I've Got a Reason
Encyclopedia
I've Got a Reason is the debut solo album by American
singer-songwriter Richie Furay
, released in 1976.
in 1974 and the country rock
supergroup
Souther-Hillman-Furay Band
, Furay released his first solo album which reflected Furay's newfound Christian
beliefs. He formed The Richie Furay Band with Jay Truax
, John Mehler
, and Tom Stipe. To support the release of this album Furay formed an alliance with David Geffen
and Asylum Records
. Furay assured Geffen that his album would be Christian influenced but would not be an attempt to preach his newfound beliefs. After two tours and two more releases on the Asylum label during the late 1970s, he left the music business and became a minister.
, calling it often intrusive: "...some otherwise decent songs such as "Mighty Maker" and "Over and Over" suffer, sounding rather silly beneath his heavy-handed strings and bloated synths." He summarizes the album as "a strong personal statement."
Production notes
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter Richie Furay
Richie Furay
Richie Furay is an American singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner...
, released in 1976.
History
After leaving PocoPoco
Poco is an Southern California country rock band originally formed by Richie Furay and Jim Messina following the demise of Buffalo Springfield in 1968. The title of their first album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is a reference to the break-up of Buffalo Springfield. Highly influential and creative,...
in 1974 and the country rock
Country rock
Country rock is sub-genre of popular music, formed from the fusion of rock with country. The term is generally used to refer to the wave of rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s, beginning with Bob Dylan and The Byrds; reaching its greatest...
supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Souther-Hillman-Furay Band
Souther-Hillman-Furay Band
The Souther Hillman Furay Band was a country rock supergroup led by singer-songwriters Richie Furay , Chris Hillman , and J.D. Souther...
, Furay released his first solo album which reflected Furay's newfound Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
beliefs. He formed The Richie Furay Band with Jay Truax
Jay Truax
Jay Truax is a bass player and singer with Love Song, a pioneer Christian rock group. Jay formed a Salt Lake City rock group with John Mehler and Fred Field called Spirit of Creation...
, John Mehler
John Mehler
John Mehler, born August 27, 1948 in Long Beach, California, drummer for Love Song, Spirit of Creation, Noah and other bands. John graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1969 and soon thereafter moved to Salt Lake City with two musician friends, Chuck Fraher and Jay Truax to form Spirit of...
, and Tom Stipe. To support the release of this album Furay formed an alliance with David Geffen
David Geffen
David Geffen is an American record executive, film producer, theatrical producer and philanthropist. Geffen is noted for creating Asylum Records in 1970, Geffen Records in 1980, and DGC Records in 1990...
and Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
. Furay assured Geffen that his album would be Christian influenced but would not be an attempt to preach his newfound beliefs. After two tours and two more releases on the Asylum label during the late 1970s, he left the music business and became a minister.
Reception
In his review for Allmusic, Brett Hartenbach praised the album, writing that it "expands on Furay's newfound faith, although without the usual ham-fisted rhetoric of a recent convert. The songs here are more about looking inward than they are about proselytizing. Musically, Furay continues his gradual move away from the country-rock leanings of his past, moving closer to a somewhat slicker, more pop-oriented rock sound." Hartenbach criticized the production of Michael OmartianMichael Omartian
Michael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
, calling it often intrusive: "...some otherwise decent songs such as "Mighty Maker" and "Over and Over" suffer, sounding rather silly beneath his heavy-handed strings and bloated synths." He summarizes the album as "a strong personal statement."
Reissues
- I've Got a Reason was reissued on Myrrh RecordsMyrrh RecordsMyrrh Records, also known as Myrrh Worship, is a Christian music record label. According to Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, the label was instrumental in developing a popular following for Contemporary Christian music as the label that first published music by Barry McGuire, 2nd Chapter of...
in 1981. - I've Got a Reason was reissued on CD by the Wounded BirdWounded Bird RecordsWounded Bird Records is a CD only, re-issue record label, that was founded in 1998 in Guilderland, New York. They re-release lesser known albums from both popular and lesser known artists, including Deborah Harry, Chic, David Blue, Marilyn Martin, Gordon Haskell, Jon Anderson, Adrian Belew, Ellen...
label in 2003.
Track listing
All songs by Richie Furay unless otherwise noted- "Look at the Sun" (Richie FurayRichie FurayRichie Furay is an American singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner...
, Tom Stipe) – 5:07 - "We'll See" – 3:02
- "Starlight" (Furay, Stipe) – 3:40
- "Gettin' Through" (Furay, Stipe) – 2:59
- "I've Got a Reason" – 4:07
- "Mighty Maker" – 3:54
- "You're the One I Love" – 3:41
- "Still Rolling Stones" – 3:55
- "Over and Over Again" (Furay, Stipe) – 7:08
Personnel
- Richie FurayRichie FurayRichie Furay is an American singer, songwriter, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who is best known for forming the bands Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Bruce Palmer, and Dewey Martin, and Poco with Jim Messina, Rusty Young, George Grantham and Randy Meisner...
- vocals, guitar - John MehlerJohn MehlerJohn Mehler, born August 27, 1948 in Long Beach, California, drummer for Love Song, Spirit of Creation, Noah and other bands. John graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1969 and soon thereafter moved to Salt Lake City with two musician friends, Chuck Fraher and Jay Truax to form Spirit of...
- drums - Alex McDougall - percussion
- Tom Stipe - keyboards
- Steve CropperSteve CropperSteve Cropper , also known as Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T...
- guitar - Don Barber - banjo
- Michael OmartianMichael OmartianMichael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
- keyboards, percussion, background vocals - Stormie OmartianStormie OmartianStormie Omartian is an American Christian author. She is the wife of Michael Omartian, with whom she recorded several musical albums before she launched her writing career...
- background vocals - Al PerkinsAl PerkinsAl Perkins is a Texas-born American guitarist. The Gibson guitar company called Perkins "the world's most influential Dobro player", and even began producing an "Al Perkins Signature" Dobro in 2001 - designed and autographed by Perkins....
- guitar - Jay TruaxJay TruaxJay Truax is a bass player and singer with Love Song, a pioneer Christian rock group. Jay formed a Salt Lake City rock group with John Mehler and Fred Field called Spirit of Creation...
- bass, background vocals - Myrna Matthews - background vocals
- Ann White - background vocals
- Carolyn Willis - background vocals
Production notes
- Michael Omartian - producer
- Bill Schnee - producer
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Billboard Pop albums | 130 |