Customer Reviews

Best of

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Pure Prairie League transcends three periods; with Craig Fuller, without Craig Fuller, and with Vince Gill. With that said, this collection was produced too soon - their first and forth albums weren't even re-released on CD at the time - and is way too heavily based on the later, declining years of the band, after change had altered their musical direction. There are only four songs representing the band's first four albums, which are generally considered far superior. Even though the music is still good, it can't be called an anthology because it isn't comprehensive enough and the "Best Of...." entitlement just doesn't fit. The groups "Best" songs appeared on the exquisite un-represented first album "Pure Prairie League" and its comparatively appealing second effort "Bustin' Out". The hit "Amie" - track 1 - and "Fallin' In And Out Of Love" - track 2 - do appear in this collection, from "Bustin' Out",! but the latter tune, originally the prelude to "Amie", is mis-appropriately placed here. The redeeming value from the remaining 9 songs may be of historical significance since the lead vocal is predominantly Vince Gill. This set probably includes all you need from the latest recordings but do acquire the first four albums; "Pure Prairie League/If The Shoe Fits" (on one CD), "Bustin' Out", and "Two Lane Highway".

This is one of my alltime favorite albums because I fell in love with PPL just before the Vince Gill era and then I loved them even more as they created two fantastic albums featuring him (ladies, he was sweetly chunky with long beautiful dark brown hair and beautiful green eyes and you would have loved him like you do now anyway - heaven knows I did).

That said, there are only 3 small problems with this album, which honestly folks, do not stop it from being a MUST OWN for every country music fan. Here are the problems...the first one is a crucial mistake to me and should be to all true PPL fans.

1) Helloooooo? The song, "Fallin' In and Out of Love" should come immediately before "Amie" and NOT, no NEVER, after it?!?! Is it possible that the original members of PPL had nothing to do with the release of this compilation? Why in the world did the producers put these songs in the WRONG order when they got it right on every other PPL album?

2) Even though I consider myself a HUGE PPL fan, I have always HATED their version of "That'll Be the Day" so I have to program my CD player to skip it after I program it to play the #1 & #2 tracks in the appropriate order (see 1 above).

3) You cannot call this the best of PPL and leave out "I'll Fix Your Flat Tire Merle". The great song that puts the phenomenal egoed, once-great Merle Haggard gently and humorously in his place is sorely missing from this compilation and other "Greatest Hits" treatments for this band.

Otherwise and ANYWAY, buy this album! Vince Gill never sounded better than on "Still Right Here In My Heart" and "I'll Be Damned" (although Janny Lou is a little embarrassing nowadays since the name Amy Grant doesn't rhyme in the same way). "Amie" and "Two Lane Highway" are still fabulous after all these years and not even retro-vintage fabulous, but just plain fabulous in their own rights.

Finally, let me just say that the wanna be bands out there like Alabama and Lone Star could have learned a thing or two from the obvious joy PPL took in doing what they did so well regardless of whether the money rolled in or not. It is a crying shame for those of us who love PPL and could have truly enjoyed a greater volume of their music that they were poorly handled and marketed when they were at their peak. So, bottom line? Enjoy this stuff folks. It's all there is and it doesn't get any better than this!!

I can't believe they had the nerve to release this cd. As a previous reviewer stated I doubt any of the PPL members had anything to do with this release. Do you realize out of their 1st 7 studio albums they only put 4 songs on this cd? And the most idiotic thing I have seen in a long time is putting `Amie' before `Falling In and Out of Love'. And again as a previous reviewer stated how can you leave `I'll Change Your Flat Tire Merle' off of this cd. I got this as a gift and opened it before looking at the songs so I can't take it back to the store. I will however send it back to Mercury Records and demand a refund for the one that bought it. It appears that the record companies as usual care only for themselves and the almighty dollar. Good grief what a waste. I would recommend just trying to buy their studio cds used. Their sound was so much different before Vince got there. No disrespect to him. They were so much more of a true country/rock group on their 1st 6 studio albums. Get those first.

I found it intersting the difference between the cuts without and with Vince Gill on lead.

Pure Prairie League has always been one of my favorite early "rock" groups though today they would be considered country.Even today their songs are great listening and inspirational.I'm a big listner of Vince Gill and several years ago learned that he had performed and written with the group which made me want to buy this album even more.It brings back great memories of my early rock years.

Too bad that stores no longer have OBSCURE rock like Pure Prairie League, but luckilly, Amazon had it and it was new. And it sounds great.

To the novice PPL fan who knows them mostly by "AMY" their hit song of songs its a fantastic item, but for the purest PPL fan its not really the "BEST OF" . There are so many other songs on their albums that are cutting edge for their time but over all a fantastic listen. It leans more towards the years when Vince Gill came aboard as the front man for the band.
Overall a great purchace !

How can we forget that it was Larry Goshorn who sang "Amie" on tour? Craig Fuller may have written it, but he was no longer with the group when this song became a hit. It was Larry who sang this song and helped make it the hit that it became. I give Craig his 'Props", but lets not forget the beautiful sound of Larry's voice. He did at least 7 albums with PPL and his melodic voice will always be my favorite. "Kentucky Moonshine", "Memories" and other songs by Larry were some of the groups best. Period.

I have to be honest with you: the only reason I bought this cd a couple years ago was the song 'Amie' which sounded like a Bread song (one of my all time favourites!) and frankly that's the only song that really gets me everytime I play it. I was a bit dissapointed really that a gifted singer/songwriter like Graig Fuller (also a member of the lesser known band American Flyer) didn't have any more songs that could stick in your mind. So why three stars then? It's clear and simple: if you want a quick overview of what this group was capable off in all its forms this is the cd to buy. Just don't expect anything more than that one crown jewel and a lot of fake juwellery: nice and shiny at times, but certainly not the real deal...

Love the album. It's a wonderful tribute to the early days of Vince's career. His voice was ringing out loud and clear even in those days. What a sweet voice! Love, Debbie Vince and Amy's Sister In Christ