Poco - You Better Think Twice

Talk about your blast from the past. The show's theme music and graphics were already dated in 1972, which means this was a typical big network production of the time. So it is presented here strictly as a cultural artifact.

Poco did not hit the big time until about six years later, with Jim Messina (the songwriter and singer in this clip) long gone to a partnership with Kenny Loggins. I was a fan of Poco's earliest work, which was pioneering country rock done at the same time as Gram Parsons-era Flying Burrito Brothers. Both of Poco's first two bass players went on to join the Eagles, which tells you something about influences and relative levels of success, and in fact the Tim who identifies himself in this clip is still with the Eagles today.

In any event, this is a song from one of Poco's early albums, and represents a blend of musical traditions (C&W/rock'n'roll) that at the time was innovative but which eventually would become the new mainstream, at least for country music. Nothing earth-shattering here, but a good song in a nice arrangement with great harmonies.