For an explanation of CoronaVinyl, click here.
Today's CoronaVinyl category is "P," and I'm going with country rockers Pure Prairie League's third studio album, 1975's Two Lane Highway.
Pure Prairie League is best known for their 1975 song "Amie," which was originally released in 1972, but gained popularity three years later. By that time, original lead singer and main songwriter Craig Fuller had left the band, and not of his own choosing. He had to serve jail time for evading the draft as a conscientious objector, and when he got out, he had community service obligations that prevented him from being in a rock band.
Two Lane Highway -- which appears to feature a drawing of a young Sam Elliott on the front cover -- is a pleasant country rock album released on the heels of the rejuvenated interest in "Amie." The album reached #24 on the Billboard album chart, which was their highest-charting album, even though the highest-charting single from the album (the title track) only reached #97 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The band had some help from some big names. Chet Atkins plays guitar on one track. The Eagles' Don Felder plays mandolin. "Just Can't Believe It" is a duet with Emmylou Harris. Legendary fiddler and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer as a member of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and Country Music Hall of Famer Johnny Gimble plays, well, the fiddle.
The band put out seven more albums between 1976 and 1981, but kept touring until breaking up in 1988. They had various lineup changes during that time, and future country music star Vince Gill was in the band from 1978 to 1982.
Favorite Song on Side 1: "Kansas City Southern"
A song about a train should chug along, and this one does just that.
Favorite Song on Side 2: "Harvest"
This one kicks off Side 2, and it's the most rocking song, or at least the fuzzy guitar intro rocks.
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