Richie Furay

“The Heartbeat of Love”

Is there anyone who can make a love song sound so carefree, yet vital, as Richie Furay?

Still possessed of a golden voice after some 40 years in the business, Furay, the founding member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco, imbibes this new collection with his usual great taste, enthusiasm, happiness, and, yes, well, love.

Augmented by his daughter Jesse Furay Lynch, longtime friend and co-writer and player Scott Sellen, and a host of friends and former band members, including Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Rusty Young, Paul Cotton, Timothy B. Schmit, and Kenny Loggins, among others, “Heartbeat” contains some of the absolute best of Furay’s great career, happy, inspiring songs that will put a smile on your face and an ease in your soul.

It’s a glorious ride, from the opening track, “Forever With You,” written by Furay and Sellen for Furay’s daughter’s wedding; the reworking of his classic “Kind Woman,” with Neil Young on guitar and Neil Young and Loggins on background vocals; the Poco rarity “Let’s Dance Tonight,” with spare fiddle and mandolin accompaniment from the remarkable Sam Bush; the hilarious “Dean’s Barbecue,” with backing from Willie Nelson harmonica player Mickey Raphael, Rusty Young, Al Perkins, Bush and Jim Horn, complete with a name check of fellow Poco co-founder Jimmy Messina in the lyrics; and the beautiful title track. All are testament to Furay’s amazing way with a song, the way his gorgeous voice just wraps around a lyric and reveals the song’s joy to the listener.

Want to hear some beautiful, inspiring love songs? Then, pick up Furay’s “The Heartbeat of Love” as soon as you can.

“The Heartbeat of Love” is available from www.richiefuray.com.

- Mark T. Gould

****1/2