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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPURE PRAIRIE LEAGUECountry-rock band formed in 1970, the name from a women's temperance union in one of Errol Flynn's films. Lineup of Craig Fuller, Jim Lanham, Jim Caughlan, George Powell and John David Call played around the Cincinnatti area before landing RCA contract '71; released a series of albums all marked by inventive sleeve illustrations by Saturday Evening Post's Norman Rockwell, behind which lurked good, original country-rock; second album Bustin' Out '73 featured Mick Ronson on guitar; it failed to sell so RCA dropped them, but radio picked up 'Amie' and made it a top 30 pop hit almost three years later: RCA re-signed them and Two Lane Highway '75 featured guests Chet Atkins, Emmylou Harris, Don Felder (Eagles), etc; touring and recording regularly, band underwent several lineup changes and moved to Los Angeles; they recruited unknown Vince Gill on lead guitar, vocals and songwriting, joined Casablanca '80 and scored a top ten hit with Gill's 'Let Me Love You Tonight', with Gill's wife Janis and her sister Kristine Arnold on backup vocals (later to become country duo Sweethearts of the Rodeo); this was their most successful period. Gill left '83 for solo career; band continued to tour but ran out of steam, leaving a legacy of great country-rock. Albums incl. Pure Prairie League '72, If The Shoe Fits '76, Live Takin' The Stage '77, Just Fly '78, Can't Hold Back '79 all on RCA; Firin' Up '80, Something In The Night '81 on Casablanca; Best Of '96 on Mercury. |