We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago….
The band was splintering…several members who helped record the debut LP earlier in 1972 had left and the group owed their record label one more. Craig Fuller said he would write and record the next Pure Prairie League album with George Ed Powell and William Hinds with Bob Ringe producing. They brought in Al Brisco on pedal steel and set to work on what would become ‘Bustin Out”…and it went nowhere…until three years later.
The song “Amie” which most of you are familiar with was released as a single in early 73 failed to chart. It wasn’t until early 1975 when the song became a favorite on college radio stations did the LP re-emerge and climbed to #27 on the Billboard chart.
By this time Fuller, who wrote and sang most of the songs on the LP was gone, having problems with his draft board doing a stint in prison and working a hospital job. He didn’t return but would later record a solid duo record with Eric Kaz later in the decade.
But he did leave us with this marvelous album of country-rock. Ringe’s production is crystal clear with ringing acoustic guitars and soaring harmonies. They also rock out on a couple of tracks like “Angel #9” and “Leave My Heart Alone”.
Fuller delivers some solid tunes in the Poco mold. The mellower stuff like “Early Mornin Riser” and “Boulder Skies” works well. And the full track of “Falling In & Out Of Love” with “Amie” is great.
Sometimes it takes awhile for an album to grab your ears. I bought this at some point and played it alot and enjoyed the band (sans Fuller) when they played at the Wausau West Field House (1974 maybe?).
If you like the country-rock genre you should dig this.
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