Crazy Love

The Zoo Crew is spinning the timeless track "Crazy Love" by Poco from their 1978 album Legend, and the Zoo Freaks are surely vibing to its smooth country-rock groove. This song, written and sung by founding member Rusty Young, holds a special place in Poco’s history as their biggest hit, peaking at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and claiming the #1 spot on the Adult Contemporary chart for seven weeks in 1979. In a 2012 interview, Young shared a charming story about the song’s creation: while paneling a wall in his Los Angeles home, gazing out over the valley, the chorus popped into his head. With a guitar nearby, he wrote the entire song in about 30 minutes, describing it as a "gift" that came effortlessly. Interestingly, the iconic "Ooh, ooh, Ahhhh haaa" part of the chorus was initially a placeholder, but the musicians backing Young loved it so much that it stayed in the final recording, becoming a defining hook of the track.

Another tidbit about "Crazy Love" is its unexpected journey to the airwaves. Originally intended for the Cotton-Young Band—a duo project by Rusty Young and Paul Cotton after Poco’s brief hiatus—the song was recorded at Crystal Sound Studios in Hollywood in 1978. However, ABC Records decided to release the project under the Poco name, and Legend became the band’s most successful album, reaching #14 on the Billboard 200 and earning gold certification for 500,000 units sold. Some speculate that the album’s success was boosted by ABC’s promotional staff, eager to prove their worth before MCA Records took over in February 1979, though others argue MCA’s lack of interest in Poco may have stalled further momentum. Young himself noted in a 2008 interview that "Crazy Love" was the reason Poco remained relevant, calling it a "classic" that "still pays the mortgage" years later.

Poco’s origins trace back to the ashes of the legendary Buffalo Springfield in 1968, when guitarists Richie Furay and Jim Messina, seeking a new venture, teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Rusty Young, bassist Randy Meisner, and drummer George Grantham. Young, who had played pedal steel guitar on Buffalo Springfield’s "Kind Woman," was invited to join the new group, initially named Pogo after the comic strip. However, after a legal threat from cartoonist Walt Kelly, they settled on Poco, a name that stuck as they pioneered the Southern California country-rock sound. Their debut album, Pickin’ Up the Pieces (1969), was a nod to Buffalo Springfield’s breakup and earned critical acclaim, though commercial success was elusive early on. Despite lineup changes—most notably Meisner’s departure for the Eagles and Messina’s exit to form Loggins & Messina—Poco’s blend of tight harmonies, snappy instrumentation, and country twang laid the groundwork for the genre, influencing bands like the Eagles.

Over the decades, Poco weathered numerous personnel shifts, with Rusty Young as the sole constant member until his passing in 2021. The band’s resilience and stylistic consistency shone through on albums like A Good Feelin’ to Know (1972) and Crazy Eyes (1973), but it was Legend that marked their commercial peak. Poco officially disbanded in 2021 following Young’s death, but their legacy endures through their music and fan communities. Fans can connect with the band’s history on their official website, follow updates on their Facebook page, or check out posts on their Instagram and X accounts. For deeper fan engagement, the Poco Fan Club on Facebook offers a space for Zoo Freaks and others to share memories and celebrate the band’s enduring impact.