Skykings Discography

Great Plains were formed by Jack Sundrud (Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar), Denny Dadman -Bixby (Vocals, Bass), Russ Pahl (Vocals, Lead Guitar) and Michael Young (Drums). The bands debut album generated the hit single 'Faster Gun' and was a good straight forward country album. Jack's vocals were excellent throughout and were reminicent of Resless Heart's John Dittrich and occasionally Don Henley. With 'Homeland' the bands second album, more attention was paid to arrangements and harmonies and the album established Sundrud as a major writing force in Nashvile. In 1985 Jack joined Poco for a tour and again in 1989. He became a full time Poco member in the year 2000.

Albums: Great Plains (1991), Homeland (1996)

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THE SOUTHER HILLMAN FURAY BAND
The Souther Hillman Furay band were Formed in September 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA by John David Souther (born 2 Nov 1945, Detroit, Michigan, USA), Chris Hillman (born 4 Dec 1942, Los Angeles, California, USA) and Richie Furay. This short-lived and much maligned country-rock "supergroup" was the brainchild of Asylum Records president David Geffen, who was hoping to create another Crosby, Stills and Nash . J. D. Souther was a rated songwriter and had originally been in a duo with Glenn Frey, the pair recording an album as Longbranch Pennywhistle which was released by Amos Records in December 1970. Souther then went on to produce a solo album for Asylum in 1971 and collaborated with the Eagles before joining the SHF Band.

Chris Hillman's past musical credentials were already impressive, starting with the traditional bluegrass band the Scottsville Squirrel Barkers (also known as the Kentucky Mountain Boys), then briefly performing as The Hillmen before his big break came joining David Crosby, Jim McGuinn and Gene Clark as founder members of folk-rock legend The Byrds. Soon after this Chris came under the influence of Gram Parsons and helped to get him into the Byrds and the pair sufficiently pushed their ideas of country and rock fusion to subvert McGuinn and enable the ground breaking album Sweetheart Of The Rodeo to be made. Towards the end of 1968, Gram Parsons quit and it was not long before Hillman did likewise. The two soon made up their differences and formed The Flying Burrito Brothers, the group which was to perfect the Parsons/Hillman vision and their debut album The Gilded Palace Of Sin ranks as one of the best country-rock albums of all time. However, Parsons soon lost interest, and it was left to Hillman kept the band going, until he himself called it a day in 1972. His next stint was with Stephen Stills, co-incidentally one of Richie Furay's old bandmates from the Buffalo Springfield days. Stills was preparing his third solo album when he brought together a diverse selection of musicians which gelled into the "supergroup" Manassas. Again, this ensemble produced a superb debut double-album but the group collapsed during sessions for the follow up and group members Hillman, Al Perkins and Paul Harris all became part of the SHF Band. The first album contained the best material especially Richie's 'Believe me' and 'Fallin' in love' and Chris Hillman's Safe at home'. An earlier version of 'Believe me' can be found on Poco's 'The forgotton trail'. Jeremy Tilston

Albums: Souther Hillman Furay (1974) Trouble in paradise (1975)

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ROGER McGUINN'S THUNDERBYRD

Following his solo album Cardiff Rose former Byrd Roger McGuinn formed Thunderbyrd in 1977. The line up included future Poco Bass player Charlie Harrison and the guitarist Rick Vito (Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne). They recorded one album for Columbia which included covers ranging from Dylan's "Golden loom", Peter Frampton's "All night long" to Tom Petty's "American Girl."

Album: Thunderbyrd (1977)

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REDWING
Redwing were a band from sacramento, North California. The band evolved out of the New Breed and later Glad which included Timothy B. Schmit in the line up. After Tim left in 1970 to join Poco his replacement in the band was filled by Andrew Samuals. The other members of Redwing were Tom Phillips, Ron Floegal and George Hullin. In early 1970 the band cut their first album �Redwing� for United Artists. Their second album �What this country needs� included Timothy B. Schmit again as bassist as Andrew Samuals had switched back to guitar and the band couldn�t settle on a perminant bass player. During this period the band went through five more bass players before finding Dale Lyberger. At this time Tom Phillips had been influenced by Rusty Young�s Steel Guitar playing in Poco and started playing the Steel Guitar himself with Redwing. The bands third album �Take me home� in 1973 was a country flavoured effort mixed with rock and bluegrass. Their forth album �Dead or alive�released in 1974 was more rock oriented which the band hoped would be their breakthrough album. Around this time the band added fifth member John Myers as a perminant bass player replacing Dale.

Albums: Feeling Glad (1970). Redwing (1971). What this country needs (1972). Take me home (1973). Dead or alive (1974). Beyond the sun and stars (1975).
Redwing Homepage

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LOGGINS & MESSINA Loggins & Messina were formed in 1971 and Kenny Loggins had been a member of the bands Gator Creek and Second Helping. Messina had been previously in a surf band Jim Messina and the Jesters before joining Buffalo Springfield and later forming Poco with Richie Furay. �House at pooh corner�, one of the songs on the first Loggins & Messina album was also recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Their debut released in 1972 titled �Sitting in� was originally conceaved as a solo album by Kenny Loggins with Jimmy sitting in on the session playing guitar and producing. The album was eventually released as a joint effort with strong songs from both Jimmy and Kenny. The more commercial songs came from Kenny (House at pooh corner, Danny�s song) while the more experimental material (Same old wine) came from Jim. The duo�s second album �Loggins and Messina� featured the classic �Angry eyes� and �Your mama don�t dance� but the third album �Full sail� tended to be weaker in content and ideas. The following live set �On stage� was a brilliant triumph with plenty of improvisation from the band and great guitar playing from Jimmy. The bands fifth album �Mother lode� contained some great songs including �Be free�, �Move on�, �Keep me in mind� and �Changes�. �So fine� was a collection of early 50�s/60�s covers while the seventh and final album �Native sons was also a very good record. From a band that created their own sound, many influences came from it�s group members. The line up also included Al Garth on voilin/Sax who would later become a touring member of Poco (75-76) and more recently a member of the Eagles �Hell freezes over� world tour.

Albums: Sitting in (1972). Loggins & Messina (1972). Full sail (1973). On stage (1974). Mother lode (1974). So fine (1975). Native sons (1976). Best of Friends (1976). Fenale (live) (1977).

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BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD
Formed by Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer and Dewey Martin, Buffalo Springfield are best remembered by their hit single 'For what it's worth', a protest song written by Stephen Stills about the riots that were beginning to erupt on Sunset Strip in Hollywood at the height of the hippy era. But the Springfield were much more than that, they pioneered Country Rock and spawned bands like Poco, Crosby Stills & Nash and Loggins & Messina as well as influencing the Byrds. From the ashes of those bands came The Eagles, S.H.F, Firefall, Pure Prarie League and a host of other bands that in turn influenced the new wave of country bands today.

Albums: Buffalo Springfield (1967). Again (1967). Last time around (1968). Retrospective (1969). Buffalo Springfield (double compilation)(1973). Neil Young Discography.

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FIREFALL