Craig Fuller/Eric Kaz (Expanded Edition)

Craig Fuller and Eric Kaz had already teamed up in American Flyer (along with Blood, Sweat & Tears Steve Katz and the Velvet Underground s Doug Yule) before they collaborated on this 1978 album, but their pedigrees went way farther back than that band. Fuller made his debut with J.D. Blackfoot in 1970 and co-founded Pure Prairie League (for whom he wrote Amie among other PPL classics), while Kaz had cut his teeth with Children of Paradise (along with Happy and Artie Traum) before joining Blues Magooes for two records and cutting two solo records for Atlantic. With a track record like that, it s no surprise that this record sported the crème de la crème of supporting musicians: J.D. Souther, Russ & Leah Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Michael McDonald, Leo Sayer all played prominent supporting roles, while Grammy-winning producer Val Garay (Kim Carnes, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Ringo Starr, Santana, etc.) oversaw the proceedings. But, as always, it s the songs that make this album a lost classic of West Coast 70s rock Craig Fuller/Eric Kaz features the definitive version of Kaz s Cry Like a Rainstorm, which was the title tune of Linda Ronstadt s 1978 Grammy-nominated album, as well as such great tunes as Annabella (also available on our Expanded Edition in its single version) and Feel That Way Again. Liner notes by Ed Osborne featuring quotes from Craig Fuller and Eric Kaz round out the release, which is remastered at Sony s own Battery Studios. The long out-of print Japanese reissue sells for hundreds, and we mean hundreds of dollars this one s a must for anybody into the SoCal country rock scene of the 70s.