Poco “Pickin’ Up the Pieces”

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1027 in the series) is the debut album from Poco, Pickin’ Up The Pieces.  

It must be nice to be known as a band that helped establish a new genre of music. Why isn’t this band in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? Their omission is a real tragedy.  Some things just don’t make sense.  Someday I hope, they surely deserve it.

Poco laid their plan.. right there.. in the lyrics in the title cut.

Call it a Mission Statement:

‘Well, there’s a little bit of magic
In the music we’re playin’
So let’s begin
We’ll bring you back down home where the folks are happy
Sittin pickin’ and a-grinnin’
Casually, you and me
We’ll pick up the pieces.

That’s it. Richie Furay and Poco were laying the groundwork not only for their plans, but also laying the groundwork for the new genre of country-rock.

This album features the original Poco lineup. Richie Furay (guitar, vocals) and Jim Messina (guitar, vocals) had just finished a stint in another groundbreaking group ‘The Buffalo Springfield.’ Rusty Young (pedal steel guitar, guitar, vocals) came in after playing on one track on the last Buffalo Springfield album. “Kind Woman.” George Grantham (drums, vocals) was a friend of Rusty’s. Randy Meisner (bass, vocals) came over from a band called ‘The Poor.’ They had once opened for the Springfield.

This would be the last time they would record together until the reunion album Legacy.
Shortly after this release, Meisner went on play bass for The Eagles while Jim Messina formed Loggins and Messina.

They’d be replaced by long term Poco members Timothy B. Schmit and Paul Cotton. (Or NORM! as he was known by his given name when he still lived in the Chicago Roseland area).

Other highlights include, “Consequently, So Long.” “Grand Junction,” “Calico Lady” and “Just In Case it Happens, Yes Indeed.”

This weekend, go out and listen to two albums that started a genre, The Byrds Sweethearts of the Rodeo and Poco’s Pickin’ Up the Pieces, Today’s Cool Album of the Day!’

— Larry Carta

Track listing

1. “Foreword” (Richie Furay) – 0:48
2. “What a Day” (Richie Furay) – 2:28
3. “Nobody’s Fool” (Richie Furay) – 3:26
4. “Calico Lady” (Richie Furay/Jim Messina/Skip Goodwin) – 3:03
5. “First Love” (Richie Furay) – 3:08
6. “Make Me a Smile (Richie Furay/Jim Messina) – 3:18
7. “Short Changed” (Richie Furay) – 3:17
8. “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” (Richie Furay) – 3:20
9. “Grand Junction” (Rusty Young) – 2:58
10. “Oh Yeah” (Richie Furay/Jim Messina) – 4:06
11. “Just in Case It Happens, Yes Indeed” (Richie Furay) – 2:45
12. “Tomorrow (Richie Furay/Skip Goodwin) – 3:11
13. “Consequently, So Long” (Richie Furay/Skip Goodwin) – 3:50

Personnel

• Jim Messina – guitar, vocals
• Richie Furay – guitar, 12-string guitar, vocals
• Rusty Young – steel guitar, banjo, dobro, guitar, piano
• Randy Meisner – bass, guitar, vocals
• George Grantham – drums, vocals

Links

Here is some more Country Rock albums for you…

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