Customer Reviews

Legacy

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the album that diehard Poco fans love to hate. Like most reunion albums, this one does not turn out to be what you would expect. When the original five members of Poco (Richie Furay, Jim Messina, Randy Meisner, Rusty Young, and George Grantham) reunited for the first time since the recording sessions for their debut album (Pickin' Up the Pieces), most hardcore Poco fans hoped and expected that they would again "pick up the pieces" and start right where they left off 20 years before. Legacy doesn't - it is a continuation of the individual careers of the members, and the music shows how they had each progressed in the 20 years since they last played together. The other thing that disappoints fans is that this album is not an equal mix of the five band members. Singing drummer George Grantham appears very sparingly, as he was not available for the majority of the recording sessions. His role was limited to providing backing vocals, while his place behind the drum set was filled by session men. In addition, founding father Riche Furay was held to two cuts and also appears very little on the rest of the album. Legacy was pretty much a collaboration between Meisner, Young, and Messina.

Once I got over the disappointment of not hearing "Pickin' Up the Pieces - Part 2" and the limited role of Grantham and Furay and gave this album a chance, it really grew on me. It opens with Furay's great Poco autobiography "When it all Began". The next cut, Rusty Young's "Call it Love", rightfully put Poco back on the commercial radar for the first time in many years. Young's "What Do People Know", another Poco autobiography, is another highlight. Jim Messina's "Follow Your Dreams" is one of the best songs he ever wrote and is simply amazing. Randy Meisner's incredible vocal work is all over this album and is another highlight, as is Rusty Young's lap steel guitar.

The reunion turned out to be a one-off effort and the lineup did not even survive the supporting tour, as Furay found his dual role of Calvary Chapel minister and rock performer to be too incompatible. But Legacy stands out as a great record that features great legends of the country-rock era and I think stands up well against other works by band members during their days with Poco, Buffalo Springfield, Loggins & Messina, and the Eagles.

When I first heard of Poco, it was on the radio after they played the second song on this album: "Call It Love". Since I was a teenager at the time, I did not think about getting this album...I was moving through sweeping changes in my musical palate. About 6 years ago, I heard this song again on a classic rock radio station. This inspired me to buy the only CD at the time that had this song. Well, what a GEM I received! "Legacy" is a fantastic, well-produced work where every song should have been a hit!

This band stayed true to its foundation and built a classic album! Coming from a country-western-rock background, their sound is comparable to the Eagles. However, they manage to produce a classic rock feel that does not trample the country ambiance they wish to portray, which is in part due to the flawless production of the album. Poco's country-rock roots are clearly demonstrated in songs like "When It All Began", "Nothin' To Hide", "Look Within", "Rough Edges", and "Lovin' You Every Minute". Then, Poco steps up to classic rock ballads with songs like "If It Wasn't For You", "Who Else", and "Follow Your Dreams". At the same time, they belt out rock anthems "The Nature Of Love", "What Do People Know", and the timeless classic "Call It Love". I never tire of hearing the latter song. It is such a passionate rock song with that hint of western flair to it. I would say that it is an essential cruising song, and if I wanted to have music videos about my life, this is DEFINITELY one of the songs I would include in the setlist.

With that said, I can also stipulate that this whole album is essential for cruising trips. It is one of those albums where you have to listen to its entirety when traveling down the interstate. Any person with an interest in classic rock needs to buy this album. This album is a true, however obscure, classic that demands attention. I am even willing to be so bold as to suggest that if the Eagles had been together in the late 80's, "Legacy" is the type of product they would have made!

I have every poco album that they ever put out and this is one of their best. This is surly one of the best bands in American music history. I am a true Poconut and I am proud of it. Give this cd a listen. You will be glad that you did. Kenny...

I probably have too many records and cds. At least my wife Donna thinks so. By my calculations if I started listening to my first alphabetical record (Aha) and finished with the last cd (ZZ Top, naturally) and if I devoted eight hours a day I would be two years into the project before I arrived at Neil and the other Youngs! The collection continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace than in the past. I mention the foregoing in light of the fact that I have no recollection of either buying or ever listening to Poco's reunion album Legacy. Perhaps I was consumed by other matters immediately after the purchase. Perhaps I acquired other cds at the same time and perhaps one or two of these were so magnificent that I just never got around to playing the Poco cd. Who knows? Anyway, some twenty years after Legacy's release I decided to play my way through Poco's catalog and jot down my thoughts on each. I reached the end of the process and came across this cd.





The cd certainly starts of promisingly with Furay's When it all Began - a reflection on the band's beginnings ("Some called it country. Some called it rock and roll"). Nice song. Meisner's Nothin' to Hide is more Eagles than any song Poco ever recorded. Is this the direction Poco may have taken had he not left the group so early in its existence? Who Else is a pretty Rusty Young composition that would have fitted well on any Poco LP from the early 1970's. As I listened to the cd I anxiously awaited another Richie Furay tune. It arrived, finally, with the penultimate song, If It Wasn't For You. It is typically tuneful and made me wish there had been room for a couple more Furay contributions. I wasn't very struck with Messina's additions to the project until I reached the final song, Follow Your Dreams. It forms a neat autobiographical bookend to When It All Began.

Gathering together the original five members to record a new record twenty years after the band's formation was a great idea. Although Randy Meisner is credited as a player on Pickin' up the Pieces he was no longer a band member when the LP was released. Jim Messina, now known as Jimmy, left soon thereafter. When George Grantham and Richie Furay departed only Rusty Young remained of the founding quintet. For much of the band's career Poco was as much Paul Cotton as anyone else. Thus a return to 1969 was an interesting move. During the band's heyday (1969-1980) Poco was content to make good sounding, easy listening, stress free music. Nothing has changed here. The cd is, for the most part, very enjoyable. However, for I cannot view Legacy as a Poco album. It comes across more as a series of individual's song each backed up by the members of a band once known as Poco. This is an observation and not a criticism. I liked the cd and notwithstanding the thousands of LPs and cds in my basement I will find the time to play Legacy again. Now I must go to Amazon.com and hunt down some Richie Furay solo cds. Please don't tell my wife!

I've always been a fan of country rock music. Especially when it's done well. Country rock groups like - The Eagles & Restless Heart have created some of the most memorable songs & greatest harmonies ever captured on tape & then went on to major commercial success. Then there's Poco. They never quite reached the level of success that their peers did but their music was still just as timeless & well written & they are regarded by many as one of the best groups out there.

"Legacy" which was released in 1989 & is their 19th album, is excellent from beginning to end & it reunited the five original members of the group - Jim Messina, Richie Furay, Rusty Young, Randy Meisner & George Grantham. It also contained two top-40 singles, "Call It Love" and the Richard Marx penned - "Nothing to Hide." Both are great songs & among Poco's very best. The rest of the setlist is also quite strong. One of the highlights is the leadoff track - "When It All Began" which is very catchy and features the group's excellent trademark harmony vocals as well as great banjo & guitar. It could've easily been a single. Another great mid-tempo number that could've been a hit single is the sexy "Who Else" which was sung & written by Rusty Young. Then there's some very pretty ballads like "Follow Your Dreams" & "Look Within" which were both written & sung by Jim Messina and the sensual "If It Wasn't for You" which was penned by Richie Furay. I also really enjoyed the harder rocking songs like "The Nature of Love" & "Lovin' You Every Minute" which has a great beat to it & is one of the best driving down the road fast songs i've ever heard.

All in all, you can't go wrong with this album cuz it's a joy from beginning to end & one of the groups very best.

A great collection of one of the earliest country rock great bands. The Eagles have made the big bucks, but the roots of this band are the real beginnings along with the Springfield ,Early Byrds, and of course, Gram Parsons.

There have been colossal failures in the past when former bandmates get together after long years to record a reunion album. This isn't one of them. In fact, it may be the best. Not every song is a winner and perhaps half of the tunes are mediocre at best but there are real gems here. The first half of the cd is terrific. Meisner and Young really stand out but the real treasure is in the superb musicianship. "Nature of Love" and "Rough Edges" are fine rockers. "Call it Love" and "Nothing to Hide" are great pop tunes. Take a chance on this one, it won't disappoint.

This CD doesn't have a bad cut on it! Every selection is awesome. "When it all began" will take you back to when you first discovered rock & roll. "Give it your best" is classic Messina style. I wore out my orignial CD and have finally found a replacement. Order this and enjoy every minute of this collection of classic rock & roll!

Just another great Poco cd,what can I say?I bought this after reading customers reviews.I`m glad I did.These guys could play and harmonize with anybody.Should`ve been huge.

What makes this album so special is that all four singers, RICHIE FUREY (original lead singer), RUSTY YOUNG (pedal steel guitar), JIM MESSINA (lead guitar), and RANDY MEISSNER (bass guitar) sing songs on this album unlike their classics albums so nobody is in the spotlight. However, there should have been a third song for RICHIE to sing that would even everything out. Plus, it is also a shame that RANDY did not write any songs himself to sing, and that drummer and harmony singer (his job through out this album) GEORGE GRANTHAM was too sick to play drums (played by TOTO'S JEFF PORCARO) on this album. Overall, this is a must have for all POCO fans. The first song written and sung by RICHIE who plays the acoustic guitar delivers excellent sounding lead vocals that remind me of THE EAGLES' GLENN FREY reflects all the way back to the original country/folk/rock style with JIM MESSINA'S guitar riffs, RUSTY'S pedal steel guitar playing, and the band's harmony vocals. The next song CALL IT LOVE song by RUSTY is excellent with his lead vocals that sound like TIM SCHMIT, the guitar riffs, the clean sounding bass guitar by RANDY, drum playing, and the organ playing by LITTLE FEAT'S BILL PAYNE; however, I think this song would have sound better if RICHIE would have sung the harmony vocal instead of RANDY. Meanwhile, RANDY deliver excellent vocals on the next song THE NATURE OF LOVE, accomplish by synthesizer, drum playing, lead and steel guitar riffs by JIM and RUSTY. RUSTY'S WHAT DO PEOPLE KNOW is an excellent guitar rock song with his lead vocal, sythesizer, the acoustic and electric guitars. The next song NOTHIN' TO HIDE written and produced by singer RICHARD MARX sounds a whole lot like THE EAGLES' hit TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT, which was sung and co-written by RANDY MEISSNER with GLENN FREY and DON HENLEY. RANDY'S lead vocals makes this song shine along with JIM'S quiet lead guitar, RUSTY'S steel guitar, BILL PAYNE'S synthesizer, but the harmony vocals by RICHARD MARX was unnecessary. JIM'S LOOK WITHIN is excellent with his singing and clean guitar playing and BILL'S refreshing keyboard playing style, harmony vocals, and drum playing. The next song ROUGH EDGES written by RUSTY and sung by RANDY is also an excellent fast-paced guitar rock song with electric and steel guitar riffs by JIM and RUSTY. RUSTY'S WHO ELSE is an outstanding quiet ballad with his lead vocals, the band's harmony vocals, drums, keyboards, bass guitar riffs, and acoustic and electric guitar riffs, and JIM'S LOVIN' YOU EVERY MINUTE is also an excellent guitar rock song with his singing and guitar playing, RUSTY'S steel guitar playing, RANDY'S clean bass guitar playing and harmony vocals, and puonding drum playing. But RICHIE'S IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU also goes back to the classic POCO style with his lead singing and acoustic guitar playing, RUSTY'S pedal steel guitar playing, the synthesizer, and the band's harmony vocals, and JIM'S acoutic ballad FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS is the best song that he wrote and sang for the band on this album. It features his calm lead vocals and acoustic guitar playing, RUSTY'S mandolin playing, the band's harmony vocals, and no bass guitar. A mellotron would have sound better on some songs instead of the synthesizer, but tht is probably not BILL'S style. Meanwhile, my favorite songs from this album are both of NOTHIN' TO HIDE, RICHIE'S songs, RUSTY'S SONGS, AND JIM'S FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS and the others are excellent like I mentioned. Plus, I remember the videos for CALL IT LOVE and NOTHIN' TO HIDE that came out in late 1989 during my sophomore year at GRISSOM HIGH SCHOOL.