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Monday, July 18, 2011

Comment of the Moment: Richie Furay's Friends & Faith

Stephen Stills, Richie Furay, Neil Young
Buffalo Springfield at the Santa Barbara Bowl on June 7, 2011

Eleanor Stills Photography | © Eleanor Stills 2011


The recent reunion tour of Buffalo Springfield has really struck a deep chord with many old -- and new -- music fans.

When witnessing the reunion ourselves, one of the most amazing things about it -- besides that it happened at all -- was that not only did it work, it worked wonderfully well.

Rolling Stone editor David Fricke said:
"Reuniting is no big deal anymore, everyone does it.

The remarkable thing about Springfield is they sounded as great as they did. There was a connection there that clearly had not been broken."

Which brings us to this rather provocative Comment of the Moment on Buffalo Springfield's Richie Furay Looks Back & Forward by BIGCHIEF:
There should be a separate category in the 'R&R Hall Of Fame' for musicians who's marriages have survived throughout the duration of their musical career. They would most certainly be few in number.

For Richie Furay, his example is a perfect testimony of a man who had his priorities in order.

Putting all of ones hopes in the business of Rock-N-Roll and the people associated within it has been the downfall of many who didn't have a back up plan in the event of failure. What happened in the life and career of Richie Furay may have resulted in a less than favorable outcome had being a successful Rock Star been his only option. Having been a founding member of 'The American Rolling Stones' could only have had implications of super-stardom on a young mans ego, only to have the dream implode before its full potential was realized.

Attempts to duplicate the short lived success he experienced with the Buffalo Springfield, either as a solo artist or as a member of various groups,failed to deliver the level of success that Stephen and Neil eventually had enjoyed as solo artists. Never the less, he continued forward with moderate success rather than succumbing to the ranks of obscurity as Dewey Martin and Bruce Palmer had.

As it became obvious to Richie that it might be a while before the Springfield re-grouped, he resorted to plan B. It was then that Richie began to prioritize and came into the knowledge of the truth that each of us have certain callings and gifts in this life and while it may be a noble dream for some, not everyone who has aspirations of becoming a 'RockStar' will have that become a reality in their life.

This is the part that may be a tad too 'religious' for some. For others, it is the ONLY reason that Richie Furay's life has 'all of a sudden' become like a fairy tale come true. As a man who put God before his own aspirations and dreams and decided long ago to make being a RockStar a hobby rather than a full time job, he now finds himself in the center of his dreams, although awake, living out the RockStar fantasy as he always dreamed it could be, while his marriage and integrity is still yet intact. It says in the Bible, the manual for life that Richie faithfully lives by, that "if you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, that all things will be added unto you"!

Richie Furay is an inspiration to me.

When Neil said "Now I ain't sayin who was right or wrong", when asked recently about the drama that imploded the band some 40 yrs ago, richie said that he can't even remember any such drama other than to say that it makes more interesting press to add some infighting to the mix. While that may be a little naive to dismiss any notion of conflict, it's just not in Richies nature to point fingers, especially now.

This Buffalo Springfield reunion is Richie Furay's dream coming to pass.

It is his reward for living a life with a balanced sense of priorities. It's bigger than the sum of the characters involved. So big that Neil and Stephen have taken time out of their 'big' careers to become sidemen in a band with Richie at the center.

How big is that?

Thanks BIGCHIEF! A lot to ponder here.

Some of have taken issue with BIGCHIEF's comment (see here).

It's hard to argue that the reunion tour of Buffalo Springfield after 42 tours is a musical miracle that we're all blessed to be part of. Truly blessed.

Now to what one attributes this fortuitous alignment of the moon and the stars is a whole another matter. You gotta have faith, one might say.

Now we ain't sayin who was right or wrong -- BIGCHIEF or Anonymous. Because, to know is not to know.

But we will say this. If someone pours their heart into making what they feel is a valid point and you have an issue with that, fine. But do not go and tear it down with a tossed off putdown. Please provide us with your reasoning and logic commensurate to the crafting of the original post. You owe it to the original commenter. And to Richie. And The Buff. And their fans.


Coexist, dude.


namaste


8 Comments:

At 7/19/2011 04:24:00 PM, Blogger SONY said...

And in this land of conditions
I'm not above suspicion
I won't attack you
But I won't back you
-Neil Young

Why can't we be friends
-War

Remember the golden rule, for without it the genius plays the fool.
-SONY

It is a difficult commentary to explain the perceived faith, blessings, position, perspective. etc of another person, no matter how close or informed one is.

Sometimes common courtesies are not too common. Suffice to say, in this land of liberty, we can hold true to the 'of the I sing' benefits of our freedoms.

For that I say, Long Live Rock, Long Live Neil and Long Live US!

 
At 7/19/2011 05:36:00 PM, Blogger BIGCHIEF said...

Sony ... AMEN!

 
At 7/19/2011 05:45:00 PM, Blogger The Loner said...

That was so beautiful written. Thanks Bigchief. And to Thrasher for putting it on the top.

 
At 7/19/2011 08:04:00 PM, Blogger Sandy Horne said...

Well done Thrasher. Big Chief you are "A Treasure" to this site. Thanks to both of you. Sandy

 
At 7/19/2011 11:18:00 PM, Blogger SONY said...

"of THEE" I sing...sorry
...and of me-you-them-us-we-our...as well

 
At 7/20/2011 05:47:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I disagree, Thrasher. I think my comments were as well thought out. The truth is often simple. Long- winded does not equate with well-crafted, and I, for one, prize concision over convolution.

 
At 7/20/2011 06:59:00 PM, Blogger BIGCHIEF said...

Anonymous, in other words you like to toot your own horn as long as it's a little one?

 
At 7/23/2011 12:44:00 AM, Blogger Mr Henry said...

So don’t fear
If you hear
A foreign sound
To your ear
It’s alright, Ma
I’m only sighing
--Bob Dylan

Reporting the sad news yesterday on the passing of Myra Kraft, The Boston Herald offered the following full page headline with accompanying picture:

HEART OF GOLD


If it's true that goodness in spirit and deed brings eternal happiness in the hereafter, then she is already in the end zone. RIP

Coming only five weeks after the Bruins incredible Cup win, it makes me think of Lou Reed's line of cut-to-the-bone truth:

There's a little bit of magic
In everything
And then some loss
To even things out

I was also thinking earlier how Neil's song really has changed the general usage and connotation of the term "heart of gold". A phrase that used to mean "but with" now denotes the highest of praise. To continue the search, to stay on the path, to always have faith and to never give up.

Keep me in your heart
For awhile
--Warren Zevon

"Keep the rally alive and you have defeated time."
--Roger Angell

 

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