Timothy B. Schmit, former bassist for Poco and the Eagles, has released a fantastic new CD titled “Expando.”
After repeated listening, I still haven’t figured out how or where Schmit came up with the title.
One thing I do know, though, is that the CD is terrific. Schmit always has been a very good songwriter while also adding great vocals to both Poco and the Eagles.
Some of the songs he wrote with Poco include “I Can See Everything,” “Here We Go Again,” “Starin’ at the Sky,” “Find Out in Time” and the great “Keep on Tryin’.”
Schmit also was the major creative force behind the Eagles’ smash “I Can’t Tell You Why.”
Ironically, Schmit replaced Randy Meisner in Poco when Meisner left to join the Eagles and then replaced Meisner again when he left the Eagles because of a conflict with Glenn Frey.
Back to “Expando.” The CD is in the classic country rock style that Schmit has been a part of since his early days with Poco.
The musicianship is first rate and all 11 of these terrific songs, clocking in at well over an hour, were penned by Schmit.
In fact, some of the folks that bought the disc by hearing it in my store, Triple Play Records, came back in to let me know how much they liked it and two of them called it “great.”
“Expando” opens with “One More Mile,” a bare bones acoustic gem that could be a Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch song with its rootsy feel.
“Parachute,” which clocks in at over six minutes, is an up-tempo rocker featuring Schmit’s son, Ben, on lead guitar. It could have been on Poco’s “Legend” album.
“White Boy From Sacramento” is a hilarious nostalgic rocking blues cut about growing up in Northern California in the ’60s, mentioning things like Pat Boone, “I Love Lucy,” Pepsi Cola, the Stroll, red bikes, barber shops, flat top haircuts, Jade East, the Limbo, surf music, Kingston Trio and the Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Schmit sings, “Whatever I do, wherever I go. I’m still a white boy from Sacramento!”
“Friday Night” is a song about letting your hair down and has the instrumentation and sound of early music from the Band.
“Ella Jean” is obviously a love song, but one that is sweet and soft without being sappy.
“Compassion” is about just that, having compassion for and receiving it from others.
“Downtime” is a funky rocker about getting away from it all and relaxing, and that means heading to the ocean for a little rest and relaxation.
“Melancholy” is a solo all about introspection and those blue days that we all experience.
“I Don’t Mind” is a playful, jazzy number about letting things roll off of one’s back and seeing good in people instead of looking for the bad.
“Secular Praise” may be the record’s finest song, with background vocals provided by the Blind Boys of Alabama.
“A Good Day,” the CD’s final song, is a classic country rocker in the vein of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Poco and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Schmit is joined on the CD by his son Ben, Van Dyke Parks, Graham Nash, Benmont Tench, Keb Mo, Kid Rock and others.
This CD is a culmination of what Schmit has accomplished as a singer/songwriter and the knowledge that comes with it. Clearly, Schmit has drawn on all of his experiences, from Poco to the Eagles and everything in between, and put it all to good use in creating his best work to date.
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Rock Cesario owns Triple Play Records, 530 Main St., and hosts “Acoustic Sunday” from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday on Drive 105.3 FM. E-mail him at rock@acsol.net.