Bad Weather - Poco - The Midnight Special

[Dave Magram]

Just saw this stripped-down version of Poco playing my favorite Poco song, with Rusty Young doing his iconic solo so beautifully and full of emotion...

"Bad Weather - Poco - The Midnight Special"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5fItZt ... rt_radio=1

Does anybody know when this was recorded?
I'm guessing mid- to late 1970s.

- Dave

[Craig Stock]

I did a quick search and it looks like January 24, 1975!

Thanks for posting!

[Fred Treece]

Pretty cool that the show’s producers had the insight to use the Cantamos album cover image to create the stage set - most likely on the band’s suggestion. They sounded fantastic, of course. And they all had their hair!

I saw Poco live several times and on TV a few others, and never once did Rusty play that solo quite like the record. The Midnight Special clip was no exception. It was always great though.

IMG_2244.jpeg

[Joachim Kettner]

This was composed before he joined Poco.

[Joachim Kettner]

This was composed before he joined Poco.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aOahSKWrTo

[Bob Carlucci]

as was always the case, the vocals were just astounding.. Rusty's playing was good of course, but did not come close to approaching the majesty of his solo on the studio cut,, That was just a gorgeous solo on the original studio cut, one of the best of the best as far as the 70's country rock genre' is concerned,,,, bob

[Fred Treece]

Agreed, Bob.

[Marc Muller]

Ah, this is why we thought this stuff was so great when we were 15 just hearing for the 1st time. Because it was! Golden voices, great songs and playing. Just saw old Charlie Daniels footage on Austin City Limits of the same era, and again it was great. The arranging, the tight band, great vocals and playing. I know there's great stuff out there today, but man, what an era to be a young musician discovering all of this.

[Craig Stock]

I agree Marc, especially here in the Northeast, didn't hear much country/country rock on the radio, thanks god for the great record store we had in my town and the employees' recommendations.

Poco was one of my first introductions along with MTB, CDB, and Jerry Jeff. It snowballed after that.

My first concert was Charlie Daniels at the Ocean Ice Palace in Brick, in 1978, one of the best and loudest of shows I've ever seen!

[Bob Carlucci]

Oh, I dunno, I used to listen to WNEW 102.7 out of NYC in those days, when it was AOR, and I got to hear some of the early country rock stuff.. At least enough to know that it was the kind of music I liked and wanted to persue.. One of the DJ's there {Pete Fornatale I believe} was a big fan of Poco, and even authored liner notes on one of their albums if I am not mistaken.. I first heard the band Fools Gold there for the first time with great pedal steel by forumite Ernest Bovine, using his real name at that time of course.. So yes, even here in the NE there were those stations, and those DJ's that promoted country rock.. You had to dig deeper than listeners in LA I suppose, but for those interested in it, there was enough to get you started, so you could know which albums and bands you liked.. btw, my first concert was also at the Ice Palace in Brick, the James Gang, with Joe Walsh doing the most amazing unearthly things using a simple Gibson SG Junior,and an Echoplex. Just unbelievable.. I saw Poco at MSG, with the Doobie Brothers, and the Outlaws... The Doobies were the headliners and although they were great, Poco was better,, by quite a bit.. Outlaws were awful, mostly because as was common in those days, the opening act had the sound system sabotaged.. It was a muddy distorted mess... I don't think that sort of thing happens these days... bob

[Marc Muller]

WNEW was great. I was on air with Scott Muni when I was with Tommy Shaw opening for Rush in 88. That voice! Also, I took over Fornatele's History of RnR class at Monmouth U. He called my home phone and left a message. Wow, to hear that voice talking to me on the machine. Took me back to being 15 and listening to that great station. Saw Marshall Tucker in Asbury around 78 or so, also 1st Outlaws NYC appearance when they opend for Starship free concert in Central Park. Tons of shows at Capitol Theater Passaic. Thems were the days..... How lucky were we.

[Will Houston]

The song was originally done when Paul was in Illinois Speed Press, released on an album called Duet (1970) with fellow band mate Kal David, Speed Press was breaking up. Great song.

[Craig Stock]

By the time I started to listen to WNEW, it was mostly Stones, Zepplin, Who, I don’t remember anything country rock, I think I missed that period, I’m 63 now so missed the boat. Also my the time I started to drive , I listened to zero radio, it was cassettes in the truck all the time.

I did get to sit next to Vin Scelza at a show once with my friend Bob Santelli for a show at the meadowlands, which was cool. Nice guy . But didn’t really listen to Idiots Delight much, time was tight back then, but it was a great era for music, today with the internet , it’s a whole new world that we never were exposed to back then.

Great thread , sorry it went off track

BTW, got to see the whole original Poco band reunion at the Garden State Arts Center years ago, it was incredible!

[Mike Bacciarini]

To see their entire Midnight Special set, check out episode 104 from 28:00 through 49:00. Lots of stellar vocals, great acoustic set (a la Cantamos) then full band rocking “ High and Dry”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zMbtdOhZFc

At one point, Rusty looks at the set and says “How do you like my apartment?”
George cracks up!

[Daniel Morris]

Don't mean to hijack a thread, but the song - long one of my absolute favorites - reminded me of Poco's live version of MAGNOLIA.
So much feeling being poured into it, and Rusty gets plenty of solo time. Many close-ups of his hands as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIPEhwN ... rt_radio=1