SIERRA / THE FLYING BURRITO BROTHERS Bobby Cochran, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Gib Guilbeau Thad Maxwell & Mickey McGee

A record deal with Mercury was signed and with Felix Peppalardi producing they set about recording an album.
However a surprise was in store when the record was released later in the year because it was not credited to the Burritos but the self titled effort appeared under a new name "Sierra", although from March to December most live shows were still billed as "The Flying Burrito Brothers".

The "Sierra" album was a much more polished production than the Columbia studio recordings with less of a country element and a greater emphasis on rock with the addition of a horn section, no doubt the influence of Peppalardi & Cochran.
All of the songs except one were co-written from within the group and / or producer with Bobby Cochran contributing most of lead vocals with the rest sung by Gib Guilbeau. Another poor selling release with further comment really unnecessary.

But with the Sierra experiment proving unsuccessful Bobby Cochran & Thad Maxwell both leave in December 1977.

SIERRA - Sierra

- SIERRA: Sierra (MERCURY SRM 1179 (US) 1977) Produced by Felix Pappalardi Band: Gib Guilbeau, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Bobby Cochran, Thad Maxwell & Mickey McGee Guests: Tower Of Power Brass Section, Felix Pappalardi Tracks: Gina / Farmer's Daughter / Honey Dew / I Found Love / Strange Here In The Night / I'd Rather Be With You If I Could Only Get To You / She's The Tall One / You Give Me Loving / Let Me Live

Wolfgangs Vault have the following show from the 'Sierra' line-up  available to purchase in both mp3 or FLAC format.
The show recorded in Febuary 1977 is literally days after Bobby Cochran joined the band which is reflected in the varied setlist containing as it does a number of familiar band staples, three from the "Sierra"  album released later in 1977 and some unreleased songs including a rare vocal outing by drummer Mickey McGee on his own composition "Don't You Cry".