The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band

Formed in 1973 at the urging of Asylum Records president David Geffen, Souther-Hillman-Furay was the offspring of just about every notable country-rock band. <a href="spotify:artist:2KpCZazKx8c2qBDtNXvmvf">Richie Furay</a> was a founding member of both <a href="spotify:artist:3eskO5m0H4yiF64vRySBjr">Buffalo Springfield</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0fyqyjD7pbaVzbu94ylWQR">Poco</a>; <a href="spotify:artist:70FybmH2MMz9fHewhnLvjs">Chris Hillman</a> had been with <a href="spotify:artist:1PCZpxHJz7WAMF8EEq8bfc">the Byrds</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0rESpKEusFHxhW59MIf7eM">the Flying Burrito Brothers</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4WlSvDKaq1PA2Nr7cCIPxX">Stephen Stills</a>' <a href="spotify:artist:75vKPpImuKHbtBFV9T7Ygz">Manassas</a>; and <a href="spotify:artist:0I7UnRLIdCD310ZBgeuqh5">J.D. Souther</a> formed <a href="spotify:artist:7bK26KSS2vRPxiT2UDeYSF">Longbranch Pennywhistle</a> with <a href="spotify:artist:0ECwFtbIWEVNwjlrfc6xoL">Eagle</a> <a href="spotify:artist:3vMWY1bUrmYoSoEWLiQWOZ">Glenn Frey</a>, as well as recording a solo record for Asylum and penning tunes for artists like <a href="spotify:artist:1sXbwvCQLGZnaH0Jp2HTVc">Linda Ronstadt</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4KDyYWR7IpxZ7xrdYbKrqY">Bonnie Raitt</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0ECwFtbIWEVNwjlrfc6xoL">the Eagles</a>. S-H-F's supporting cast also came with impressive credentials, including studio stalwart Paul Harris on piano, <a href="spotify:artist:6jljeHwt7a8MQpsCAtqXIK">Al Perkins</a> (<a href="spotify:artist:0rESpKEusFHxhW59MIf7eM">Flying Burrito Brothers</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:75vKPpImuKHbtBFV9T7Ygz">Manassas</a>) on pedal steel guitar, and former <a href="spotify:artist:2rc78XDH9zuJP6bm78lU8Z">Derek & the Dominos</a> drummer Jim Gordon (who also wrote the piano piece that concludes "Layla").

Although the band, which was meant to be a sort of country-rock version of <a href="spotify:artist:2pdvghEHZJtgSXZ7cvNLou">Crosby, Stills & Nash</a>, received a great deal of hype and promotion, things never really gelled. Their debut sold reasonably well, but the aptly titled Trouble in Paradise was poorly received. S-H-F broke up shortly thereafter with each member going on to solo careers. <a href="spotify:artist:0I7UnRLIdCD310ZBgeuqh5">Souther</a> released a couple of solo efforts, achieving a minor success with "You're Only Lonely"; <a href="spotify:artist:70FybmH2MMz9fHewhnLvjs">Hillman</a> recorded unsuccessfully for Asylum before teaming with former <a href="spotify:artist:1PCZpxHJz7WAMF8EEq8bfc">Byrd</a>-mates <a href="spotify:artist:3ExrAwcOqgGjt9kFRwdM76">Roger McGuinn</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:040Bv6cZTRh30LyyYVXgJX">Gene Clark</a> in <a href="spotify:artist:3yldKMMHBmkF34OYjzMPS5">McGuinn, Clark & Hillman</a>, and then forming the popular country-rock <a href="spotify:artist:19FK6WGl1TLyFNsXXqTz8u">Desert Rose Band</a>; and <a href="spotify:artist:2KpCZazKx8c2qBDtNXvmvf">Furay</a>, who became a minister in Colorado, made three Christian-influenced albums, as well as re-joining <a href="spotify:artist:0fyqyjD7pbaVzbu94ylWQR">Poco</a> for their 20th-anniversary recording. ~ Brett Hartenbach, Rovi