Poco

Originally a two-LP set, The Very Best of Poco was a decent compilation in its time, assembling the group's best-known songs from singles and album cuts in a straightforward order with no particular surprises. It was reissued with upgraded sound in 1999, and for the very casual fan with a budget to consider the latter is adequate, showing their evolution as a band from the first flourish of their birth -- as an offshoot of the Buffalo Springfield, with the same sort of vast potential displayed by the latter group (similarly unrealized by constant membership changes) -- into one of the premiere country-rock outfits of the 1970s. Anyone serious about a deep enjoyment of the group, however, will opt for the more extensive and revelatory The Forgotten Trail instead, which contains numerous outtakes and -- no pun -- forgotten tracks. [Beat Goes On's 2002 edition included two bonus tracks, "Railroad Days" and "Skatin'" -- which had actually been deleted from the earlier CD reissue due to space constraints.] ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide