It would be difficult to name five American groups which, over the course of any given decade, have maintained a standard of excellence comparable to that of Poco, in whose capable hands (and voices) country and rock converge to become some of the finest good-time music of the 70's.
The group's durability seems double extraordinary when one considers that, en route to becoming one of this country's most prized musical resources, it has survived enough supposedly-fatal personnel shifts to drive five lesser groups to oblivion.
From it's inception as a Buffalo Springfield splinter group in 1969, Poco's twin hallmarks have been inspired vocals and awesome musical precision. Today, Rusty Young's award-winning steel guitars, blending with Paul Cotton's "hot licks", sparkle in the rock solid setting of rhythm by Tim Schmit and George Grantham on bass and drums. Through over 300 concerts and nine albums, with millions of records sold, Rusty, Paul, Tim and George bring an evolved skill to the art of record making, and now in association with brilliant young engineer/producer, Mark Harman, the group has produced number ten: "Head Over Heels," for ABC.
"This is the best Poco album yet,: says drummer Grantham. "We've been playing together for a long time and each year our records have improved. Mark is a great catalyst for us," says George. "This is our third album together, and I think we have finally brought our records to a par with our concerts." Bassist Tim Schmit is enthusiastic about "Head Over Heels," too. "we've always played well and made good records," says Tim, "but it's our growth as writers that makes this album unique. It's multi-faceted with some surprises for Poco buff, including Rusty's singing debut."
"Poco has always been more than just the sum of the people in the group at the time," says Rusty. "Our families and namagers and a lot of good friends have for years contributed to the energy which is Poco, and inspired it's growth." " When we started, George recalls, "it was specifically for the purpose of doing something tha no one had done before - to combine rock with country." "Today," Paul points out, "we write and play whatever most inspires us, whatever'll get both us and our audienced smiling - lots of country, lots of rock and lots more."
Rusty Young, in whose hands the pedal-steel guitar can sound like anything from a symphony orchestra to a country-inflected sign, met Poco's co-founders when he was invited to perform on the final Buffalo Springfield album. Only recently has his heretofore-over shadowed skill as a vocalist become manifest.
George Grantham, who, like Rusty, hails from Denver, began his professional career in a group called Boenzye Creeque. But, unlike Rusty, George has been known for his vocals as well as his drumming skill all along.
Timothy B. Schmit, Poco bassist since 1970, was a teen idol during his own adolescence in Sacramento, as a member of the group that is now known as Redwing.
Paul Cotton, guitarist, whose first contribution to the group's song repertoire, "Bad Weather," had come to be regarded as a Poco classic, was recruited from the Illinois Speed Press. Both Paul and Timothy also contribute their distinctive vocals to the Poco sound.