slow Blues

4. The Rocker

5. Vagabond Of Western World [Side 2]

6. Little Girl In Bloom

7. Gonna Creep Up On You

8. A Song For While I'm Away

Tracks 1 to 8 are their third studio album "Vagabonds Of The Western World” - released 21 September 1973 in the UK on Decca SKL-5170 and May 1974 in the USA on London XPS 636 with the track "Little Girl In Bloom" being slightly edited. 

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Whisky In The Jar (Single, A-side)

10. Black Boys On The Corner (Single, B-side)

11. Randolph's Tango (Single, A-side)

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

13. The Rocker (Single, A-side, Edit)

14. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)

15. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)

CD1 NOTES:

Tracks 9 and 10 are the A & B-sides of their second UK 7" single released 3 November 1972 on Decca F 13355. "Whisky In The Jar" (spelt with an 'e' only on American issues) was the real starting point for Thin Lizzy's global success. "Whisky" is a traditional Irish air dating as far back as 1729 and was originally only meant to be a jokey B-side dashed off in the studio to accompany "Black Boys On The Corner" on the A - a Lynott original far more representative of their rocking sound. But British DJ's flipped the single and "Whisky" became the hit. It finally charted January 1973 and eventually rose to number 6. The version used here is commonly known as the 'Full Single Version' at 5:45 minutes. However a 7" 'edit' of the track was quickly pressed up for BBC Radio play and the US 7" single on London - this 'edit' version at 3:44 minutes is only on the October 2010 UK 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 11 and 12 are their 2nd UK 7" single released May 1973, both tracks on Decca F 13402 were non-album at the time. The version of "Randolph's Tango" that is used here is known as the 'Full Version' at 3:49 minutes - the promo-only 7" edit at 2:25 minutes is Track 17 on the 2CD DE version of "Vagabonds..." from October 2010

Tracks 13 and 14 are their 3rd UK 7" single and the first to feature a track off the album. "The Rocker" (A-side) was issued as a 7" single in the UK in November 1973 on Decca F 13467 and is an edited version (2:41 as opposed to the album's 5:12 minutes). It was backed with another non-album Phil Lynott track, the jaunty "Here I Go Again"

Track 15 is Non-LP also. Often called "Cruising In The Lizzymobile" - its correct title "A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile" is used here. It is also a genuine Thin Lizzy vinyl rarity as it was only ever issued on the B-side of the 7" GERMAN release of "The Rocker". Its CD debut first came on the "Vagabonds Kings Warriors Angels" 4CD Box Set in 2001. Its rare picture sleeve is reproduced on the right flap of the inner three-way foldout CD gatefold card sleeve (along with two other Euro Pic Sleeves) 

CD2 "Radio Sessions" (73:18 minutes):

"John Peel Sessions" - Recorded: 14 Nov 1972, Broadcast 28 Nov 1972

1. Whisky In The Jar (5:50 minutes)

2. Suicide (4:00 minutes)

3. Black Boys On The Corner (3:07 minutes)

Produced by TONY WILSON

"RTE Radio Eireann Session" *

4. 1969 Rock (5:40 minutes)

5. Suicide (4:31 minutes)

6. Broken Dreams (5:38 minutes)

7. Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows (3:55 minutes)

NOTES: No recording dates or Producer name provided - but because of the songs its sometime in 1973. "1969 Rock" is an early more rocking version of "The Hero And The Madman" that eventually turned on the "Vagabonds…" album and here includes a spoken introduction from guitarist Eric Bell. "Suicide" and "Broken Dreams" features a spoken intro by Eric and Phil. "Eddie's Blues/Blue Shadows" sees the band joined by guitarist Eddie Campbell of The Real McCoy

* Tracks 4 to 7 NOT ON EITHER OF THE VINYL SETS 

"John Peel Sessions" - Recorded 31 July 1973, Broadcast 7 Aug 1973

8. Vagabond Of The Western World (4:23 minutes)

9. Little Girl In Bloom (4:45 minutes)

10. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:13 minutes)

Produced by JOHN WALTERS

"John Peel Session" - Recorded 6 August 1973, Broadcast 16 Aug 1973

11. Randolph's Tango (3:45 minutes)

12. The Rocker (5:10 minutes)

13. Slow Blues (5:31 minutes)

Produced by BERNIE WINTERS

"Bob Harris Session" - Recorded 28 Aug 1973, Broadcast 17 Sep 1973

14. Randolph's Tango (3:40 minutes)

15. Little Girl In Bloom (4:41 minutes)

16. The Rocker (5:12 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN

CD3 "Live, Rarities, Demos & Outtakes" (77:37 minutes):

"Radio One In Concert 1973" - Recorded 26 July 1973, Paris Theatre, London

1. The Rocker (6:00 minutes)

2. Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm (7:52 minutes)

3. Slow Blues (5:03 minutes)

4. Gonna Creep Up On You (3:47 minutes)

5. Suicide (4:50 minutes)

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN 

6. The Rocker (Take 1 Instrumental) - 5:17 minutes

7. Little Girl In Bloom (Take 3) - 5:52 minutes)

8. Gonna Creep Up On You (Take 2 Instrumental) - 4:37 minutes

9. Slow Blues (Take 2 Instrumental) - 5:39 minutes

10. Here I Go Again (Extended) - 6:42 minutes

11. Suicide (gtr Needles and Pins Jam) - 1:30 minutes

12. Whiskey In The Jar (Alternate Mix Extended Version) - 5:58 minutes

13. Black Boys On The Corner (Alternate Mix) - 3:44 minutes

14. Gonna Creep Up On You (Acetate Version) - 3:30 minutes

15. Baby's Been Messin' (Acetate Version) - 4:01 minutes

NOTES for CD3: 

The 'BBC Radio 1 In Concert' set that appeared on the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" is a different gig. Recorded 31 July 1973 at Golders Green Hippodrome in London - it had the same five songs (and in the same order) - but the 31 July 1973 show instead introduced the two lead guitarists of the new four-piece Thin Lizzy line-up – Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson.

Tracks 6 to 15 NOT ON THE VINYL VERSIONS

BLU-RAY: 

"Vagabonds Of The Western World"

Tracks 1 to 8 are the 1973 Album (as listed above) in an ATMOS MIX, a 5.1 MIX and a STEREO MIX

BONUS ATMOS MIXES:

9. Whisky In The Jar (Single, A-side)

10. Black Boys On The Corner (Single, B-side)

11. Randolph's Tango (Single, A-side)

12. Broken Dreams (Single, B-side)

13. The Rocker (Single, A-side, Edit)

14. Here I Go Again (Single, B-side)

15. A Ride In The Lizzy Mobile (Single, B-side)

For CD1, CD2 and CD3 THIN LIZZY was:

PHILIP LYNOTT – Bass and Vocals

ERIC BELL – Guitars

BRIAN DOWNEY, JR. - Drums

OLDER REISSUES:

First things first – those who own the October 2010 2CD Deluxe Edition of "Vagabonds Of The Western World" will need to keep it as there are extras and unreleased not on the 2 Vinyl Sets or here on the 3CD/BLU RAY variant. 

PRESENTATION:

The 60-Page Hardback Book sits atop an inset drawer inside the 10 x 10 Box with both CD card sleeves underneath in a well. The first houses the three CDs in a threat foldout card sleeve while the gatefold second has the BLU RAY. Photos of rare Euro and Japanese singles make up the photos that dominate all five of the inner flaps - "The Rocker" from Japan, Germany and Denmark alongside "Whisky In The Jar" from Denmark and more. They are lovely to look at, but of course suffer from tightness when trying to get the discs out of each slot without tearing the artwork. But these are minor hassles because once fans clap eyeballs on the 60-page hardback - most Lizzyphiles will be literally weak at the knees. 

Throughout its comprehensive text by MARK BLAKE and memorabilia displays are full-page outtake artwork of the LP cover by JIM FITZPATRICK. Blake begins his seriously in-depth study of Thin Lizzy history from Crumlin schoolyards in 1968 to stints with Gary Moore in Skid Row and a contract with Decca for the 'quite green' Irish Rock Trio to record the self-titled debut in January 1971. It weaves its merry way to Page 31 plastered as it goes with badges, posters, singles, press adverts, Decca letters and all of it given room to shine on big fat glossy black pages. You get promo pictures of the band from Decca (dig the Guinness stage logo behind the band on Page 58) – messages from the band in October 1973 apologising to Irish fans for delays with physical copies of the album arriving in Irish shops due to production hiccups in England - a full page advert for the LP with quotes from British DJs/Fans John Peel and Kid Jensen along with cartoon adverts for "Whisky In The Jar" and "Randolph's Tango" and oodles more space-hopping and motorcycle roaring.

The roll call of reissue credits on Page 57 reads like a who's who for Lizzy – Band Managers Ted Carroll of Ace Records and Chris O'Donnell of Morrison O'Donnell Limited (both he and Chris Morrison were closely associated with the band) with contributions from the Belfast Guitarist ERIC BELL and mainman for Lizzy – the Drummer and schoolboy pal of Phil Lynott – BRIAN DOWNEY. Websites are named and the Jim Fitzpatrick artwork outtakes strewn with fantastic punch throughout will make even diehard old farts like me (and many others too) weepy – rekindling our love for this fabulous Rock band. In fact – if this is the 50^th Anniversary effort for 1973 – then we could hope for "Night Life" in 2024, "Fighting" in 2025 and the big boys - "Jailbreak" and "Johnny The Fox" in 2026 - mouth-watering stuff to look forward to.

AUDIO:

It's all beautifully done and if that isn't enough, the whole shebang is mastered from original tapes by two fave Audio Engineers - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. This dynamic duo have handled huge swathes of Universal's Rock and Pop catalogue - Rory Gallagher, Budgie, Free, Spooky Tooth and the DE editions of Thin Lizzy too. If I was to single out one obvious winner - you can so hear the punching Bass on "Slow Blues" - those guitar flicks and especially Downey’s high-hats and drum rolls - so damn clear and yet ballsy. By the time I get to the truly fantastic guitar riffage of "The Rocker" and I’m a goner. Ludicrously great playing, saucy lyrics via the spirit of Bon Scott - the whole thing just screams out of your speakers with the joy of the ladies hitting the town. Even songs I used to slightly dismiss like "A Song For While I'm Away" suddenly feels alive and beautiful - the acoustic strums and those strings are so good. After the 8-track album - CD1 adds on seven Bonuses that arguably make up an even better LP No.2. Drums, guitars, Phil’s treated vocals - "Whiskey In The Jar" sounding fantastically alive (ring dum a doo dah indeed). That symbol intro/riffage intro to one of their very best Non-LP B-sides "Black Boys On The Corner" is huge as is Eric Bell and that electrifying playing. 

MATERIAL:

You’re struck time and time again as to how tight they were and what a stunning axeman Bell was. With Lynott out-front looking and sounding every inch like the Rock Star he always was - this massive haul puts up a good argument in the hearing as to why they were loved - even then. All three were in blistering form and hammering out new/better material that would leave many a band of the time gasping in awe. The original recording work of great BBC names like Jeff Griffin, Tony Wilson, Bernie Andrews and John Walters ensured that storming singles "Black Boys On The Corner" and "The Rocker" allow stunning warbling guitar solos from Eric Bell while Phil and his Bass sound precise on "Little Girl In Bloom" and confidant on the massively extended EP track "Thing's Ain't Working Out Down At The Farm" stretched out in a live environment to nearly eight minutes. For sure, there is repetition, but bluntly – if the Trio of Thin Lizzy is playing any of this stuff fresh and new – I want it all - again and again. 

One truly astounding discovery has the be the RTE Radio Eireann Session that features the Trio sometime in 1973 in emerging brilliance - Eric Bell and Phil introducing embryonic versions of songs we love. The Remaster is great - Eric Bell and his echoed guitar turning "Broken Dreams" into a sort of 1969 Fleetwood Mac and Peter Green "Then Play On" period feel - fantastic stuff. The 'Gtr Needles and Pins Jam' has the riff from "Suicide" possibly altered via the Searchers 60ts hit "Needles and Pins" while the Acetate Recording at the end of CD3 (very well restored frankly) turns out to be an earlier version of "Suicide" entitled "Baby's Been Messin'" with less than enlightened lyrics that Phil probably knew had to be ditched (and were). The song turned up years later with the riffage and hooks worked out which only goes to show how smart he was working out the kinks on Demos and Live Sessions. But one of the unreleased that will surely turn heads and maybe even make fans laugh out loud is the extended mix of "Here I Go Again" stretched to nearly seven minutes. Lynott starts saying the f-word and rhyming 'pissed' with 'kissed' in verses that were left out for obvious reasons. And Eric Bell shows in an early Instrumental of "The Rocker" that he had most of its wild soloing already in the can - brilliant. And on it goes (I do not have an ATMOS playback facility so I cannot review that - but from what I have heard from other punters - they are revelatory). 

SUM UP:

A gorgeous reissue then – cool artwork, toppermost Audio remasters from men who care and that book finally affording our heroes the respect and affection they have always warranted and engendered. I know it could have had more (couple of those American single edits on CD1) and after getting the 4LP box in Nov 2023 with full LP-sized packaging, the ten-inch sized CD/BR variant feels like a wee bit of an anti-climax - but for me at least its still something I love and will love owning.  

The single "Whisky In The Jar" from 1972 (that charted 1973) and the third LP "Vagabonds Of The Western World" from 1973 started the Lizzy success story for real – and this 50^th Anniversary Series (2LPs, 4LP Box Set and this 3CD/BLU RAY Box) is surely one the best for 2023. I'm going to be canning these brutes for months on end.

A beautiful thing – buy it, treasure it and miss our hero/heroes one more time…scratch plates shining into the audience…whooping and hollering…bippin' and boppin' and tellin' a dirty joke or two...

"The Epic Years 1972-1976" by POCO – Including Five US Albums "A Good Feelin' To Know" (1972 USA, 1973 UK), "Crazy Eyes" (1973), "Poco Seven" and "Cantamos" (1974), "Live" (1976, recorded 1974) Alongside Five Bonus Tracks – Featuring Richie Furay (ex Buffalo Springfield), Paul Cotton (ex Illinois Speed Press), Rusty Young, Timothy B. Schmit (later Eagles) and George Grantham (August 2019 UK HNE Recordings 5CD Mini Clamshell Box set – Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

Your All-Genres Guide To

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

1,990 E-Pages of In-Depth Information
Over 260 Reviews from the discs themselves...

"...A Good Feelin' To Know..."

Never as wildly successful or for that matter (IMO) as musically good as their tuneful counterparts EAGLES – yet across five decades now (1969 to 2019) - the American band POCO has nonetheless clawed their Dobro-picking Steel Guitar pickaxe slashing way into the hearts of many a Country-Rock music fan.

And this excellent and rather natty little box set shows us why – containing as it does five albums lifelong fans have loved to distraction (four studio and one live) - boosted by five rare bonus cuts only recently issued in 2015. And the whole brass buttons is available in great audio and cool presentation and for not a lot of wonga either, considering what’s on offer.

-->

There's a ton of detail to wade through, so let's have at those Driving Wheels, Western Waterloos and Crazy Eyes...

UK released Friday, 30 August 2019 (9 August 2019 in the USA) - "The Epic Years 1972-1976" by POCO on HNE Recordings HNEBOX121 (Barcode 5013929922105) is a 5CD Mini Clamshell Box Set of New Remasters (Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham) offering five albums (four studio and one live) plus five Bonus Tracks and it plays out as follows:

CD1 "A Good Feelin' To Know" (47:35 minutes):

1. And Settlin' Down [Side 1]

2. Ride The Country

3. I Can See Everything

4. Go And Say Goodbye

5. Keeper Of The Flame

6. Early Times [Side 2]

7. A Good Feelin' To Know

8. Restrain

9. Sweet Lovin'

Tracks 1 to 9 are their fifth album "A Good Feelin' To Know" - released November 1972 in the USA on Epic KE 31601 and January 1973 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 65216

BONUS TRACKS:

10. I Can See Everything [Remix] - first appeared in July 2015 on the 2CD POCO compilation "The Forgotten Trail (1969-1974) on Retroworld/Floating World FLOATD6229 (Barcode 0805772622920)

11. A Good Feelin' To Know [Single Edit] - A-side to a June 1972 US 45 on Epic 5-10890 (3:27 minute edit) with the album track "Early Times" on the B-side - 19 January 1973 UK 7" single on Epic S EPC 8240 with same flip-side

CD2 "Crazy Eyes" (53:56 minutes):

1. Blue Water [Side 1]

2. Fools Gold

3. Here We Go Again

4. Brass Buttons

5. A Right Along

6. Crazy Eyes [Side 2]

7. Magnolia

8. Let's Dance Tonight

Tracks 1 to 8 are their sixth album "Crazy Eyes" - released September 1973 in the USA on Epic Records KE 32354 and November 1973 UK on Epic Records S EPC 65631.

BONUS TRACKS:

9. Nothin's Still The Same [Remix]

10. Get In The Wind [Remix]

11. Believe Me [Remix]

Tracks 9 to 11 first appeared in July 2015 on the 2CD POCO compilation "The Forgotten Trail (1969-1974) on Retroworld/Floating World FLOATD6229 (Barcode 0805772622920)

CD3 "Poco Seven" (35:57 minutes):

1. Drivin' Wheel [Side 1]

2. Rocky Mountain Hoedown

3. Just Call My Name

4. Skatin'

5. Faith In The Families [Side 2]

6. Krikkit's Song (Passing Through)

7. Angel

8. You've Got Your Reasons

Tracks 1 to 8 are their seventh album "Poco Seven" - released May 1974 in the USA on Epic Records KE 32895 and June 1974 in the UK on Epic Records S EPC 80082.

CD4 "Cantamos" (36:44 minutes):

1. Sagebrush Serenade [Side 1]

2. Susannah

3. High And Dry

4. Western Waterloo

5. One Horse Blue [Side 2]

6. Bitter Blue

7. Another Time Around

8. Whatever Happened To Your Smile

9. All The Ways

Tracks 1 to 9 are their eight album "Cantamos" (Spanish for "We Sing" - released November 1974 in the USA on Epic PE 33192 and December 1974 in the UK on Epic S EPC 80595

CD5 "Live" (38:20 minutes):

1. Medley: Blue Water/Fools Gold/Rocky Mountain Hoedown [Side 1]

2. Bad Weather

3. Ride The Country

4. Angel [Side 2]

5. High And Dry

6. Restraint

7. A Good Feelin' To Know

Tracks 1 to 7 are "Live" - their second live album and eleventh album overall - released March 1976 in the USA on Epic Records PE 33336 and in the UK on Epic EPC 80705. 

The mini clamshell box set is pretty to look at and the 16-page booklet with MALCOLM DOME liner notes contains all the data and discography info a body would need - including page photographs of the inner gatefold for "A Good Feelin' To Know" LP, the back sleeve of "Crazy Eyes", the inner for "Seven" and so on.  The band featured RICHIE FURAY [ex Buffalo Springfield], PAUL COTTON [ex Illinois Speed Press], RUSTY YOUNG, TIMOTHY B. SCHMIT [later with The Eagles] and GEORGE GRANTHAM. The five single card sleeves are nice (each CD label is unfortunately a generic HNE Recordings logo instead of the original American labels) but the real news is AUDIO from two fave engineers of mine - ANDY PEARCE and MATT WORTHAM. After the ever so slight crudity of "A Good Feelin' To Know" - Jack Richardson's Production values seemed to settle down and from "Crazy Eyes" onwards - the Audio is great - really clean and expressive ("Poco Seven" and "Cantamos" too). To the music...

Richie Furay provided "And Settlin' Down", "A Good Feelin' To Know" and "Sweet Lovin'" for the debut while their other lead vocalist and songwriter Paul Cotton stumped up "Ride The Country", "Early Times" and "Keeper Of The Fire". Balladeer Timothy B. Schmit threw in "I Can See Everything" and "Restraint" with "Go And Say Goodbye" being a rather workmanlike cover of a Buffalo Springfield song penned by Stephen Stills. The funny thing about "...Good Feelin'..." is that the band somehow considered it better than "Crazy Eyes" because Furay was still on-board with the band - his contributions to the follow-up "Crazy Eyes" being entirely contractual.

But for me the production values of "Crazy Eyes" and the fact that Furay's departure seems to have woken up the other songwriters by virtue of necessity see stunners like the Eagles Country-Rock speaker-to-speaker panned guitars of "Blue Water" vie for attention with the first of two really good covers - Gram Parsons heartbreaker "Brass Buttons" and the gorgeous melody of J.J. Cale's "Magnolia". But for me the winner has always been the extraordinary 9:37 minutes of the Side 2 opener and album title track "Crazy Eyes". I've often wondered was Randy Meisner listening to this when he did his similar track "Journey of The Sorcerer" on the Eagles 1975 album "One Of These Nights". Poco's "Crazy Eyes" throws in everything - strings, banjos, steel and electric guitars, drum rhythms and an epic-ness that they never again achieved nor attempted. And those five bonus tracks are shockingly good - especially the remix of Schmit's "I Can See Everything" which irons out some of the originals rougher instrumentation edges.

There's amazing audio quality on the slide guitar for "Angel" from "Poco Seven" but the "Krikkit's Song..." from Schmit feels cheesy - things redeemed by the lovely acoustic guitars within 'You've Got Your Reasons".  The "live" set is a weird one - recorded across 3 dates in November 1974 on the "Cantamos" tour - "Live" was belatedly released by Epic to spite the band for defecting to ABC Records. When Poco felt Epic no longer had their backs (which they didn't) and left for a new label and a new beginning - when they released the July 1975 and May 1976 albums "Head Over Heels" and "Rose Of Cimarron" (firm fan faves) - Epic went head-to-head by also releasing a double-album "Very Best Of" in July 1975 to try to steal the thunder from their "Head Over Heels" album. "Live" warmed up fans only weeks before "Rose Of Cimarron". That notwithstanding - the band's performance in those Yale University gigs (9, 28 and 29 Nov 1974) is that of a well-oiled machine - one of the LP's track titles being ignored by a petulant Epic Records - "Restraint".

It's not all banjo-yee-haw genius for sure, but Poco's "The Epic Years 1972-1976" is nicely presented and combined with the great new Audio, quantity of material and tasty extras actually worthy of the moniker 'bonus' - will have the Poco nut in your home feelin' real good this festive holiday...