Earnestly
Richie Fury – Buffalo Springfield, Poco,
Souther-Hillman-Furay Band – has released his latest solo album to celebrate his
many years in the countryrock business, as well as 48 years of marriage to wife
Nancy who appears with him on the album’s front cover in their wedding photo. Opening
track We Were the Dreamers sets out
that rejoicing stall with all the musical requisites perfectly in place [sweet
harmonies, Country-inflected tune and rock guitars] and a punchy lyric about
being at the forefront of the genre in those early days and doing it all for
fun. I’ll happily accept that premise, and the next track Hand in Hand, written about Nancy, is a further generic gem to consolidate the musical promise.
It is an earnest album overall, reflecting at times his
Christian commitments as a preacher, and also some twee patriotism in the track
Don’t Tread on Me, a sentiment I
accept as honest but find cloying in its clichés.
There is a bright version of his former hit Kind Woman – written for wife Nancy when
playing with Buffalo Springfield but actually released with second band Poco [*] –
and it features guest vocals from both Neil Young and Kenny Loggins. The album
closes on Love at First Sight
featuring Richie’s daughter Jesse Furay Lynch, a reprise of the song which is
also the seventh track. You cannot knock the simple honesties in Furay’s love
of family, country and other factors that make him feel so happy and content,
though some may find it all a little too quaint.
[*] please see Comments for clarification on this, with apologies for the error
