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

References

george@georgesdrumshop.com