Of all the pioneering
country-rock
bands of the late '60s,
Poco
may well have been the one that got the hybrid the most right, at least initially. The group's high-energy, joyous, and infectious songs had none of the artfulness of
the Byrds
' attempt at fusing
rock
and
country
, and none of the cache of hipness that weighed down both
the Eagles
the Flying Burrito Brothers
.
just played and had fun in an unassuming way, at least at the outset, because latter-era
is every bit as laden with California cool as the above named bands. This release from England's
Beat Goes On Records
combines
's first two albums in a two-disc set, and it is an inspired (and obvious) pairing, catching the band at its freshest peak in the studio. Released in 1969,
Pickin' Up the Pieces
features
Richie Furay
's title track, a song that seems to be a comment on the breakup of
Furay
's previous band,
Buffalo Springfield
(or at least the demise of some kind of relationship), and it revels in the fresh new joy and freedom that comes with "picking up the pieces" and starting over. Another striking cut from the first album is pedal steel player
Rusty Young
's propulsive instrumental
"Grand Junction,"
which grew to be a centerpiece of the group's live show.
, released in 1970, continues the joy with
's most
Springfield
-like
song,
"Hurry Up,"
and an impossibly infectious song from
Jim Messina
,
"You Better Think Twice."
Deliverin'
, a concert album released in 1971, continued the bouncy, bubbling
sound, but the wheels started to change soon after, as
Messina
left the group and was replaced by
Paul Cotton
continued making fine albums, but the joyous energy of these first three albums dissipated somewhat and the band drifted toward
' model, which was less unique and innovative, but sold a whole lot better. ~ Steve Leggett