J. D. Blackfoot "The Ultimate Prophecy" (Mercury Records, 1970) (LP)
(Produced by Dale Frasheur & Warren Dewey)
Craig Fuller played guitar and contributed several songs to this album from fellow Ohioan J.D. Blackfoot, who had a somewhat tangential connection to the country-rock scene himself... The album opens with three songs credited to Craig Fuller: "One Time Woman," "Angel," and "We Can Try," which was co-composed with Blackfoot.
Pure Prairie League "Pure Prairie League" (RCA Victor, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Ringe & Gus Mossler)
Pure Prairie League "Bustin' Out" (RCA Victor, 1972) (LP)
(Produced by Bob Ringe, Cub Richardson & Mark Smith)
American Flyer "American Flyer" (United Artists, 1976) (LP)
(Produced by George Martin)
Songwriter Eric Kaz is well-known to fans of the early Bonnie Raitt and Linda Ronstadt canons, particularly as the composer of the epic weeper, "Love Has No Pride." He recorded his own version of that classic while in this soft-rock ensemble formed with Craig Fuller and with Doug Yule, who at the time had recently helmed the teetering, post-Lou Reed edition of The Velvet Underground... This falls more into ornate soft-rock territory than I'd prefer -- very '70s, very slick, very LA. But then again, that might be exactly what you're looking for, right?
American Flyer "Spirit Of A Woman" (Columbia Records, 1977) (LP)
(Produced by Ken Friesen & American Flyer)
Craig Fuller & Eric Kaz "Craig Fuller/Eric Kaz" (Columbia Records, 1978) (LP)
(Produced by Val Garay)
Pure Prairie League "Mementos: 1971-1987" (Rushmore Records, 1987)
(Produced by Mike Reilly & Jim Dutt)
Although the title implies this is a best-of set, these were actually re-recordings of older fan favorites, performed by a latter-day lineup of the band, which Mike Reilly would hold together until 1988, when they finally called it a day. Though they had continued working as a live band after losing their label, the group went through massive shifts in lineup, including a brief, if fortuitous, rapprochement with the group's original lead singer, Craig Fuller. Vince Gill and other past members joined Reilly and company for this album, which seemed like a last hurrah... though as seem below, more reunions were to come.
Little Feat "Let It Roll" (Warner Brothers, 1988)
(Produced by George Massenburg & Bill Payne)
In 1987 Craig Fuller was recruited as the new lead singer for the newly reunited, legendary roots-rock jam band, Little Feat, which had reformed nearly a decade after the 1979 death of founding member Lowell George. A certified gold record, this album was a surprise hit, yielding a #1 rock hit, "Hate To Lose Your Lovin'," one of eight songs co-written by Fuller.
Little Feat "Representing The Mambo" (Warner Brothers, 1990)
(Produced by George Massenburg & Bill Payne)
Little Feat "Shake Me Up" (Morgan Creek Records, 1991)
(Produced by George Massenburg & Bill Payne)
Pure Prairie League "All In Good Time" (Thirty Tigers Records, 2005)
Country-rock pioneer Craig Fuller had a long and winding road to fame and back again... An Ohio native, he co-founded the 'Seventies band Pure Prairie League and was the group's lead singer until 1973, when he was forced to quit after his stand as a conscientious objector led to his criminal conviction for resisting the Vietnam War-era military draft. Fuller later received a presidential pardon, and went back into the music industry, including an on-again, off-again relationship with Pure Prairie League that spanned over several decades. Here's a quick look at his work...
