Rusty Young, one great player

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 18 Mar 2023 12:50 am

Its possible Rusty was overlooked as being a great player. Being in a band with Timothy Schmidt , Jim Messina and Richie Furay may have kept him in the back seat, unnoticed. Here's a clip from 1971 , Rusty is clearly showing his stuff !

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=fw2ob6-1p-M

billy tam · Post by **billy tam** » 20 Mar 2023 2:13 pm

I for one found Rusty one of my earliest major influences. Just getting involved with the instrument.
Bad Weather was always one of my favorite Poco songs. His ride on the album was one I attempted to learn for quite some time. Also Kind Woman work with Buffalo Springfield was awesome. His ability encompasses soul, feel, taste, and speed when needed. Obviously I’m a fan. Billy

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 25 Mar 2023 9:02 am

Incredible player.

I don't understand what caused him to essentially drop steel, pick up a 6-string and become the Poco frontman. I completely lost interest in the band - and him - at that point.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 6 Apr 2023 12:41 am

Jim Sliff wrote:Incredible player.

I don't understand what caused him to essentially drop steel, pick up a 6-string and become the Poco front man. I completely lost interest in the band - and him - at that point.

Once Richie left , then Timothy , unfortunately POCO was just the name of the band. Sure they had some tunes on the charts but they were not what they were, it was a totally different band. Rusty moving off Steel to the front I'm sure was about promoting the new lineup which was indeed POP oriented. I tried to hang on after Richie left but when Timothy moved on, so did I. To me that would be like Paul and John leaving the Beatles but with George and Ringo carrying on without them.

I suspect Paul (Cotton) and Rusty would have disagreed with me !

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 6 Apr 2023 3:44 am

I have read somewhere that new members Carlie Harrison and Steve Chapman were nicknamed the Enlish rhythm section.

chuck lemasters · Post by **chuck lemasters** » 6 Apr 2023 4:36 am

I wore out the record with Bad Weather…still love the steel on that one. I am also big Jim Messina fan. Although my introduction to Poco was Good Feelin To Know, to me the quintessential Poco album is Deliverin, and Messina’s influence.

Dave Grafe · Post by **Dave Grafe** » 6 Apr 2023 5:31 am

Many of the greatest players of all instruments never get fully appreciated because they choose to support the song rather than their own egos, holding back ample but superfluous chops in the interest of the best possible music. Rusty Young has always been solidly in that camp, with the likes of George Harrison, Leon Russell, Carol Kaye, Glenn Campbell, and many more true heroes of American music.