Rock Archeologia

The S.H.F. Band - The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (1974) 

Artist: The S.H.F. Band
Album: The Souther Hillman Furay Band
Label: Asylum Records
Catalog#: 7E-1006
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: 1974
Genre: Rock, Country Rock, Pop Rock
Format: FLAC (tracks+.cue)
Bitrate: lossless
Duration: 00:38:41

• Группа была образована в 1973 году по предложению Дэвида Джеффена, главы Asylum Records. Hillman привёл в группу трёх других бывших членов Manassas: пианиста Пола Харриса и перкуссиониста Джо Лала, которые также работали с Barnstorm, и pedal steel-гитариста Эла Перкинса, который также играл с Flying Burrito Brothers. Септет был завершён сессионным барабанщиком Джимом Гордоном.
• Одноимённый дебютный альбом стал золотым в 1974 году, а сингл "Fallin 'In Love" занял в США 27-е место. Тем не менее, во время записи этого альбома, находясь под влиянием Перкинса, Фьюрэй обращаетсяется в евангельское христианство. Напряженность среди членов увеличилась, и Гордон, у которого, возможно, была начальная стадия шизофрении, покинул группу и был заменен Роном Грайнелем. Саутер и Хиллман организовали сатирическую "Языческую Лигу защиты" в ответ на религиозные усилия Фьюрея и Перкинса, чтобы спасти их. В разгар этого хаоса, их альбом "Проблема в Раю" 1975-го года не был критически или коммерчески хорошо принят. Вскоре после этого группа распалась и ее основатели продолжили свою соло-карьеру. (batzbatz.com)

• When David Geffen convinced Richie Furay, Chris Hillman, and J.D. Souther to join forces to form a country-rock supergroup, it seemed like an inspired suggestion. Crosby, Stills & Nash's folk-rock had scored big with a similar idea, while bands such as the Eagles, who recorded for Geffen's Asylum Records, had made some waves commercially in recent years. But despite high expectations along with the history of their members, the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band's 1974 eponymous debut never quite lived up to its promise. The trio, along with steel guitarist Al Perkins, drummer Jim Gordon, and Paul Harris on piano, delivers a collection of ten pleasant, if overall unremarkable tunes in the singer/songwriter, country-rock vein. There are glimmers of past glories by each, but only Furay really connects solidly. His "Fallin' in Love," which opens the record, is a winning, Poco-like rocker, while "Believe Me" is by far its most beautiful track. On the other hand, with the exception of a pair of modest successes, including the lightly funky "Border Town" and the straightforward rock & roll of "Safe at Home," Souther and Hillman's contributions are fairly lightweight. Even "Heavenly Fire," Hillman's heartfelt tribute to former bandmate Gram Parsons, who had died a few months earlier, is a bit lackluster and pales in comparison to the Eagles' "My Man" from the same year. Still, there should be enough here -- thanks especially to the Furay tracks -- that will at least be of moderate interest to most fans. Originally released by Asylum in 1974, The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band was reissued domestically on CD by the Wounded Bird label in 2002. - Brett Hartenbach

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 • Side One:
A1. Fallin' In Love 03:30
A2. Heavenly Fire 03:43
A3. The Heartbreaker 02:56
A4. Belive Me 05:03
A5. Border Town 03:52
 • Side Two:
B1. Safe At Home 02:53
B2. Pretty Goodbyes 03:40
B3. Rise And Fall 03:07
B4. The Flight Of The Dove 04:06
B5. Deep, Dark And Dreamless 05:37

     Phonographic Copyright (p) – Asylum Records
     Phonographic Copyright (p) – Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records
     Copyright (c) – Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records
     Manufactured By – Elektra/Asylum/Nonesuch Records
     Photography By – Lorrie Sullivan
     Producer – Richie Podolor

Personel:
Jim Gordon - Drums, Percussion
Richie Furay - Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Chris Hillman - Bass, Composer, Guitar, Mandolin, Vocals
Paul Harris - Keyboards
Joe Lala - Percussion
Al Perkins - Bass, Dobro, Bass & Steel Guitar
J.D. Souther - Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Ron Grinel - Drums

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