Poco (band)
Poco is an American country rock band formed by Richie Furay (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Jim Messina (lead guitar and vocals) following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. Other original members were Rusty Young (pedal steel and dobro), George Grantham (drums and vocals) and Randy Meisner (bass and vocals).
The first album Pickin' Up the Pieces was significantly delayed, and due to internal squabbling Meisner left the group before it was released, shortly thereafter becoming a founding member of The Eagles. Timothy B. Schmit subsequently replaced Meisner in the band. Poco (1971) and Deliverin' (1972) followed. Messina then left the band, being replaced by Paul Cotton. Messina experienced considerable subsequent success with Kenny Loggins as Loggins & Messina. After two more Poco albums: A Good Feelin' to Know and Crazy Eyes, Furay also left the band, forming the Souther Hillman Furay Band.
For Poco, the albums Seven, Cantamos, Head over Heels, Rose of Cimarron and Indian Summer followed. In 1977, both Schmit and Grantham left; being replaced by Steve Chapman and Charlie Harrison. Schmit joined the Eagles replacing Meisner on bass. The new quartet recorded Legend which featured 'Crazy Love' (which had a seven-week run at #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1979, the biggest hit on the AC chart that year) and 'Heart of the Night'. Kim Bullard then joined the band, and four more albums: Under the Gun, Blue and Gray, Cowboys and Englishmen and Ghost Town were released.
Furay, Schmit and Grantham have, since their departures, each appeared at various times with the band, which has, as a unit, broken up and re-formed a number of times. Inamorata was released in 1984 and Legacy in 1989 (produced by Richard Marx, featuring "Call It Love," the band's biggest hit single in a decade).
As of 2005, Poco is still writing and recording a substantial volume of music, touring festivals and top rock venues in the United States, Canada and Europe, and doing solo projects. Founding member Rusty Young, long time members Paul Cotton and Jack Sundrud (bass and vocals), and newcomer veteran drummer George Lawrence comprise the current line-up. Poco's recent releases include "Running Horse" (2003), "Keeping the Legend Alive" (2004), and "Bareback at Big Sky" (2005).
Discography
- 1969 Pickin' Up The Pieces - Epic records
- 1970 Poco
- 1971 Deliverin'
- 1972 From The Inside
- 1973 A Good Feelin' To Know
- 1973 Crazy Eyes
- 1974 Seven
- 1974 Cantamos
- 1975 Head Over Heels - now with ABC records
- 1976 Live
- 1976 Rose Of Cimarron
- 1977 Indian Summer
- 1977 The Last Roundup (released 2004)
- 1978 Legend
- 1980 Under The Gun
- 1981 Blue And Gray
- 1982 Cowboys & Englishmen
- 1982 Ghost Town
- 1984 Inamorata - with Furay and Schmit guesting
- 1989 Legacy - with original 1968 lineup
- 1996 On the Country Side
- 2001 Take Two
- 2002 The Very Best of Poco
- 2002 Running Horse
- 2004 Keeping the Legend Alive (CD&DVD)
- 2005 Bareback at Big Sky
Best Of Collections/Re-releases
- 1995 Ghost Town / Inamorata
- 1998 The Ultimate Collection
- 1999 The Very Best of Poco
- 2000 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Poco
- 2002 From the Inside/A Good Feelin' to Know
- 2004 Pickin' Up the Pieces/Poco
- 2004 The Last Roundup
- 2004 Keeping the Legend Alive
- 2005 The Essential Poco
External links
- Official Website
- Paul Cotton's Website
- Jack Sundrud's Website
- George Lawrence's Website
- Poco (The Classic Rock Connection)
References
george@georgesdrumshop.com