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.
Richie Furay was a founding member of both
Buffalo Springfield and
Poco;
Chris Hillman had been with
the Byrds,
the Flying Burrito Brothers, and
Stephen Stills'
Manassas; and
J.D. Souther formed
Longbranch Pennywhistle with
Eagle Glenn Frey, as well as recording a solo record for Asylum and penning tunes for artists like
Linda Ronstadt,
Bonnie Raitt, and
the Eagles.
S-H-F's supporting cast also came with impressive credentials, including studio stalwart
Paul Harris on piano,
Al Perkins (
Flying Burrito Brothers,
Manassas) on pedal steel guitar, and former
Derek & the Dominos 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
Crosby, Stills & Nash, 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.
Souther released a couple of solo efforts, achieving a minor success with "You're Only Lonely";
Hillman recorded unsuccessfully for Asylum before teaming with former
Byrd-mates
Roger McGuinn and
Gene Clark in
McGuinn, Clark & Hillman, and then forming the popular country-rock
Desert Rose Band; and
Furay, who became a minister in Colorado, made three Christian-influenced albums, as well as re-joining
Poco for their 20th-anniversary recording. ~ Brett Hartenbach