Search - Pure Prairie League :: Pure Prairie League: Greatest Hits

Pure Country-Rock Delight

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 03/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Following the country-rock trail blazed by the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco and the Flying Burrito Brothers, Pure Prairie League threw its hat into the ring with its self-titled debut in March of 1972. It was full of wonderful songs like the steel guitar-driven "Tears" and the aching "It's All on Me." Despite positive critical praise, the album (and the single "Woman") failed to chart. Three months later the Eagles release their debut and chart no fewer than three singles. Convinced that the band is on the right track, co-founders Craig Fuller and George Powell would return to the studio with a revamped Pure Prairie League and turn out the best album of their career, Bustin' Out, seven months after their debut. [All but one song, "Leave My Heart Alone," are included here.] In addition to their signature song, "Amie," the album contained "Jazzman," "Early Morning Riser," "Boulder Skies" and "Call Me, Tell Me." Even though the album's songs were as good as anything by the Eagles and the album reached No. 34 on the charts, Pure Prairie Leage continued to remain in relative obscurity. If talent had anything to do with hit singles, these guys would have been as big as the Eagles. Instead, by early 1973 they were dropped by RCA. [Ironically, "Amie" became an FM radio hit in 1975 and eventually reached No. 27 on the pop charts, resulting in RCA's re-signing the band.]When their third album, Two Lane Highway, was released, Fuller was out and new lead guitarist-singer Larry Goshorn was at the helm. His "Two Lane Highway" is probably the best track from that album. By the release of their fourth album, If the Shoe Fits, the band continued its artistic decline. Goshorn's "Goin' Home" is a competent, but not spectacular song, and the countrified version of Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day" is no better or worse than what you might expect to hear from any bar band on any given night. Pure Prairie League would release four more albums for RCA in the Seventies before moving to Casablanca (and for a time feature future country star Vince Gill), but the music lacked the spark of the Fuller-Powell glory days.It's no wonder that 12 of this CD's 17 songs (13 if you count the B-side "Woman") are from the band's first two albums. In fact, that would have been a better idea: release Pure Prarie League/Bustin' Out as a two-fer. Short of that, this Greatest Hits package takes a close second. RECOMMENDED"

All of those stars for the first two albums

David Pearlman | Arlington, MA United States | 05/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Let's face it: The Pure Prairie league released only
two good albums, their first two.But the second of those was a true corker: "Bustin'
Out". The not-so-secret weapon that elevated those first albums
was singer/writer Craig Fuller. Once Fuller departed, following
the second album, Pure Prairie releases were dull and pedestrian
countrified bar-band stuff.This compilation wiseley draws primarily from those first
two worthwhile efforts and, as it includes all but a singlelackluster track from "Bustin' Out", basically replaces that
album as the must-own in the Pure Prairie League catalogue.
Along with almost all of "Bustin' Out" you get a the best
tracks from the first album, a pleasant non-LP b-side from the
same era, and a few tracks from later RCA albums that prove
to any doubters that it was all over once Craig Fuller left.Most anyone can start and end their Pure Prairie League
collection with this album..."

GREAT MUSIC ? YES. GREATEST HITS ? NO, PPL DESERVED A BOX S

T. Sheridan | Floral Park , NY | 07/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let's try a fresh approach--an unbiased , accurate review of PPL's musical history and the contents of this CD.



Did you ever hear of a Greatest Hits CD that virtually ignores a groups most successful years , fails to recognize the music which the overwhelming majority of the band's fan base supported or includes a song never previously released on any LP ( SHE DARKED THE SUN ) , while leaving out the only top ten hit they had ( LET ME LOVE YOU TONIGHT ) as well as numerous other songs which hit both rock and country charts ? I didn't think so.That is exactly the case here.



In the 70's many country rock bands came and went.PPL, however, not only benefitted from personnel changes, they actually thrived on it.PPL was a national presence on the music scene from the mid 70's into the 80's,well received by fans and media,establishing a tremendous legacy of excellent country rock which still stands tall today.



The music on this CD is terrific, taken almost solely from PPL's first two releases in 1972. It features the brilliance of singer/songwriter Craig Fuller as well as the peerless pedal steel of John David Call, although not nearly to the extent he deserves.He's one of the steel legends, arguably the best.He is deserving of far more exposure than we get here.Tracks 5-12 , from the classic Bustin' Out ( see my Bustin' Out review for more details)showcase why Fuller is known as one of the best in the business. The first 4 tracks from PPL's incredible debut LP are led by Tears and You're Between Me, two exceptional songs which showcase the Fuller/Call connection.Track 13, She Darked The Sun, is a great one which RCA failed to include on the 8 song debut LP.Yet it is here on a greatest hits ! That's RCA for you. Tracks 14-17,feature 2 songs from Two Lane Highway LP and 2 from IF THE SHOE FITS.Track 15, Two Lane Highway, is a classic country rocker and is largely responsible for PPL's resurgence in 1975.These LP's are poorly represented.Larry Goshorn and George Ed Powell deserve far better,not to mention the LP's with no represenation at all, an absurdity. Every song on this is a winner,and Fuller would go on to establish himself as one of the great singer/songwriters for two more decades. However PPL's legacy and it's various members deserve far more consideration when compiling a greatest hits CD than RCA gives us here.

It's great music but far from an accurate reflection of a very successful band ,one which outlasted and outsold almost all of the genre for a decade.The fact is, this CD barely scratches the surface of PPL's strong legacy of country rock. The debut LP, very underrated and as good or better than anything the Eagles did,was released in a two/fer with If The Shoe Fits, a great deal.Bustin' Out is also available. What is the point of basically throwing the first two CD's together as a greatest hits while ignoring so many other wonderful songs ? Why not do it right and put a boxed set out ? Groups of far less talent and success have multiple disc sets,yet RCA continues it's tradition of making poor decisions re:PPL.



From '75 through '81 PPL released 8 LP's which resulted in sellouts at venues across the country from 3k to 20k seats, consistently hitting the charts , a great accomplishment when you consider the disastrous results of the first two LP's when they were released. The ones who mattered most, fans ,not critics , determined that PPL's music was outstanding--about three years after the first two LP's were released.Critics and internet reviewers can write what they want 30 years later, injecting their personal bias and inaccuracies. Two things they cannot do are re-write history or change the minds of the legion of fans from 1975 forward who put PPL at the top of the country rock world. The songs this CD ignores are the ones fans reached into their pockets for when purchasing LP's and concert tickets, the songs which gained PPL a firm place in music history. This happened in 1975 and subsequent years despite the glaring inaccuracies you may have read .Isn't that ultimately the deciding factor when trying to determine what truly represents a bands legacy ?



The first two LP's ,which include BUSTIN'OUT with the song AMIE ,were released in 1972 and received little exposure and airplay thanks to extremely poor promotion by RCA.Fuller had legal problems and departed in early '73. At that point the group was finished. RCA dropped them. The very same music that RCA failed to capitalize on or market properly in '72 is now released as a Greatest Hits CD !It's a very transparent attempt to make a few bucks over 30 years later without any effort on their part.



In '73,an unknown PPL pressed on with no contract. Mike Reilly , John David Call , George Ed Powell , Billy Hinds and Mike Connor added another musician , singer/songwriter and lead guitarist Larry Goshorn.



By late '74 ,touring over 200 nights a year,good things started to happen for PPL. Their tireless efforts,Goshorn and Powell's strong songwriting combined with Call's peerless skills on pedal steel resulted in what PPL was lacking -- radio airplay. Fans flooded stations with requests. The group was a solid unit now, with an identifiable sound.Mike Reilly had assumed the role of leader and he did an incredible job,taking PPL to the top.RCA was embarrassed;they had a popular group with no contract.They resigned PPL and rushed them into the studio .PPL completed TWO LANE HIGHWAY in early 1975. RCA also re-released the first two LP's which were collecting dust for over two years . Goshorn's title track on the new LP generated huge airplay , something the band had never experienced. It provided the spark which rekindled the past and lit the future of PPL. The LP would become PPL's highest charting LP and first Gold Record. Most amazing was the fact that BUSTIN' OUT and the single AMIE were now hitting the charts as well--almost three years after their original release. The revamped PPL was selling the old music. Contrary to a previous review, this was not ironic , but rather the direct result of the incredible perseverance and immense talent of the TWO LANE HIGHWAY unit and the wonderful music they made. TWO LANE HIGHWAY was PPL's highest charting LP. PPL was hailed in a feature story by ROLLING STONE in 1975 giving them the additional exposure they had been seeking .Two Lane Highway was referred to as a classic of the country rock genre , " a worthy companion to the likes of The Byrds Sweetheart Of The Rodeo and other gems of the genre." Goshorn ,Powell and Call were singled out for their contributions, Call routinely referred to as superb and the best on the scene by reviewers.Nothing ironinc about that,right ?



Where is George Powell's music on here ! He gets ONE song ? Disgraceful.Co-founder Powell emerged as an incredibly gifted singer /songwriter, certainly one of the greats on the country rock scene, his efforts a major factor in PPL's rise to fame. Greatest Hits ? Not without several Powell tunes, that's for sure.Goshorn is also very poorly represented here, both in a songwriting and musical sense. Vince Gill ? Not at all.Ridiculous.Where are Reilly's versions of Kansas City Southern, Flat Tire Merle ? Goshorn and Call's twin leads's were unique,ripping,driving and scorching the way to PPL's success, yet sadly, it too is missing here.



The overwhelming majority of fans who supported PPL came on board in'75 and later, coinciding with the release of TWO LANE HIGHWAY. That is undisputed historical fact.Fans who saw PPL in concert for most of the 70's saw the TLH unit and heard their music and responded in large numbers for the first time in PPL's history.For these fans , this unit WAS PPL , they were unfamiliar with and had never seen the band from '72;it died a quick death.That's the reality of what transpired. By '75,aside from AMIE,the music from the first two LP's was history in terms of radio airplay and concerts. From '75 on PPL was in the national spotlight.RCA inexplicably ignores on this CD what obviously pleased millions of fans,the successful years. Fans sought out the music from most of this CD only after the TWO LANE HIGHWAY personnel attained national success in 1975. Without their music , AMIE , BUSTIN' OUT and Fuller's music would never have been heard ,never resurrected. That's another historical fact which cannot be changed , even though a previous reviewer would have you believe Bustin' Out went to #34 on the charts when it was released in '72 and then the band remained in relative obscurity.That is as far from the reality of what transpired as you can get, and obviously nothing more than a poor attempt to paint an inaccurate picture simply to support a biased opinion. Why bother ? Bustin' Out hit #34 in 1975, about 3 years after it's original release, when the new lineup was basking in national success !It stands to reason PPL must have made some excellent music in 1975 and later to not only resurrect the old music but continue on the national scene into the 80's ! Obviously large numbers of fans had their say in the matter.It's too bad these fans had no say on the music that should be included on a GREATEST HITS CD.30 years later RCA has forgotten what made PPL a major force. They never learn from their mistakes. RCA made a habit of misjudging this band: they released them again in the late 70's only to watch them score a major hit record with another label. As if that's not enough , they had Gill when he went solo as a country artist , released him , then sat by and watched him become one of the all time biggest sellers in country music history. So much for the notion that RCA showed wisdom when making decisions re: PPL and their music! Again , the facts speak for themselves. No need for conjecture or biased reviews.



After TWO LANE HIGHWAY , PPL would release If THE SHOE FITS ( their 2nd highest charting LP ) , DANCE, LIVE! TAKIN THE STAGE ( highly acclaimed as one of the great live LP's and unavailable by RCA ! ) and JUST FLY ( Larry's brother Tim replaced CALL, who left with back problems. ) In addition to ROLLING STONE , PPL received high praise in CIRCUS, BILLBOARD, VARIETY, PEOPLE , and many other publications. They appeared on every major rock show(Don Kirshner several times, Austin City Limits,Midnight Special etc).From '75 into the 80's PPL was a commercial and artistic success. There was huge demand for PPL.The foolish notion a reviewer made that PPL made only two good LP's, the first two ,is obviously unsupported , totally biased and is in direct contrast to the response of the fans, the publications that reviewed PPL's work when released , the enthusiastic response of radio, TV and actual historical events.What is the point of writing a review which distorts , makes factual errors, omits important details simply to justify their opinion ? How does that serve people who come here for information ?



PPL set several attendance records at venues around the country from 1975 and on,playing only two songs from the first two LP's- AMIE and COUNTRY SONG ( incredibly, not included on this CD). Fans paid to hear the music that filled the airwaves from the '75-'81 PPL which put PPL on the map permanently.This CD largely ignores this music. It makes no sense historically , commercially or any way you can possibly view it. It tells you the type of effort RCA made.Instead of putting out an incredible package of country rock from over a decade of excellence ,one which would rival any group , we get what we have come to expect from RCA , a shallow effort.Thanks again ,RCA. You haven't lost your touch.

The Goshorn brothers and Powell left and Gill was hired.They released CAN'T HOLD BACK , FIRIN' UP, (which included the top ten hit LET ME LOVE YOU TONIGHT ) and SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT. Their success continued,touring nationally while still making numerous TV appearances,charting all LP's and various singles. FIRIN'UP,in particular,showcased Gill's talents and was highly acclaimed by critics and fans.Yet not one song from these Lp's.

It should be quite clear by now something is amiss , that there is far more to PPL than this CD indicates. Don't be fooled into thinking this is truly a GREATEST HITS CD by those who misstate facts,fail to recognize the history of the band or acknowledge the achievments of the Fuller-less PPL , the guys who propelled PPL into the national spotlight.Ignore the die hard Fuller fans who cannot bring themselves to admit, 30 years later, that PPL found success and thrived long after Fuller left.They are the overwhelming minority as history proved. Remember , the spotlight didn't shine until 1975 ! Rather, consider the bands history , be objective , then ask yourself the very same questions I posed. It will be obvious this certainly can't be all there is to PPL.Realize there had to be more, much more. After all ,it's documented , not merely an opinion.

Objectivity will tell you something outstanding must have occurred in '75 and later years for PPL to maintain such a prominent spot on a national level. The fans who were there making PPL a national force will confirm it. They heard PICKIN'TO BEAT THE DEVIL ,I'LL CHANGE YOUR FLAT MERLE ,KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, KENTUCKY MOONSHINE,LUCILLE CRAWFIELD, AREN'T YOU MINE, SUN SHONE LIGHTLY , ALL THE LONESOME COWBOYS ,DANCE , HEART OF HER OWN ,CAME THROUGH ,MISERY TRAIN , I'M ALMOST READY , I'LL BE DAMNED and many other terrific songs which certainly merit inclusion on a PPL GREATEST HITS CD.Those tunes and others were as good as anything done in the country rock genre.They were the reason people still talk about PPL today ,why PPL still puts on shows today ,why they didn't disappear for good in 1972 and why Amie is still so popular.It takes a special kind of music to make that happen.PPL made that kind of music.Too bad RCA still can't get it right !



This CD is terrific.Fuller and Call excel ,5 Stars, their incomparable talents still standing out thirty years later.But a package set was in order, PPL is deserving of it and so are the fans.The effort was not made. All I ask is that you don't stop here and make the mistake of thinking there is nothing else worthwhile by PPL, that this CD has it all.That would deprive you of some of the greatest country rock ever recorded. Also seek out PPL's other LP's, find out why PPL made it to the top of the country rock heap in 1975 and stayed there into the 80's. You won't be disappointed. The fans who sold out concerts and turned their music into gold certainly weren't !



**EDIT NOTE: PURE PRAIRIE LEAGUE NEW CD "ALL IN GOOD TIME" *****

PPL, led by Mike Reilly and Craig Fuller has just released a sensational new CD,ALL IN GOOD TIME, classic PPL !!! After a hugely successful national tour, which feaured PPL classics from their incredible legacy, they have put together a CD that is as good as it gets, Fuller sounds terrific, the songwriting superb ! Check their website for details, you will love it !



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