Richie Furay I Am Sure Genres:Country, Pop, Rock, Christian & Gospel When Friday Music released Richie Furay's In My Father's House (The Deluxe Edition) in 2004, it created a lot of excitement at retail and radio as fans were able to purchase his first ever live solo material and a rare ... more »studio album all in one package. The great voice and music of Richie Furay returned in 2005 with his most recent gospel sessions entitled I Am Sure. I Am Sure continues the beautiful hope of salvation and God's message as Richie's previous recording, but this time look who is along for the session: The Byrds' Chris Hillman, Poco, The Dirt Band and many others. Scott Sellen is back as well from the In My Father's House sessions. Truly a stunning array of talent and musicianship is awaiting the listener. "With My Whole Heart" is the album's opener, inspired by Psalm 138, Richie Furay and Co. truly captivate the listener with this rocking spiritual. With the Hammond B3, amazing slide guitar riffs and Furay's velvet toned voice, "With My Whole Heart" is a truly a wonderful moment on this album. It is no secret that Furay helped shape and architect the West Coast Rock and Country Rock sound through his years in The Buffalo Springfield and Poco. This time around, you can really hear his influence on these genres of music with the stirring "Jesus, Eternal King", "Precious Blood", and "Deep Within My Heart." Although these songs are gospel oriented, they are for all of his fans. His message is clear, and the musicianship is second to none. No wonder he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame a few years ago with his fellow Springfield crew Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Jimmy Messina. We think this new chapter in the musical career of Richie Furay is worth shouting about. It is his first new album in almost a decade and he'll be touring nationally this year for the first time in many years. I Am Sure is one of those albums you won't forget and like a long lost friend Richie Furay is back with a hopeful message and tidings of peace, joy and memorable music for all of us. Rejoice!« less
When Friday Music released Richie Furay's In My Father's House (The Deluxe Edition) in 2004, it created a lot of excitement at retail and radio as fans were able to purchase his first ever live solo material and a rare studio album all in one package. The great voice and music of Richie Furay returned in 2005 with his most recent gospel sessions entitled I Am Sure. I Am Sure continues the beautiful hope of salvation and God's message as Richie's previous recording, but this time look who is along for the session: The Byrds' Chris Hillman, Poco, The Dirt Band and many others. Scott Sellen is back as well from the In My Father's House sessions. Truly a stunning array of talent and musicianship is awaiting the listener. "With My Whole Heart" is the album's opener, inspired by Psalm 138, Richie Furay and Co. truly captivate the listener with this rocking spiritual. With the Hammond B3, amazing slide guitar riffs and Furay's velvet toned voice, "With My Whole Heart" is a truly a wonderful moment on this album. It is no secret that Furay helped shape and architect the West Coast Rock and Country Rock sound through his years in The Buffalo Springfield and Poco. This time around, you can really hear his influence on these genres of music with the stirring "Jesus, Eternal King", "Precious Blood", and "Deep Within My Heart." Although these songs are gospel oriented, they are for all of his fans. His message is clear, and the musicianship is second to none. No wonder he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame a few years ago with his fellow Springfield crew Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Jimmy Messina. We think this new chapter in the musical career of Richie Furay is worth shouting about. It is his first new album in almost a decade and he'll be touring nationally this year for the first time in many years. I Am Sure is one of those albums you won't forget and like a long lost friend Richie Furay is back with a hopeful message and tidings of peace, joy and memorable music for all of us. Rejoice!
CD Reviews
"I Am Sure" He's Better Than Ever!!!!
Jan Woodyard | Clarinda, IA | 03/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame star from
Buffalo Springfield has a voice that just
gets stronger and purer. Richie is just
awesome on every song.
After listening to "I Am Sure" over and over,
I can't settle on just one or two favorites, all
the songs are great. Each one is written with
love and praise to our Lord and Savior, but
with banjo's, steel guitars, mandolin and
friends like Chris Hillman, Jim Messina
joining in on some songs, it's anything but
typical gospel music.
I thought Richie's last CD "In My Father's House"
was great and couldn't wait for his next CD - well
Richie has come up with another winner. As a
matter of fact I recommend this CD highly and if
you don't have "In My Father's House" add
that CD to your list of must haves....
You can't go wrong with "I Am Sure" and
"In My Father's House" both are great CD's.
I highly recommend both of them.
Jan Woodyard
"
Pure Furay
M. Brennan | Cookstown,, Tyrone. Northern Ireland | 03/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been following Richie's music and songwriting for years since the days of Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Souther-Hillman-Furay and all those solo efforts. He hasn't lost his beauty or grace in tone or texture, the country roots are visible on this new Gospel Album.
Some truly beautiful tracks like the melodic "Overflow"- have all the hallmarks of a great Furay song alongside the more uptempo title track- "I Am Sure".
I am sure that God has truly blessed this man's wonderful talent and beautiful country voice.Great to see ya back Richie.
"I will sing unto the LORD,because he hath dealt bountifully with me." - Psalm 13:6"
Awesome CD !
David Baldwin | Commerce City, Co. USA | 11/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am very lucky. Calvary Chapel Broomfield is my home church and Pastor Ritchie is our Pastor. I don't get to attend much, as I am out of town alot. This is my lifeline to my church. You may have seen me rockin' down the road to this CD. It is a "Must Have"! Ritchie and Scott have outdone themselves on this one, and their faith shines through. If you can attend our church, this is how our music praise and worship sounds - and you can sing with the artist and writers weekly - if you cannot attend, this CD is a chance to share our worship to Our Father God and Jesus Christ. You WILL be moved and won't be sorry!"
Great Music, No Baggage
Bernard | 09/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album has been a breath of fresh air for me. I took a chance on it, and it has proven to be a real winner; a great album full of songs that are a pleasure to hear again and again. I think the reviewer Michael Dalton has done a fine job of describing the music, so I would like to focus in this review on the production values.
For me `I Am Sure' goes a long way to restoring my faith in Contemporary Christian Music; or at least restore significant hope. With undoubted exceptions CCM has, I believe, been weighed down by all manner of things, of which I find three main areas: 1) commercialization, 2) artificiality and a lack of roots, and 3) all kinds of phobias about music itself.
None of these problems apply to our man Richie Furay, who delivers some pure gold here. This music rings true as authentic, is spiritually focused and genuine, and is without the labouring self-consciousness I have often heard in CCM.
1) Richie may have had issues with commercial success in his years in the music industry, but seems now content to just play and sing with that wonderful voice for no other reasons than the pure pleasure of doing what one is called and gifted to do. "Success" would appear to be a slippery slope for those running hard after it, and even though Richie richly deserves commercial success I don't think he's worrying about it anymore.
2) This is the real deal. This is not someone trying to sound Country-Rock, or jumping on a bandwagon of convenience. Richie Furay is someone who helped DEFINE Country-Rock! He has a perspective and a musical history in this music like few others, and when he's playing and singing this music he's doing it from the roots upward.
3) I really appreciate the musical elements unashamedly on display on this recording. Richie is a Pastor, yet thankfully is not afraid to let the instruments and the players shine. We can hear great guitar sounds throughout, and Rusty Young's tasty slide licks all over the place. They were undoubtedly having a great time doing this record, and it has a genuine warmth. The whole thing is fused together with an infectious joyful vibe. There's no self-conscious, apologetic, half-hearted music to be found here!
Nor is this music a cheap religious/political tract; there are no agendas, and it's baggage-free. This album really IS what it appears to be: the natural overflow of a spiritual man endowed with genuine musical gifts.
Thanks Richie for the memorable songs, and for doing it from the heart; unashamed of your musical gift. I hope the CCM community will take a good look at everything on display here and do some heartsearching - maybe even learn some lessons."
