Customer Reviews

In My Father's House

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Richie Furay's Christian faith dominates this recording, it also demonstrates what made him the defining voice of Poco and a key element to his earlier work with Buffalo Springfield.

The years have only served to add depth and character to his vocals, and Furay still has a knack for writing catchy melodies.

"Wake Up My Soul" (my favorite track) would have fit perfectly on any Poco album with its banjo and steel guitar accompaniment--the latter provided by Poco alumnus Rusty Young.

Additional musicians on the album include New Grass Revival founder Sam Bush, fiddle and mandolin; Scott Sellen, banjo (and co-writer of all tracks with Richie, except "Send Me Lord" and "The Love I Now Posess," which he wrote himself); and Pete Wasner, piano and Hammond B-3 organ (the latter providing a "churchy" sound to the gospel-inspired "Give Thanks to the Lord," one of the album's standout tracks.)

Other stellar tracks are "Hallel," "In My Father's House," "Man of Many Sorrows," and "Send Me Lord." Overall, this is an excellent album. If you'd been anxiously waiting to hear Richie again since the Poco reunion in 1989, this album is Good News--both for Poco fans and Christian music fans alike. Recommended

Having been a long time fan of Poco and Richie Furay's, I was thrilled to see that he had finally released a new solo album. Unlike many old-time rock-and-rollers, time has not been unkind to Furay's voice. God has blessed him with the ability to still hit those trade mark high notes, and the patented harmony blends are there just like in the 70's. The message of which he sings makes this disc all the better. I have had the privilege of visiting Richie's church and also hearing him perform in a small venue. I would love to hear him perform with a full band, doing material from In My Father's House as well as a few Poco tunes. His last effort (actually, the Poco reunion album, which was weak, considering Furay had only two lead vocals. I mean, wasn't it HIS voice that helped define their music) was just enough to whet my appetite for more. If you like the Springfield/Poco sound, this CD is for you. Not a bad cut on the disc . "Hallel", the opening song, blows you away with its tight, high lonesome, harmony."Wake Up My Soul" will awaken memories of Poco. It was a long wait, but well worth it! O.K. Richie! It is time to get back in the studio.

What a great CD. Even though it has a religious theme, the music and his voice are pure Poco. So even if religious songs are not your thing, you'll still enjoy this CD, and while you'll listening check out the lyrics. They may just touch you like you've never been touched before. Thanks Richie for all the great music over the years.

Well, it is time to "mark out" on Richie Furay's latest offering,"In My Father"s House". I love it, love it, love it and so does my wife! I will confess, I was a little worried about Mr Furay's theology, and that is what kept me from buying this CD sooner. I have a copy of "I've Got A Reason," the 1976 release on Asylum Records, and I thought it was ponderous and slow. It is obvious Richie feels strongly about his faith, and his music suffered because of how much he wanted to say. His next 2 releases, "Dance A Little Light" in 1978, and "I Still Have Dreams" in 1979 were primarily secular releases, and although in my opinion as good as what he had done with Poco, did not reach high levels of sales. So except for the Poco reunion release "Legacy" in 1989 which received great critical acclaim and modest sales, Richie stayed primarily in the background in Boulder being a pastor of his church. Now he finally releases a frighteningly unabashed Christian album, and he approaches us unashamed, mature and secure in his faith. Sacred, because that is his vision, and rocking, because that is his blessing. My wife's favorite cut is 'Wake Up My Soul', a bouncy little hand-clapper that brings joy to one's heart. Myself, I can go to sleep humming tunes from this album, and wake up with its songs going through my head. My favorite used to be 'Peace That Passes All Understanding', a pick-me-up tune, but now I favor 'Send Me Lord', a song that reminds us to rededicate ourselves to the causes of our Savior. This is an album I know millions of people would enjoy listening to, if only they knew it was here.

Pastor Richie Furay has produced a 1st rate CD of great Christian Music. Furay 's voice remains one of the greatest in rock, and his instincts remain honed. The best songs on this album remind me of Poco at their best. There is not one bad cut on the CD and my personal favorites are Hallel, Wake Up my Soul, and Give Thanks to the Lord. Forceful and Uncompromising message and catchy musically, with plenty of steel guitars, banjos, mandolins, acoustic guitars and Richie's beautiful tenor voice.

Tough to find so buy it here.

Here's hoping Richie Furay records another in this vein.

I followed POCO for years back in the day. Richie Furay has not lost his edge. This CD is technically awesome as well as edifying spiritually. One senses his gratefulness to God in the lyrics.

As good as POCO has been, "In My Father's House" surpasses the work Richie Furay did with POCO because the music, arrangements and vocals are much more complex while remaining loyal to the sound Richie and POCO made famous. In addition, the depth and value of the lyrics makes listening to this work, an experience that goes beyond the mere joy of POCO's earlier work. This album will change how you felt before you listen to it and if you accept what Richie is singing about, it will change your perspective on a lot things. I don't recall POCO music doing that for me.

I have read the reviews of others, and I too have followed Richie through his career. To expound on his song wrting and singing is to repeat what everyone already knows. What should be understood is that Richie has found a place of comfort, quite distant from where many perceive. Richie is not making music to bring attention to himself as he did before; Richie is making music to bring attention to God, with all the harmony, balance, and sincerity we have come to appreciate.

Richie is showing us, through his music, the warmth one experiences when they have a sincere relationship with God. He demonstrates his trust and confidence in his Lord, while sharing his personal delight and satisfaction that comes through such a relationship; As the lord provides for him, he gives glory and thanks in return.

Through his gift of music, Richie is serving his Lord by giving praise to him, and communicating to others the depth of sincere and genuine reverence one can express when their hearts are in accord with the Lord.

One should not hear the music without listening to the message; it is only for the message that this music was written..

Let all who listen to this album appreciate the warmth of his love for God, and how he wishes all of us to experience it in the same manner. Songs of praise and worship are written for this reason.

It is hard to express in words what this CD means to me. It touches my heart in so many places. I graduated from high school in 1967. Music from 1966-1974 is an integral part of my mental and emotional make-up. Richie Furay, along with Neil Young, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne were my favorites in these turbulent and formative years. In 1977, The Lord Jesus saved me out of drug addiction, and kept my marriage to a genuine "Kind Woman" from falling apart. Praise Him, we are about to celebrate 26 years.

I have a son Sam who is 22 and with whom I am very close. Our taste in music is remarkably similar. I told him that in a magazine article, and on the web site for Richie's church, it was mentioned that so many people who Richie played with in the 60s and 70s became famous and big stars, while Richie really did not. Sam responded by saying that was "Not the case in this house".

Anyway, listening to the CD in my truck with Sam, everything came together for me. The Richie Furay voice and musical style brought me all the way back to "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing". But the absolute non-comprimising Gospel lyrics in every song (you don't become a pastor of a Calvary Chapel by being a slouch) touched me where I live. All of a sudden I started yelling "That's our Richie Sam! That's our Richie!

I love the entire work, but tracks 4 & 5 "Wake Up My Soul", and "We have come to Worship You" are incredible. I don't know if artists read these reviews, but if they do, I want to say, "Brother Richie, you are something special".