Fools Gold (1976) The Way Love Grows - LOST 70s GEMS

Like a forgotten hit single, this was the best single song on their debut album which had some strong contenders but this upbeat pop ballad features their best qualities and unique melody. From the sparse laidback verses pondering on the nature of love before the drums kick in announcement of the title complete with call and response vocals, pastoral and smooth this merges upbeat pop verve with downplayed country rock balladry and subtle hints of soul arrangements foreign to both. The nonchalant almost matter of fact delivery by Tom Kelly of 'It's just the way love grows!' while the backing harmonists sing it out in a ragged ,drawn out manner nicely contrasting Kelly's delivery of 'it was flowing with the time'. The wet mix of piano and serene pedal steel is also quite appropriate for the track never feeling like country music for a second despite their roots of the song being from that genre. The raw group vocals sound like they were recorded live and acoustic like a choir with crisscrossing vocal lines, the way they deliver a spiritual message with 'even though the years fly by, no our love will never die'. It's intricate arrangement drawing from pop, soul and other genres made this song and Fools Gold the country rock group closest to the Eagles along with Silver and possibly Poco.