Legend (Poco album)
Encyclopedia
Legend is the 13th album by the Country rock
band Poco
, released in 1978.
After ABC Records
cancelled the release of Poco's planned 13th album The Last Roundup
. the three remaining members of the band agreed to take a break. Rusty Young and Paul Cotton
formed a new group called the Cotton-Young Band and prepared this album as a duo. However, ABC acquired the album and then decided to continue to use the name "Poco" for the band. When the album became successful, Poco drummer *George Grantham found himself forced out of Poco without ever having quit the group.
"Crazy Love" and "Heart of the Night," written and sung by Young and Cotton respectively, become the group's two biggest hits to date. After "Crazy Love" was released as a single, ABC Records
was acquired by MCA Records
, and the record's stunning commercial success was attributed by some to the efforts of ABC's promotional staff to prove their value to MCA. Meanwhile, the band started to stray from its distinct country rock
sound, heading towards a more mainstream, commercially-applauded soft rock and pop sound. Other noteworthy album cuts were "Spellbound," "Little Darlin'," "Legend," and "Barbados," the latter being the inspiration for the (at the time) yet to be released Beach Boys comeback hit "Kokomo
".
The cover art was done by then-unknown graphic artist Phil Hartman
, who would go on to considerable success as a comedian, on Saturday Night Live
, NewsRadio
, and The Simpsons
, among others.
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
band Poco
Poco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
, released in 1978.
After ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
cancelled the release of Poco's planned 13th album The Last Roundup
The Last Roundup (album)
The Last Roundup is the 21st album, and 3rd live album, by the Country rock band Poco.Recorded live in July 1977 at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium during the Indian Summer tour, it was intended to be the band's 13th album. However, its release was cancelled by ABC Records after Timothy B....
. the three remaining members of the band agreed to take a break. Rusty Young and Paul Cotton
Paul Cotton (musician)
Paul Cotton is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, most notable as a member of the band Poco and as the writer of the international hit song from that band, "The Heart of the Night".-History:Most of Paul Cotton's music career has been as songwriter, guitarist and singer for the band Poco...
formed a new group called the Cotton-Young Band and prepared this album as a duo. However, ABC acquired the album and then decided to continue to use the name "Poco" for the band. When the album became successful, Poco drummer *George Grantham found himself forced out of Poco without ever having quit the group.
"Crazy Love" and "Heart of the Night," written and sung by Young and Cotton respectively, become the group's two biggest hits to date. After "Crazy Love" was released as a single, ABC Records
ABC Records
ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
was acquired by MCA Records
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
, and the record's stunning commercial success was attributed by some to the efforts of ABC's promotional staff to prove their value to MCA. Meanwhile, the band started to stray from its distinct country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
sound, heading towards a more mainstream, commercially-applauded soft rock and pop sound. Other noteworthy album cuts were "Spellbound," "Little Darlin'," "Legend," and "Barbados," the latter being the inspiration for the (at the time) yet to be released Beach Boys comeback hit "Kokomo
Kokomo (song)
"Kokomo" is a song written by John Phillips, Scott McKenzie, Mike Love and Terry Melcher and recorded by The Beach Boys in spring 1988. Its lyrics describe two lovers taking a trip to a relaxing Caribbean island called Kokomo. It was released as a single in July 1988 by Elektra Records and became a...
".
The cover art was done by then-unknown graphic artist Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman
Philip Edward "Phil" Hartman was a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Hartman and his family moved to the United States when he was 10...
, who would go on to considerable success as a comedian, on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, NewsRadio
NewsRadio
NewsRadio is an American television situation comedy that aired on NBC from 1995 to 1999. The series was created by executive producer Paul Simms, and was filmed in front of a studio audience at CBS Studio Center and Sunset Gower Studios...
, and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, among others.
Track listing
- "Boomerang" (Paul Cotton) – 3:48
- "Spellbound" (Rusty Young) – 5:13
- "Barbados" (Paul Cotton) – 3:31
- "Little Darlin’" (Rusty Young) – 3:47
- "Love Comes Love Goes" (Rusty Young) – 3:55
- "Heart Of The Night" (Paul Cotton) – 4:49
- "Crazy LoveCrazy Love (Poco song)"Crazy Love" is a 1979 single by the country-rock group, Poco, from their album, Legend. The single was written by group member, Rusty Young, and was the most successful of the band's four Top 40 chart hits. "Crazy Love" peaked at number 17 on the pop chart. On the Easy Listening chart, it spent...
" (Rusty Young) – 2:55 - "The Last Goodbye" (Rusty Young) – 5:40
- "Legend" (Rusty Young) – 4:16
Personnel
- Paul CottonPaul Cotton (musician)Paul Cotton is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, most notable as a member of the band Poco and as the writer of the international hit song from that band, "The Heart of the Night".-History:Most of Paul Cotton's music career has been as songwriter, guitarist and singer for the band Poco...
- guitar, vocals - Rusty Young - steel guitar, guitar, vocals
- Charlie Harrison - bass, vocals
- Steve Chapman – drums
- Michael BoddickerMichael BoddickerMichael J. Boddicker , is an American film composer and session musician, specializing in electronic music. Three times N.A.R.A.S. Most Valuable Player "Synthesizer" and MVP Emeritus, he was awarded a Grammy as a songwriter for Imagination from Flashdance in 1984...
– synthesizer - Steve Forman – percussion
- Tom Stephenson – keyboards
- Jai Winding – keyboards
- Phil Kenzie – saxophone
Production
- Producer: Richard Sanford Orshoff
- Recording Engineer: Joe Chiccarelli, David Henson assisted by Jom Hill
- The cover was designed by then graphic artist Phil HartmanPhil HartmanPhilip Edward "Phil" Hartman was a Canadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist. Born in Brantford, Ontario, Hartman and his family moved to the United States when he was 10...
, who went on to become a well known actor and comedian.