Richie Furay - I Am Sure

Title: I Am Sure Artist: Richie Furay Release Date: 3/1/2005 Label: Friday Music Album Type(s): lyrics/libretto UPC: 829421101420 Genre: Rock Styles: Country-Rock, CCM, Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Christian Moods: Spiritual, Confident, Earnest, Joyous, Poignant, Reverent, Ambitious, Amiable/Good-Natured, Effervescent, Exuberant, Intimate, Reserved, Restrained, Rousing, Sentimental, Smooth, Wistful, Gentle, Melancholy, Reflective Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 2 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. With My Whole Heart
2. Jesus, Eternal King
3. Shout to the Ruler
4. Overflow
5. Most High
6. Wonderfully Praised
7. So Far to Go
8. Father of Glory (Give the Glory to You)
9. City of God
10. Precious Blood
11. I Am Sure
12. Come and Praise Him
13. Deep Within My Heart

Year Type Label Catalog # 2005 CD Friday Music 1014

No other editions were found for this album.

It's no surprise that this CD sounds a lot like a lost Poco album -- beyond being the work of Richie Furay, it also features Jim Messina, Paul Cotton and Rusty Young; add to that the presence of such renowned figures as Chris Hillman, Jimmy Ibbotson and Jeff Hanna, and you've got not only an intersection with the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, but also a recording with roots deep in first-generation folk-rock-cum-country-rock. And pretty much that's where this album comes down, on the country-rock side of gospel music (or is it the gospel side of country music?). Furay's goal here was to create an album of American worship songs -- he became a Christian rocker some years ago, and has very effectively merged those two parts of who he is on I Am Sure, his lyrics drawn from the Bible, but the obvious sincerity and inspiration behind much of what's here is genuinely moving; as a singer as well as a musician, Furay knows how to wrap a melody around a psalm and make both of them count for something bigger than their individual parts. Even more important, this all works as music, too, at least from a traditional country-rock standpoint -- there aren't any musical revelations here (no joke intended), though "Shout to the Ruler" comes close and the build-up to the harmonization on "Overflow" bears more than one listen, but in many ways this is a beautifully soulful follow-up to many of Poco's best moments from their early albums. Some of the melodies vaguely resemble traditional sources -- "Most High" has moments that make one think of "Poor Wayfaring Stranger" -- but there are enough twists, including some pretty good rocking moments (especially on the guitars), sufficient to make this more than an exercise in latter-day folk-rock. It's all well worth a listen or two or three, and won't disappoint fans of Poco or any of Furay's other '70s-era musical ventures. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Name Credits Bob Carpenter Accordion, Help Brenda Harp Vocals (Background) Chris Hillman Mandolin Chris Leuzinger Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric) Christian Teele Percussion Dan Dugmore Guitar (Steel), Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic) David McClister Photography Dennis Holt Drums Hank Singer Fiddle Jack Sundrud Engineer Jeff Hanna Help Jesse Furay Lynch Vocals (Background) Jim Messina Engineer, Guitar (Electric) Jim Waddell Organ (Hammond) Jimmy Ibbotson Help Joe Reagoso Executive Producer John Macy Engineer, Guitar (Steel), Mixing, Producer, Overdubs Marc Lacuesta Engineer Mark Oblinger Vocals (Background), Engineer Michael Rhodes Bass Paul Cotton Guitar (Electric) Pete Wasner Piano, Organ (Hammond) Randy LeRoy Mastering Richie Furay Producer, Photography, Guitar (Acoustic), Vocals (Background) Rusty Young Lap Steel Guitar, Dobro Sam Bush Mandolin, Fiddle Scott Sellen Photography, Banjo, Guitar (Acoustic) Tom Stipe Organ (Hammond)