Bassist/vocalist Timothy B. Schmit, later of the Eagles, replaced original Poco member Randy Meisner after Poco's debut album. Meisner was unhappy with Furay and Messina, feeling they gave him zero respect in the production of songs. Meisner went on to join Rick Nelson's Stone Canyon band and later the Eagles. Schmit later joined the Eagles in 1978. Jim Messina, later of (Kenny) Loggins and Messina fame, who formed the band with Furay, departed in 1970, feeling Furay exhibited too much control. Paul Cotton replaced Messina on lead guitar in 1971. Original drummer George Grantham added a strong rock beat to country flavor picking and provided excellent harmony vocals. Other Poco members included later seventies/early eighties Drummer Steve Chapman and Bassist Charlie Harrison and current bassist Jack Sundrud. George Lawrence replaced Grantham on drums after illness took him from the band in the summer of 2004.
Poco's back catalogue includes a wide variety of styles, from 60's folk rock to 70's hard rock and from country to electric pop. The band's three first albums, "Pickin' Up The Pieces (1969)", "Poco (1970)" and "Deliverin (1970)'" all share a joyful, slightly psychedelic atmosphere. For some fans, this was the real Poco.
Guitarist/songwriter Paul Cotton's joining Poco then brought more variety and also considerably more rock punch to the band on "From The Inside (1971)", "A Good Feelin' To Know (1972)" and "Crazy Eyes (1973)" .
However, a disappointed Furay departed , lamenting that the band had not increased it's audience since it's inception..
.After Furay's departure, the band released it's last two LP's on Epic,.The albums "Seven (1974)" and "Cantamos (1974)" also resulted in mediocre sales, charting at #'s 68 and 76, respectively.
Poco left Epic after Cantamos and signed with ABC-Dunhill Records. Head Over Heels was their first ABC release, featuring Schmit's acoustic "Keep On Tryin'", which became the group's most successful single to date, charting at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100. Around the time of the release of Head Over Heels, The Very Best of Poco was released as a compilation album that documented the group's years with Epic. Epic's release fought with Head Over Heels for attention though neither charted very well, hitting #43 and #90, respectively.
The group's next ABC-Dunhill album was Rose Of Cimarron which also failed to generate much enthusiasm and peaked at #89. Another Epic release also came out in 1976, the live album Live. Indian Summer was released the following spring, reaching #57.
In August 1977, Schmit quit to join the Eagles, coincidentally replacing former Poco member Meisner yet again. As a result, a possible new live album was cancelled by ABC. After languishing in storage for many years, the album was eventually released as The Last Roundup in 2004.
After Schmit's departure, Poco decided to take a break. Grantham took some time off, while Young and Cotton decided to continue as the "Cotton-Young Band". They added Steve Chapman (drums) and Charlie Harrison (bass) to round out their new quartet. However, ABC decided to pick up the Cotton-Young album — as long as they continued under the 'Poco' name. Thus, although Grantham had never quit Poco, he found himself bought out of the group. He subsequently landed a job as drummer for Ricky Skaggs.
The new Poco couldn't have started much better, since "Legend (1978)" became band's first hit album with two TOP-20 hits. The album is very different from everything Poco had so far done and the hard rocking title track hinted for what was to follow.
The joy was short lived, however. In the 1980s, the group released five more albums: Under The Gun (1980), Blue And Gray (1981), Cowboys & Englishmen (1982) on MCA and, moving over to Atlantic Records, Ghost Town (1982) and Inamorata (1984). Poco failed to duplicate the success achieved by Legend, with each album doing more poorly than its predecessor.
After poor commercial success, Poco went into hiatus until the original line-up surprised everyone with new album "Legacy (1989)". It was also a hit album with another TOP20 hit single "Call it love". The album to many listeners was a welcome return to band's original country rock style. This line-up didn't last, however, and only recorded this one album. This wasn't the end of Poco, though. The band, now again Cotton & Young -lead, continued gigging and even made a new studio album "Running Horse" in 2002, which failed to gather much acclaim.
The band has been active in the 2000's ever since, having so far released three live albums from both recent and older concerts: "Keeping The Legend Alive", "The Last Roundup" and "Bareback at Big Sky". A concert DVD is also available. Paul Cotton's three solo albums "Changing Horses (1990)", "Firebird (2000)" and "When The Coast is Clear" (2005)" are also available and well worth a check.
On March 11, 2010, Cotton departed the band . Keyboardist Michael Webb from Nashville TN joined the band and Poco continued to tour.
Plans are underway for a new CD in early 2011 as well as a tour.
Read more about Poco at http://www.poconut.org.
First love
Poco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you see her? Did you approve?
What if I asked this of you?
Would everything you'd say be true?
When I was young I played with toys
Games were small then, not so involved
My toys meant most of all
But now today I find a lot has come to change my mind
It took some time to understand
Older people play little games in another way
Their castles crumble to sand
A lonely hour to withstand
Today my First Love is alone
Do you miss her? Is it so sad?
The tears you cry should be glad
Remembering her is not all that bad
Today my First Love is alone
The lyrics to Poco's song "First Love" tell a story of growing up and realizing that life isn't as simple as it once seemed. The singer recounts his memories of playing with toys as a child, when "games were small then, not so involved" and his "toys meant most of all". However, as he grows older, he begins to see that things aren't as black and white as they were in his youth. He realizes that "older people play little games in another way" and that their "castles crumble to sand". Despite this realization, the singer is still able to appreciate the beauty of his "First Love" and the memories they shared, even if she is now alone.
The lyrics are introspective and show a sense of reflection on the past. The repetition of the phrase "Today my First Love" emphasizes the importance of this memory and how it still holds weight in the singer's mind. Through the lyrics, Poco tells a relatable story of growing up and losing some of the innocence of childhood. The song is a reminder to cherish the memories of our first loves and the simplicity of childhood.
Line by Line Meaning
Today my First Love has arrived
I'm experiencing love for the first time
Did you see her? Did you approve?
Do you think my love interest is suitable?
What if I asked this of you?
Have you ever been in love? Can you help me?
Would everything you'd say be true?
Can I trust your advice?
When I was young I played with toys
I used to have simple pleasures when I was a child
Games were small then, not so involved
My childhood games were uncomplicated
My toys meant most of all
As a child, my toys were my most valued possessions
You know how kids are when they're small
Children have different priorities and views of the world
But now today I find a lot has come to change my mind
As an adult, my perspective and priorities have changed
It took some time to understand
It's been a process to learn about myself and love
Older people play little games in another way
Adults have different approaches to romance
Their castles crumble to sand
Sometimes love doesn't work out, even for adults
A lonely hour to withstand
Heartbreak can be a lonely and difficult experience
Today my First Love is alone
The person I fell in love with is currently by themselves
Do you miss her? Is it so sad?
Do you feel any emotion towards her being alone?
The tears you cry should be glad
Don't be sad about love, appreciate the experience
Remembering her is not all that bad
Thinking back on my first love isn't entirely negative
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHIE FURAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind