Richie Furay – I Am Sure

As a co-founder of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and the short-lived, pre-fabricated Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, Richie Furay distinguished himself as a charismatic performer with a strong voice and a knack for crafting catchy, melodically infused, heartstring-pulling country-rock tunes. When he decided in the early 1980s to become an Episcopalian minister in Broomfield, Colorado, many thought that would be the end of his musical career. But over the past couple decades, Furay has occasionally recorded country-flavored gospel records, and his latest, I Am Sure, is arguably his best. What’s readily apparent is the exceptional depth and range of his voice, which shows no signs of aging; if anything, it’s gotten stronger. Whether he’s singing about Jesus’ teachings or his wife’s unconditional love, his soulfully expressive voice makes each syllable count. For those who miss Furay’s country-rockin’ days of yore, “Father Of Glory” should bring a smile and jubilant shout to those who remember infectious rockers such as “A Good Feelin’ To Know” and “Let’s Dance” from Poco’s mid-’70s heyday. Friends and former bandmates Jim Messina, Paul Cotton, Rusty Young, Sam Bush and Chris Hillman lend a hand with some fine instrumental coloration.