(1969) This debut of Poco’s first album ushered in a new form of country-rock. Many believe that it was ahead of its time the way the band brought different musical styles together. The album truly reached beyond what had already been done musically, creating some of the most beautiful and unique music. Poco at the time consisted of Richie Furay, Jim Messina (guitar), Rusty Young (Steel), George Grantham (Drums), and Randy Meisner (Bass). Meisner’s stay with the band did not last long, and Timothy B. Schmit would soon replace him on the next album. Meisner’s lead vocals were removed, and new versions were sung by George Grantham. For most of the record though, Messina contributed most of the recorded bass guitar. Pickin’ Up The Pieces had many standout Furay compositions that included the title track “Pickin’ Up The Pieces.”

Poco

Richie Furay - guitar, 12-string guitar, vocals
Jim Messina - guitar, vocals
Rusty Young - steel guitar, banjo, dobro, guitar, piano
Randy Meisner - bass, guitar, vocals
George Grantham – drums, vocals

Production

Producer: Jim Messina
Recording Engineer: Terry Donovan
Arranger: Nick DeCaro
Photography: Frank Bez

PICKIN’ UP THE PIECES

Written by: Richie Furay

There’s just a little bit o’ magic
In the country music we’re singin’, so let’s begin
We’re bringin’ you back down home where the folks are happy
Sittin’ pickin’ and a-grinin’
Casually, you and me’ll pick up the pieces, uh-uh

Somebody yelled out at me, country music and company
Kinda makes it on a Sunday afternoon
Picnic lunches of yesterday
Should still have a place in our heart today
Think it over, ’cause we’ll all be goin’ home so soon!

If you had the time to stay, would you sit yourself down and play
Country music, singin’ songs that we both knew
Lord, I know that the day will come,
When both of us’ll sit down and strum
On our guitars. And you’ll see I really am a lot like you.

What A Day

Written by: Richie Furay

It’s a good mornin’ and I’m feelin’ fine

Hey, (uh huh) it’s such a lovely day
Smile, a frown would be pass?
I wanna play,
Oh, What A Day

I’ve got to dream
I can’t find a reason to care
And it seems
I hung all my thoughts in mid-air
Look over there
Oh, stop and stare

It’s a good mornin’ and I’m feelin’ fine
What did you say?
It’s a wonderful day

It’s a good mornin’ and I’m feelin’ fine
Hey, it’s such a lovely day
Oh, smile, a frown would just be pass?
I wanna play
Oh, What A Day

It’s a good mornin’ and I’m feelin’ fine (It’s a good mornin’)
It’s a good mornin’ and I’m feelin’ fine (It’s a good mornin’)
It’s a good mornin’ and I’m feelin’ fine (It’s a good mornin’)
It’s a good mornin’ and I’m feelin’ fine

Nobody’s Fool

Written by: Richie Fuary

Baby, you can see that it’s a lie
What he said to you
Made you sad, kind of made me glad’Cause I got the same from you

I ain’t your fool, you’d better go away
Don’t apologize
No words you’d say would be okay
I’m through listenin’ to your lies

You thought I’d be here, you came back
You were so darn sure of yourself
But just look around, see it ain’t so
You’d better start lookin’ for help

So many times you stood and laughed at me
Now I’ll take my turn
You’ve had your way up until today
Guess that it’s time you learned
‘Cause I got the same from you

Calico Lady

Words by: Skip Goodwin
Music by: Richie Furay & Jim Messina

Silken-soft she rises from the dawn, child of spring
I’ve known her, oh, for so long
Creature of the earth but never to be wed
She’s far too high for mortal’s bed
So touch her now and love her while you can
Soon she’ll travel on and join the wind

Often she’ll be there as you are falling through your eyes
Revisiting some place in the past
And she leads you softly to the limits of a world
But you’ll only see her face in a glass
Staring back with eyes that cannot see you
And yet you wish that yours were just as good

So touch her now and love her while you can
Soon she’ll travel on and join the wind
Soon she’ll travel on and join the wind
Soon she’ll travel on and join the wind

First Love

Written by: Richie Fuary

Today my First Love has arrived
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
You know how kids are when they’re small

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’s not all that bad

Today my First Love is alone

MAKE ME A SMILE

Written by: Richie Furay & Jim Messina

Maybe someday I can trade you a smile
Makin’ love a dream’s that’s worthwhile
I’ve been watchin’ you like a mother and child
Whatcha feelin’ , huh –
Whatcha feelin’ – Make Me A Smile

Yellow ribbons stream through your hair
Such a feelin’, now don’t leave me there
You make it so hard for me not to stare
Whatcha feelin’ , huh –
Whatcha feelin’ – Make Me A Smile

Lover come on, I can see suddenly
Changes in you, you’re smiling at me
Lover belong only to me
Arrange your sweet tune to make harmony

Short Changed

Written by: Richie Furay

Short Changed, I got to hand it to you
Bloodstained, my hands were tied ’cause of you
Can you feel the pulse of my soul drivin’ you home
Isn’t it lonely
Tryin’ to think back over the times when my love was all
And you didn’t know me

My friend, Your scheme was so well devised
Sufferin’, What was behind your disguise
Can you feel the pulse of my soul drivin’ you home
Isn’t it lonely
Tryin’ to think back over the times when my love was all
And you didn’t know me

Oh Yeah

Written by: Richie Furay & Jim Messina

Bein’ at most just a country boy innocent and all
I turned my face away from the farm, on the city I’d call
Hey, what’s doin’ in the town of fortune and fame?
Bright lights a-glowin’, I’ve come to make my name

You see I’ve got my ol’ guitar, I’m not a beggin’ fool
I play this town and a thousand more (God knows)
God knows I keep my cool
So what’s missin’ I’ve given my world the best
And I’m downright grateful, for Oh Yeah, my life’s been blessed

[CHORUS]
My my, can’t you see the warnin’
When the fires burn you better pay
Oh Yeah it’s gonna get you in the mornin’
Now’s your chance you better get away

Stayed awake ‘most all last night, just couldn’t get to sleep
So many things sittin’ on my brain, yes, I need a chance to think
But I’ve been told not to worry, everything’s gonna be all right
Oh, mama, won’t you tell me, why did I leave that night?

Seems like it’s been ages ago now since I come to town
Ain’t much changed, every face is the same
Oh, people just a-hangin’ round
So I’m a-leavin’ this mornin’, gonna go back home today
And let me tell you, buddy, turn around if you’re fixin’ to stay
You better go on home today

Just In Case It Happens, Yes Indeed

Written by: Richie Furay

What does it matter to me that you’ve gone,
The memory’s on
In a dream though it seems hard to be
With a good-night yawn, the heartache is gone, yes indeed

For loving you I have been such a fool
Hardly knowing the game or the rules
Nothin’ for me could I see except for your teasin’
I guess I was dreamin’ holdin’ on to – promises from you

What does it matter to me … …

Just in case it happens you see
I have paid all my dues faithfully
Now the peace of mind I’ll feel in time is worth the misgiving
A new beginning’s clingin’ in my head – the rest of it’s been said

What does it matter to me … … …

Tomorrow

Words by: Skip Goodwin
Music by: Richie Furay

Tomorrow always brings
Rain, drumming on my window pane
As the skies unleash their tears
And darkened clouds
Release their fears
Washing clean the festering earth
It foretells of a Renaissance

And in the thrill of its rebirth
Flowers wait to greet the dawn
Childish in their innocence
Laughing out
Tomorrow gone

Tomorrow always brings
Rain — ah, but soon, the sun
Will shine again
Looking on while you and I, will walk along
Wondering why
Knowing you’re lovin’ me
Foretells
A renaissance

CONSEQUENTLY SO – LONG

Words by: Skip Goodwin
Music by: Richie Furay

It’s been a long time coming, and I’ll have to carry on
It’s been a long time coming, but now you’re gone

Oh look at me, sittin’ starin’ at the rain
Knowin’ the days that we once knew won’t ever come again
Well it seems too strange to really be
So I pinch myself and I find – it’s me

It’s been a long time coming, and I’ll have to carry on
It’s been a long time coming, but now you’re gone
And it’s too late to back all the clocks in — town
It’s too late to the “X” from yesterday
Now the die is cast, nothin’ happens in the past
So I think I’ll take a walk out in the rain

Here I go, walkin’ down a street in time
Never knowin’ though I try to keep myself in rhyme
Just awhile has now become too long,
Consequently to you I have said so long … It’s been a long time …

But now you’re gone
But now you’re gone
But now you’re gone