Poco were an interesting country-rock band that probably deserved bigger success. The band soldiered on in one form or another into this century, and toured until 2013 with at least one original member, Rusty Young. They got their start in 1969 with Pickin' Up The Pieces, the title a reference to the recently dissolved Buffalo Springfield, from whence both Jim Messina and Richie Furay came. 1970 brought Poco, with a more rock-oriented sound, great songs by Furay, as well as Messina's You Better Think Twice, and the 18-minute jam on Nobody's Fool that set them apart from most country-rock acts of the day, with Rusty Young's remarkable pedal steel guitar playing emulating a Hammond B-3 organ. The record also introduced Timothy B. Schmit, whose bass and high vocals replaced Randy Meisner's, as would happen again in 1977 in the Eagles line-up. In 1971, Poco released Deliverin', a live album that sold better than the first two. And with that, Jim Messina left to begin a producing career that turned into five years in Loggins and Messina.
So in 1971, Poco version three replaced Jim Messina with singer/songwriter/guitarist Paul Cotton. Messina left ostensibly due to Furay's dominance of the group. Ironically, although Furay wrote most of Poco's songs on the first three records, Cotton, Schmit, and Young would begin songwriting duties from this point forward, and take on more writing duties on successive albums.
From The Inside 1971 features a more mature sound than Poco had produced previously. Produced by Steve Cropper, the recording is excellent. Hoe Down and You Are The One hearken back to the good times, foot-stompin' country of the previous records, but Paul Cotton's Bad Weather and Ol' Forgiver have a darker tone, and his Railroad Days just rocks. Schmit writes the title track, and it is a lovely song and a fine vocal delivery. And Furay delivered three of his finer love songs in What Am I Gonna Do, What If I Should Say I Love You, and Just For Me And You. And again, sales were disappointing.
A Good Feelin' To Know 1972 is another strong outing fairly similar to From The Inside, but with even less country leanings. The record features a solid-rocking cover of the Steve Stills-written Buffalo Springfield song Go And Say Goodbye, and Furay's title track would go on to be one of the early band's most recognizable songs. Overall, the songs, while good, don't always sound like the same band. Cotton's Keeper Of The Fire and Early Times are not his strongest writing, and Furay's Sweet Loving is a bit overblown. Schmit's I Can See Everything is sweet and fine, and he even writes the solid rocker Restrain. Overall, it is a good record, with solid playing, singing and writing for the most part. Produced by Jack Richardson, it was supposed to seal their forward momentum and open them up to new fans, but it did not.
It wasn't enough for Richie Furay, who recorded Crazy Eyes in 1973 with one foot out the door to join The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band. After Furay left, Poco continued as a quartet with Young, Cotton, Schmit, and Grantham until Schmit left to join the Eagles in 1977. The original line-up reunited in 1989 to record Legacy as a one-off. Young and Cotton carried on until 2006, and Young kept the name alive touring until at least 2013. Any of the first five Poco records is recommendable. The first one is historic as a rather early country-rock outing, while From The Inside is my personal favorite.
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