Pure Prairie League/If the Shoe Fits

Pure Prairie League/If the Shoe Fits Artist: Pure Prairie League
Label: Renaissance
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Format: Original recording reissued
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1


UPC: 630428020825
EAN: 0630428020825
ASIN: B000005NOH


Release Date: 1997-11-18

Pure Prairie League/If the Shoe Fits


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Tracks:

  1. Tears
  2. Take It Before You Go
  3. You're Between Me
  4. Woman
  5. Doc's Tune
  6. Country Song
  7. Brand New harmony Songs
  8. It's All On Day
  9. That'll Be The Day
  10. I Can Only Think Of You
  11. Sun Shone Lightly
  12. Long Cold Winter
  13. Lucille Crawfield
  14. Gimme Another Chance
  15. Aren't You Mine
  16. You Are So Near To Me
  17. Out In The Street
  18. Goin' Home

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars PPL's First Is Their 5-Star Best.......2006-04-30

Ask 9 out of 10 PPL "fans" and they'll probably tell you that Bustin' Out ("the Amie Album") is the group's first and best. Too bad, 'cause those folks may be missing out on the album that literally was the first, and to this reviewer is the best, album the League ever released. While "Amie" is understandably the band's claim to fame, the rest of that album, though pleasant enough, just doesn't match up to "Pure Prairie League." Consider the soaring brilliance of the "Country Song" jam, in which George Powell and John Call work out an extended country -funk instrumental which is every bit as good as the steel/guitar breaks being cooked up by Rusty Young and Poco (i.e., "Grand Junction") at about that time. The playing is clean and crisp, and the production values are excellent for an album released in 1972. The band would play it safer on "Bustin' Out," leaving that album without a comparable instrumental centerpiece to rival "PPL."

The album opens earlier with a good up-beat, country-rock feel in "Tears" and "Take It Before You Go." The band then launches into the inspirational "You're Between Me" (with its nod to McKendree Spring - "they're so goddamn good"). This stellar tune finds Craig Fuller at the top of his game and, if this song doesn't brighten up your day, well maybe it's time for some medication. Next up is "Woman" with its odd, though infectious refrain "Time's so short please woman wear your hair down for me." "Doc's Tune" gives you a chance to catch your breath and then on comes "Country Song," to carry you into the stratosphere. Coaxing you off the ceiling, the album rounds out with the comfortable country-infused "Harmony Song," and "It's All on Me." Although short on time (about 32 minutes in length), "PPL" certainly is long on quality.

As a whole, the album stands up to the best of early-70's country-rock of the Burritos, the Eagles, and Poco, as well as the quality of Little Feat, which Fuller later would call home. It is a mystery as to why this album received such short shrift - seemingly even from the band itself(witness the disappointing versions of County Song (no jam) and You're Between Me on the uninspired live CD, "Songs of Pure Harmony") and the omission of some of these jems from the many greatest hits packages which have been released over the years. It is equally puzzling as to why "PPL" has been packaged with "If the Shoe Fits," a fairly pedestrian effort which sorely misses the Fuller touch on vocals and simply doesn't include songs of the same quality as the band's first album. If you can find "PPL" on CD for less, or paired with "Bustin' Out," pick that up instead. Otherwise, this one's worth it even if you turn it off after the "PPL" songs are done.

4 out of 5 stars A really good first effort.......2000-07-05

I have only recently gotten this album and it's a strong effort. It leans more towards the country side of country rock and reminds me more of Poco than the Eagles. I've read quite a few PPL reviews that belabor the absence of Craig Fuller on the later PPL albums, but my favorite PPL album is the Fuller-less "Two Lane Highway". If you have never listened to PPL, that would be a wonderful place to start. All in all, if you dig the Fuller era PPL stuff, you will probably not like the later stuff after he left and vice versa. This album is good but it's not as good as "Two Lane Highway".

5 out of 5 stars One of the finest country rock bands of the early 70's........1998-11-11

Pure Prairie League's eponymous first album is a classic of the country-rock genre. Every cut is a beauty. Along with their second album, "Bustin' Out", PPL cut two of the best albums of the early seventies and really forged their own niche which can best be described as prairie rock. Starting strong with "Tears" this re-issue never flags. This is as good as anything by the Eagles and Poco. The second re-issue on this CD, "If the Shoe Fits", is not as strong (due to the absence of original group leader/ songwriter, Craig Fuller), but it is still a nicely-turned effort. If you've not heard PPL before you're in for a treat. This is some of the loveliest music ever recorded. Buy it, kick back, and enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars It's about time we see this early release on CD.......1998-06-25

I played this record until I wore the grooves right off the thing, and by the time I tried to find another copy it was out of print. Bless Renaissance Records for finding the guy who had the key to the RCA vault and for realizing the substantial impact that this work had on early Progressive Country-Rock. It meets or beats any comparative early efforts by such icons as The Eagles, Poco, the Burrito Brothers, Byrds, and so on.

The first eight tunes on this CD comprise Pure Prairie League's first RCA recording from 1972 simply entitled "Pure Prairie League" and are indeed remarkable. The Craig Fuller penned tunes "Tears", "Take It Before You Go", "You're Between Me", and "Brand New Harmony Songs" are exceptional. Later to appear on a PPL "Live" recording, the full length jam - "Country Song" - appears here. All through, the steel guitar of John David Call is fine...fine...fine!

Pure Prairie League would approach this great recording with its follow up "Bustin' Out", with the top hit "Amie", before generating other moderately successful albums with revised lineups, and although enjoyable, they would not live up to their debut.

Music Album:

  1. Black Wave ~ The Lost Sounds
  2. Spin Art ~ Venice
  3. Beyond Pink ~ Ruby Blue
  4. Discipline ~ King Crimson
  5. Uptight ~ Speedball Baby
  6. The August Division ~ Pop Unknown
  7. 24 Hours of Throbbing Gristle - TG24 ~ Throbbing Gristle
  8. From the Mouth ~ Blenders
  9. Sparrow ~ Sparrow
  10. Complete ~ Debra Davis

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

Alone Together ~ Enrico Pieranunzi Quartet

Jazz Workshop ~ Billy Byers

Concord All-Stars on Cape Cod ~ Concord Jazz All-Stars

Christmas With Jim Horn ~ Jim Horn

She for Whom the Sun Does Shine ~ James Gentry Quintet

Compilation Osez Josephine ~ Alain Bashung

Cartoline ~ Mina

Villa Lobos - Quartetos De Cordas 7,8,9,10,11 ~ Quarteto Amazonia

Singin' Loud II ~ Beat Takeshi

A Visit to Hawaii ~ Various Artists