Frustrated with watching former bandmates Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Jim Messina, and Randy Meisner shoot up the charts while Poco spent the better part of five years lingering in the second division of the Charts, Richie Furay decided to leave the group in 1973 following its sixth album, “Crazy Eyes”. His departure subsequently led to the formation of the country-rock "supergroup," the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band, for David Geffen's Asylum Records. The band came with a great deal of hype, only to end up disbanding after only two records. During his stint with S-H-F, Furay, through his connection with the band's steel guitarist Al Perkins, became a devout Christian. His pair of songs from their final release hinted at his conversion, but it was his 1976 solo debut, recorded with members of the Christian rock band Love Song, that made it apparent that his references to God were more than just casual ones. Produced by Christian artist, session musician, and soon-to-be Grammy winning producer Michael Omartian, I've Got a Reason 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. And while many of the tracks including the AOR of "We'll See," the banjo-kick-started rocker "Gettin' Through," and the opener "Look at the Sun" work despite Omartian's sometimes intrusive production, some otherwise decent songs such as "Mighty Maker" and "Over and Over" suffer, sounding rather silly beneath his heavy-handed strings and bloated synths. Still, it's Furay's clear, emotive tenor, along with his sense of melody and passion for the material, that carries the album. Failing to even break the Charts, “I've Got a Reason” didn't change his standing in the pop marketplace, but it remains a strong personal statement for Richie Furay.
After two tours and two more releases on the Asylum label during the late 1970s, he left the music business and became a minister.
02. "We'll See" (Richie) - 3:02
03. "Starlight" (Furay, Stipe) - 3:40
04. "Gettin' Through" (Furay, Stipe) - 2:59
05. "I've Got a Reason" (Richie) - 4:07
06. "Mighty Maker" (Richie) - 3:54
07. "You're the One I Love" (Richie) - 3:41
08. "Still Rolling Stones" (Richie) - 3:55
09. "Over and Over Again" (Furay, Stipe) - 7:08
Richie Furay - vocals, guitar
John Mehler - drums
Alex McDougall - percussion
Tom Stipe - keyboards
Steve Cropper - guitar
Don Barber - banjo
Michael Omartian - keyboards, percussion, background vocals
Stormie Omartian - background vocals
Al Perkins - guitar
Jay Truax - bass, background vocals
Myrna Matthews - background vocals
Ann White - background vocals
Carolyn Willis - background vocals
Producer - Michael Omartian, Bill Schnee
Genre: Pop, Rock, Country rock
Length: 37:33
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