Friday, April 26, 2024: 5pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – Indian Summer (1977)

Indian Summer is the tenth studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released on May 1, 1977. The appearance of Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen playing synthesizer on two of the tracks marked another move away from the country rock sound the band had primarily been known for. This was the band’s last studio album before both Timothy B. Schmit and George Grantham left the group.

“Indian Summer” 4:40
“Twenty Years” 3:42
“Me and You” 2:44
“Downfall” 4:33
“Win or Lose” 4:40
“Living in the Band” 3:14
“Stay (Night Until Noon)” 3:22
“Find Out in Time” 3:54
“The Dance: When the Dance Is Over / Go on and Dance / Never Gonna Stop / When the Dance Is Over (Reprise)” 10:05

Paul Cotton – lead vocals, Gretsch White Falcon
Timothy B. Schmit – backing vocals, bass
George Grantham – backing vocals, drums
Rusty Young – steel and sitar steel guitars
Steve Forman – percussion, creatures
Donald Fagen – ARP Odyssey, ARP String Ensemble
Sid Sharp – concertmaster
Jimmie Haskell – string and horn arrangements

Wednesday, April 24, 2024: 7pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – Crazy Eyes (1973)

Crazy Eyes is the fifth studio album (and sixth album overall) released by the American country rock band Poco. Released September 15, 1973, Crazy Eyes was the band’s final album with founding member Richie Furay during his original tenure in Poco.

“Blue Water” 3:07
“Fools Gold” 2:23
“Here We Go Again” 3:28
“Brass Buttons” 4:17
“A Right Along” 4:43
“Crazy Eyes” 9:39
“Magnolia” 6:18
“Let’s Dance Tonight” 3:54

Paul Cotton – guitar, vocals
Richie Furay – guitar, vocals
Rusty Young – steel guitar, guitar, banjo, slide guitar
Timothy B. Schmit – bass, vocals
George Grantham – drums, vocals
Chris Hillman – mandolin
Bob Ezrin – piano
Bill Graham – violin
Paul Harris – piano
Joe Lala – percussion

Thursday, April 4, 2024: 6pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – From The Insider (1971)

From the Inside is the third studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released September 5, 1971. The band was reportedly unhappy with it following its release. This album was the first to include new member Paul Cotton as lead guitarist, who replaced Jim Messina. Messina would go on to form his partnership with Kenny Loggins.

“Hoe Down” 2:04
“Bad Weather” 5:02
“What Am I Gonna Do” 3:46
“You Are the One” 3:48
“Railroad Days” 3:35
“From the Inside” 3:10
“Do You Feel It Too” 5:32
“Ol’ Forgiver” 3:38
“What If I Should Say I Love You” 3:37
“Just for Me and You” 3:37

Richie Furay – rhythm electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
Paul Cotton – lead electric and acoustic guitars, vocals
Rusty Young – pedal steel guitar, banjo, mandolin, dobro, vocals
Timothy B. Schmit – bass guitar, vocals
George Grantham – drums, vocals
Jay Spell – piano

Thursday, February 22, 2024 2pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – All Fired Up (2013)

All Fired Up is the nineteenth and final studio album by American band Poco, released March 5, 2013.

In his Allmusic review, music critic Steve Leggett wrote, “While this set, the group’s first new album since 2003’s Running Horse, has some bright, Poco-like moments with songs like “All Fired Up,” “When She’s Mine,” and “Love Has No Reason,” it’s really a case of diminishing returns at this point… while it will please Poconuts, feels a bit generic and tired and in need of another voice or two.”

1. “All Fired Up” 3:28
2. “Drink It In” 3:43
3. “That’s What Rock and Roll Will Do” 4:49
4. “Regret” 6:20
5. “When She’s Mine” 3:20
6. “A Little Rain” 4:46
7. “Hard Country” 7:27
8. “Love Has No Reason” 3:21
9. “Rockin’ Horse” 5:22
10. “Neil Young” 4:24
11. “Long Shot” 4:32
12. “Pucky Huddle Stomp” 1:56

Rusty Young – vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar, dobro, banjo, mandolin, percussion
Jack Sundrud – vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass, harmonica
Michael Webb – vocals, acoustic piano, Hammond B3 organ, clavinet, accordion, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, mandolin, bass
George Lawrence – drums, congas, percussion
George Grantham – percussion on “All Fired Up”
Bobby Keys – saxophone on “That’s What Rock and Roll Will Do”

Monday, January 8, 2024 11pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – Head Over Heels (1975)

Head Over Heels is the eighth studio album by the American country rock band Poco, and their first on ABC Records, released in July 1975. Timothy Schmit’s “Keep On Tryin'” shows off the band’s skills in harmonizing and eventually became a favorite that the band played in concert for many years. It also contains Rusty Young performing his first lead vocal on a Poco album on the track “Us”, and a recording of the rare Steely Dan song “Dallas”.

“Keep on Tryin’” 2:54
“Lovin’ Arms” 3:29
“Let Me Turn Back to You” 3:37
“Makin’ Love” 2:55
“Down in the Quarter” 4:32
“Sittin’ on a Fence” 3:31
“Georgia, Bind My Ties” 3:25
“Us” 1:56
“Flyin’ Solo” 3:36
“Dallas” 3:29
“I’ll Be Back Again” 3:02

Paul Cotton – acoustic guitar (1-3, 6-10), vocals (1-7, 9-11), electric guitar (3-11)
Rusty Young – acoustic guitar (2-4, 6), banjo (2), dobro (2), pedal steel guitar (2-7, 10-11), mandolin (3, 8), steel guitar (4, 6), electric guitar (6), vocals (8)
Timothy B. Schmit – vocals (1-11), bass (2-11), percussion (6, 8)
George Grantham – vocals (1-7, 9-11), drums (2-11), percussion (2, 4, 6)
Mark Henry Harman – pipe organ (3, 8), acoustic piano (8)
Garth Hudson – acoustic piano (4)
Victor Feldman – percussion (6, 10-11)
Al Garth – viola (2), violin (2), laugh (2)
Jimmie Haskell – string arrangements (5, 10)
Michael “Von” Verdick – scat vocal (6)

In Memoriam: Randy Meisner (1946 – 2023)

Randall Herman Meisner (March 8, 1946 – July 26, 2023) was an American musician, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Eagles. Throughout his professional musical career, Meisner’s main role was that of bassist and backing high-harmony vocalist as both a group member and session musician. He co-wrote the Eagles hit song “Take It to the Limit”, which he also sang.

Meisner married twice. He married his high-school girlfriend, Jennifer Lee Barton, in 1963, and the young couple had a son, Dana Scott Meisner in November 1963. The couple had two more children, twins Heather Leigh and Eric Shane Meisner, born in May 1970, before divorcing in 1981.

Meisner later married his girlfriend of twelve years, Lana Rae, in November 1996. The marriage lasted until her death in 2016.

Many people who met and worked with Meisner remarked on his kindness. Don Felder, James Taylor, and Rick Roberts described Meisner as one of the nicest people they had ever worked with. Felder added, “He was a wonderful Midwestern guy with a great heart and a loving soul.” Henry Diltz, who photographed Meisner extensively with the Eagles and in the early 1980s during Meisner’s solo career, said, “Randy Meisner was a very gentle soul. Pisces. A quiet and friendly guy. No aggressive vibe at all. Very sweet. He was so there and open.”[46] His shyness was also remarked upon, and may have caused him some difficulty as a performer at times. “Randy was extremely uncomfortable with so-called superstardom,” Don Henley told author Marc Eliot.

Meisner died due to complications associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Los Angeles, on July 26, 2023, at the age of 77.

Tuesday 10/4/22 10pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – A Good Feeling To Know (1972)

A Good Feelin’ to Know is the fourth studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released November 25, 1972. The title track became the band’s most recognizable tune from its early days. However, the album did not do as well commercially as expected, discouraging Richie Furay, who would leave the band after the release of the band’s next album Crazy Eyes.

“And Settlin’ Down” 3:41
“Ride the Country” 6:25
“I Can See Everything” 3:32
“Go and Say Goodbye” 2:46
“Keeper of the Fire” 4:20
“Early Times” 4:23
“A Good Feelin’ to Know” 3:53
“Restrain” 5:13
“Sweet Lovin'” 6:23

Paul Cotton – guitar, vocals
Richie Furay – guitar, vocals
Rusty Young – steel guitar, guitar, vocals
Timothy B. Schmit – bass, vocals
George Grantham – drums, vocals
Barry Flast – piano

Thursday 8/4/22 7pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – Seven (1974)

Seven is the sixth studio album (seventh overall) by American country rock band Poco. It is the first album they made after leader Richie Furay left the band. The front cover was designed by Phil Hartman. On this album the group experimented with a harder rock sound on some of the tunes. Released April 12, 1974.

“Drivin’ Wheel” 6:10
“Rocky Mountain Breakdown” 2:16
“Just Call My Name” 5:12
“Skatin'” 4:42
“Faith in the Families” 3:43
“Krikkit’s Song (Passing Through)” 3:33
“Angel” 4:55
“You’ve Got Your Reasons” 5:14

Paul Cotton – vocals, lead and acoustic guitars
Rusty Young – pedal steel guitar, banjo, dobro, rhythm, acoustic and electric guitars
Timothy B. Schmit – vocals, bass guitar
George Grantham – vocals, drums, percussion
Jim Messina – mandolin on “Rocky Mountain Breakdown”
Burton Cummings – keyboards
Bobbye Hall – congas
Al Garth – fiddle on “Rocky Mountain Breakdown”

Thursday 7/21/22 6pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – Pickin’ Up The Pieces (1969)

Pickin’ Up the Pieces is the debut album by country rock band Poco, released May 19, 1969. It was one of the earliest examples of the emerging genre of country rock. Several of the songs date back to Richie Furay’s days in Buffalo Springfield. An early version of “What a Day” was included on the Springfield’s eponymous box set in 2001.

Bassist Randy Meisner appears on the album but quit the band shortly before the record was released. Meisner’s exit was the result of his anger from being excluded (at Furay’s insistence) from participation in the final mix playback sessions for the album, as only Messina and Furay were to complete production. His image was removed from the painting on the cover and replaced with the dog seen at the far left. His bass parts and backing vocals were left in the mix, but his lead vocals were removed, and new versions were sung by George Grantham. He is not credited as a group member on the completed album, but is listed in the credits as providing “supporting vocals and bass”.

“Foreword” 0:48
“What a Day” 2:28
“Nobody’s Fool” 3:26
“Calico Lady” 3:03
“First Love” 3:08
“Make Me a Smile 3:18
“Short Changed” 3:17
“Pickin’ Up the Pieces” 3:20
“Grand Junction” 2:58
“Oh Yeah” 4:06
“Just in Case It Happens, Yes Indeed” 2:45
“Tomorrow 3:11
“Consequently, So Long” 3:50
“Do You Feel It Too” 3:05

Richie Furay – 12-string guitar, lead (1-3, 6, 8, 11-14) and backing vocals
Jim Messina – acoustic and electric 6-string guitars, backing and lead (10) vocals
Rusty Young – steel guitar, banjo, dobro, guitar, piano
George Grantham – drums, backing and lead (4, 5, 7) vocals

Wednesday 5/11/22 11pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – The Ultimate Collection (1998)

The Ultimate Collection is a compilation album by the American band Poco, released November 17, 1998.

“Pickin’ Up the Pieces” 3:20
“You Better Think Twice” 3:21
“A Good Feelin’ To Know” 4:06
“Bad Weather” 5:02
“Keep On Tryin’” 2:54
“Makin’ Love” 2:55
“Rose Of Cimarron” 6:42
“Indian Summer 4:40
“Crazy Love” 2:55
“Heart Of The Night” 4:49
“Barbados” 3:31
“Under The Gun” 3:11
“Midnight Rain” 4:25
“Widowmaker” 4:25
“Streets Of Paradise” 3:55
“Shoot For The Moon” 2:48
“Days Gone By” 3:50
“Call It Love” 4:17

Please note that some tracks were not aired for time.

Jim Messina – guitar, vocals
Richie Furay – guitar, 12-string guitar, vocals
Rusty Young – steel guitar, banjo, dobro, guitar, piano
George Grantham – drums, vocals
Randy Meisner – bass, guitar, vocals
Timothy B. Schmit – bass, vocals
Paul Cotton – guitar, vocals
Charlie Harrison – bass, vocals
Steve Chapman – drums
Kim Bullard – keyboards, vocals

Monday 4/4/22 9am ET: Feature LP: Poco – Legend (1978)

Legend is the eleventh studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released November 1978.

Contemporary reviews of Legend typically noted how the album evinced the shedding of Poco’s country rock provenance: The Philadelphia Inquirer considered that Poco had shifted “emphasis to an extremely tasty straight-on pop-rock, nicely executed with strong vocals and pretty harmonies.” Stuart Goldman of the LA Times was less enamored of the band’s new direction: “The songs on ‘Legend’ are well crafted. The hooks are strong and the guitar breaks concise. But the end result is vapid and spiritless. Gone are Young’s soaring steel guitar lines and…Cotton’s…ultrathin voice quickly becomes irritating. The lyrics to the tunes – fraught with ‘easy evenin’ breezes’, ‘cool southern rain’, and ‘faded memories’ – simply aren’t tolerable without the livelier stance [Poco] used to take.”

In his Allmusic review, music critic Bruce Eder wrote, “Listening to parts of this album, one gets the sense that, with the arrival of Charlie Harrison (bass, harmony vocals) and Steve Chapman (drums) in the group, Poco was deliberately adopting a change in sound similar to what the Eagles went through when Joe Walsh joined, into much harder rocking territory, at least part of the time.” He called “Heart of the Night” “one of the most finely crafted songs in the group’s history.”

“Boomerang” – 3:48
“Spellbound” – 5:13
“Barbados” – 3:31
“Little Darlin’” – 3:47
“Love Comes Love Goes” – 3:55
“Heart of the Night” – 4:49
“Crazy Love” – 2:55
“The Last Goodbye” – 5:40
“Legend” – 4:16

Paul Cotton – guitar, vocals
Rusty Young – steel guitar, guitar, vocals
Charlie Harrison – bass, vocals
Steve Chapman – drums
Michael Boddicker – synthesizer
Steve Forman – percussion
Tom Stephenson – keyboards
Jai Winding – keyboards
Phil Kenzie – saxophone
David Campbell – string arrangements

Wednesday 12/29/21 8pm ET: RadioMaxMusic Special: The Music of 1980 A to Z – Part 24

This RadioMax special features our Library of music from 1980 A2Z.

We are moving into the final segments of 1980 music. This installment features music from Dickey Lee, Barbra Streisand, Rossington-Collins Band, Jerry Reed, Pat Benatar, Hoyt Axton, Red Rider, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Rockpile, Romantics, Devo, Poco, Journey and many more. Tomorrow we feature the completion of this segment and start our travel into 1981 next Tuesday.

8pm – 12am ET

Sunday 11/14/21 2pm ET: Feature LP: Poco – Rose of Cimarron (1976)

Rose of Cimarron is the ninth studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released May 29, 1976.

“Rose of Cimarron” – 6:42
“Stealaway” – 3:12
“Just Like Me” – 2:45
“Company’s Comin’” – 2:39
“Slow Poke” – 2:04
“Too Many Nights Too Long” – 5:59
“P.N.S. (When You Come Around)” – 3:15
“Starin’ at the Sky” – 2:58
“All Alone Together” – 3:21
“Tulsa Turnaround” – 2:40

Rusty Young – acoustic and 12-string electric guitars, mandolin, banjo, dobro
Timothy B. Schmit – vocals, bass, harmonica
Paul Cotton – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
George Grantham – vocals, drums, timpani
Mark Henry Harman – celesta
Milt Holland – percussion
Tom Sellers – grand piano, string arrangements
Sid Sharp – concertmaster
John Logan – banjo
Al Garth – fiddle
Annie Emery – hand claps
Jenny Grantham – hand claps
Jennifer O’Keefe – hand claps
Doug Rider – hand claps
Jeddrah Schmit – hand claps
Noreen Schmit – hand claps
Steve Ferguson – acoustic piano

Saturday 12/12/2020 12am ET: Feature LP: Poco – Legacy (1989)

Legacy is the seventeenth studio album by the country rock band Poco, released in 1989. The album reunited the five original members of the group (from the Pickin’ Up the Pieces album) and contained two top-40 singles, “Call It Love” and “Nothin’ to Hide”.

Legacy was the second Poco album to be certified gold.

“When It All Began” – 3:36
“Call It Love” – 4:17
“The Nature of Love” – 4:03
“What Do People Know” – 3:52
“Nothin’ to Hide”  – 5:12
“Look Within” – 5:03
“Rough Edges” – 3:08
“Who Else” – 4:01
“Lovin’ You Every Minute”  – 3:10
“If It Wasn’t for You” – 4:16
“Follow Your Dreams” – 2:56

Jim Messina – guitar, vocals, lead vocals on “Follow Your Dreams,” “Lovin’ You Every Minute,” and “Look Within”
Richie Furay – guitar, 12-string guitar, vocals, lead vocals on “When It All Began” and “If It Wasn’t for You”
Rusty Young – steel guitar, banjo, dobro, guitar, piano, vocals, lead vocals on “Call It Love,” “What Do People Know,” and “Who Else”
Randy Meisner – bass, vocals, lead vocals on “The Nature of Love,” “Rough Edges,” and “Nothin’ to Hide”
George Grantham – drums, vocals

Paulinho Da Costa – percussion
Leland Sklar – bass
Jeff Porcaro – drums
Richard Marx – vocals
Gary Mallaber – drums
Billy Payne – keyboards
Frank Marocco – accordion
C.J. Vanston – keyboards
Joe Chemay – bass
Bruce Gaitsch – acoustic guitar

Tuesday 4pm ET: Feature Artist – Timothy B. Schmit

Timothy Bruce Schmit (born October 30, 1947) is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He has performed as the bassist and vocalist for Poco and the Eagles, having replaced bassist and vocalist Randy Meisner in both cases. Schmit has also worked for decades as a session musician and solo artist. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Eagles.

In 1968, Schmit auditioned for Poco but was turned down in favor of founding member Randy Meisner. When Meisner quit the band in 1969, Schmit replaced him on bass and vocals. He appeared on nine of Poco’s studio albums and two live albums between 1969 and 1977, composing numerous songs. He wrote and was the lead singer on the song “Keep on Tryin’,” Poco’s biggest hit single to that point, peaking at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Apart from Poco, Schmit also contributed vocals to Firefall’s 1977 hit, “Just Remember I Love You.”

Schmit also sang backing vocals on the Steely Dan albums Pretzel Logic, The Royal Scam and Aja. Schmit also sang backing vocals on “Never Let Her Slip Away”, a top 5 UK hit for Andrew Gold in 1978, along with Brock Walsh, J.D. Souther and an uncredited Freddie Mercury.

In 1977, Schmit joined the Eagles during the Hotel California tour, once again replacing Randy Meisner on bass/vocals after Meisner quit. Although the Eagles are thought of as a quintessential California band, Schmit is the only member of the group to actually be a native of California.

On the 1979 album, The Long Run, Schmit co-wrote and sang lead vocals on the song “I Can’t Tell You Why”. The band later broke up in 1980 and reunited 14 years later in 1994, with Schmit singing the lead vocals on “Love Will Keep Us Alive”, on the reunion album Hell Freezes Over.

In 2007, the Eagles released a new album, Long Road Out of Eden. Schmit continued to be part of the Eagles lineup along with Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh until Frey’s death in 2016.

After the Eagles broke up in 1980, Schmit embarked on a solo career, singing vocals and playing bass for hire during studio sessions. His voice can be heard on many hits, including Bob Seger’s “Fire Lake” and Boz Scaggs’ “Look What You’ve Done to Me” (each with Frey and Henley), Don Felder’s “Heavy Metal (Takin’ a Ride)” (with Henley), and Crosby, Stills and Nash’s “Southern Cross”, where he sang harmony. He was also a background musician on two of Don Henley’s hit songs, “Dirty Laundry” and “You Don’t Know Me at All”.

Schmit teamed with his predecessor in both Poco and the Eagles, Randy Meisner, along with their mutual Eagles bandmate Joe Walsh, to provide background vocals to the Richard Marx 1987 hit “Don’t Mean Nothing”. Schmit also performed on the Toto 1983 hit singles “I Won’t Hold You Back” and “Africa”, and the Jars of Clay song “Everything in Between”. He also played on the 1983 Glenn Shorrock solo album. In 1991 Schmit covered the standard “I Only Have Eyes for You” for the soundtrack of the film Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead. In 1988 he added background vocals to Sheena Easton’s album The Lover in Me and in 1989 Schmit added background vocals on the Stacey Q single, “Heartbeat”, which was featured on her critically acclaimed Nights Like This album.