Pickin' Up the Pieces (Poco album)
Pickin' Up the Pieces is the debut album by country rock band Poco, released in 1969. It was one of the earliest examples of the emerging genre of country rock. Several of the songs date back to Richie Furay's days in Buffalo Springfield. An early version of "What a Day" was included on the Springfield's eponymous box set in 2001. Bassist Randy Meisner appears on the album but quit the band shortly before the record was released. Meisner's exit was the result of his anger from being excluded (at Furay's  insistence) from participation in the final mix playback sessions for the album, as only Messina and Furay were to complete production. His image was removed from the painting on the cover and replaced with the dog seen at the far left. His bass parts and backing vocals were left in the mix, but his lead vocals were removed, and new versions were sung by George Grantham. Reception. In his Allmusic review, music critic Bruce Eder called the album a "startlingly great record, as accomplished as any of Buffalo Springfield's releases, and also reminiscent of the Beatles and the Byrds ... The mix of good-time songs, fast-paced instrumentals, and overall rosy feelings makes this a great introduction to the band, as well as a landmark in country-rock only slightly less important (but arguably more enjoyable than) Sweetheart of the Rodeo." Robert Christgau wrote; "Nice and happy, but considering the personnel a disappointment."