John Prine | ||
| Allmusic Biography : One of the most celebrated singer/songwriters of his generation, John Prine is a master storyteller whose work is often witty and always heartfelt, frequently offering a sly but sincere reflection of his Midwestern roots. While Prines songs are often rooted in folk and country flavors, hes no stranger to rock & roll, R&B;, and rockabilly, and he readily adapts his rough but expressive voice to his musical surroundings. And though Prine has never scored a major hit of his own, his songs have been recorded by a long list of well-respected artists, including Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Kris Kristofferson, George Strait, Bette Midler, Paul Westerberg, and Dwight Yoakam. John Prine was born October 10, 1946, in Maywood, Illinois. Raised by parents firmly rooted in their rural Kentucky background, at age 14 Prine began learning to play the guitar from his older brother while taking inspiration from his grandfather, who had played with Merle Travis. After a two-year tenure in the U.S. Army, Prine became a fixture on the Chicago folk music scene in the late 60s, befriending another young performer named Steve Goodman. Prines compositions caught the ear of Kris Kristofferson, who was instrumental in helping him win a recording contract. In 1971, he went to Memphis to record his eponymously titled debut album; though not a commercial success, songs like "Sam Stone," the harsh tale of a drug-addled Vietnam veteran, won critical approval. Neither 1972s Diamonds in the Rough nor 1973s Sweet Revenge fared any better on the charts, but Prines work won great renown among his fellow performers; the Everly Brothers covered his song "Paradise," while both Bette Midler and Joan Baez offered renditions of "Hello in There." For 1975s Common Sense, Prine turned to producer Steve Cropper, the highly influential house guitarist for the Stax label; while the albums sound shocked the folk community with its reliance on husky vocals and booming drums, it served notice that Prine was not an artist whose work could be pigeonholed, and was his only LP to reach the U.S. Top 100. Steve Goodman took over the reins for 1978s folky Bruised Orange, but on 1979s Pink Cadillac, Prine took another left turn and recorded an electric rockabilly workout produced at Sun Studios by the labels legendary founder Sam Phillips, and his son Knox. Following 1980s Storm Windows, Prine was dropped by Asylum, and he responded by forming his own label, Oh Boy Records, with the help of longtime manager Al Bunetta. The labels first release was 1984s Aimless Love, and under his own imprint, Prines music thrived, as 1986s country-flavored German Afternoons earned a Grammy nomination in the Contemporary Folk category. After 1988s John Prine Live, he released 1991s Grammy-winning The Missing Years; co-produced by Howie Epstein of Tom Pettys Heartbreakers, the album featured guest appearances from Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, and Tom Petty and proved to be Prines biggest commercial success to date, selling nearly 250,000 copies. After making his film debut in 1992s John Mellencamp-directed Falling from Grace, Prine returned in 1995 with Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings, also produced by Epstein, which earned him another Grammy nomination. In 1998, while Prine was working on an album of male/female country duets, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, with the cancer forming on the right side of his neck. Prine underwent surgery and radiation treatment for the cancer, and in 1999 was well enough to complete the album, which was released as In Spite of Ourselves and featured contributions from Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Connie Smith, and more. In 2000, Prine re-recorded 15 of his best-known songs (partly to give his voice a workout following his treatment, but primarily so Oh Boy would own recordings of his earlier hits) for an album called Souvenirs, originally issued in Germany but later released in the United States. In 2005, he released Fair & Square, a collection of new songs, followed by a concert tour. Two years later, alongside singer and guitarist Mac Wiseman, Prine issued Standard Songs for Average People, a collection of the two musicians interpretations of 14 folk and country classics. In Person & on Stage, a collection of performances from various concert tours, appeared in 2010. In 2016, Prine issued a follow-up to In Spite of Ourselves titled For Better, or Worse, another set of duet performances of classic country tunes. This time around, Prines vocal partners included Kacey Musgraves, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Susan Tedeschi, Lee Ann Womack, Kathy Mattea, and Prines frequent collaborator Iris DeMent. Prine teamed up with Nashville producer Dave Cobb to record 2018s The Tree of Forgiveness, his first set of original songs since 2005; the album included guest appearances from Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, and Amanda Shires. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 27 Title: John Prine Released: 1971 Tracks: 13 Duration: 44:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Illegal Smile (03:13) 2 Spanish Pipedream (02:41) 3 Hello in There (04:30) 4 Sam Stone (04:15) 5 Paradise (03:12) 6 Pretty Good (03:36) 7 Your Flag Decal Wont Get You Into Heaven Anymore (02:52) 8 Far From Me (03:41) 9 Angel From Montgomery (03:45) 10 Quiet Man (02:52) 11 Donald and Lydia (04:28) 12 Six OClock News (02:51) 13 Flashback Blues (02:32) |
| John Prine : Allmusic album Review : A revelation upon its release, this album is now a collection of standards: "Illegal Smile," "Hello in There," "Sam Stone," "Donald and Lydia," and, of course, "Angel from Montgomery." Prines music, a mixture of folk, rock, and country, is deceptively simple, like his pointed lyrics, and his easy vocal style adds a humorous edge that makes otherwise funny jokes downright hilarious. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 27 Title: Diamonds in the Rough Released: 1972 Tracks: 13 Duration: 37:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Everybody (02:43) 2 The Torch Singer (02:52) 3 Souvenirs (03:32) 4 The Late John Garfield Blues (03:04) 5 Sour Grapes (02:00) 6 Billy the Bum (04:41) 7 The Frying Pan (01:47) 8 Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You (02:09) 9 Take the Star Out of the Window (02:06) 10 The Great Compromise (04:54) 11 Clocks and Spoons (03:10) 12 Rocky Mountain Time (03:03) 13 Diamonds in the Rough (01:49) |
| Diamonds in the Rough : Allmusic album Review : John Prines second album was a cut below his first, only because the debut was a classic and the followup was merely terrific. "Sour Grapes" showed Prines cracked sense of humor and "Souvenirs" his sentiment. Even if it was the second rank of his writing, Diamonds in the Rough demonstrated that Prine had an enduring talent that wasnt exhausted by one great album. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 27 Title: Sweet Revenge Released: 1973 Tracks: 12 Duration: 38:41 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sweet Revenge (02:40) 2 Please Dont Bury Me (02:49) 3 Christmas in Prison (03:11) 4 Dear Abby (04:20) 5 Blue Umbrella (03:28) 6 Often Is a Word I Seldom Use (03:00) 7 Onomatopoeia (02:21) 8 Grandpa Was a Carpenter (02:12) 9 The Accident (Things Could Be Worse) (03:22) 10 Mexican Home (04:39) 11 A Good Time (03:30) 12 Nine Pound Hammer (03:02) |
| Sweet Revenge : Allmusic album Review : Prines third album is louder and more jaded than his first efforts, a set of rowdy country-rockers that tear along at a reckless speed. Sympathy takes a back seat to cynicism here, and while that strips the record of some depth, Prines irreverence is consistently thrilling, making this one of his best. Its not as uniformly brilliant as the debut, but it did steer his music in a new direction -- where that record is often hallmarked for its rich sensitivity, Sweet Revenge established cynicism as Prines dominant voice once and for all. Although he could still crank out a great ballad when he felt like it, from now on his records largely followed a more conventional rock & roll muse, a choice that eventually gained him more mainstream attention. "Please Dont Bury Me," "Christmas in Prison," "Blue Umbrella," and "A Good Time" are a few of the jewels on this one. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 27 Title: Common Sense Released: 1975 Tracks: 11 Duration: 32:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Middleman (02:33) 2 Common Sense (03:12) 3 Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard (03:20) 4 Wedding Day in Funeralville (02:31) 5 Way Down (02:24) 6 My Own Best Friend (03:16) 7 Forbidden Jimmy (02:55) 8 Saddle in the Rain (03:34) 9 That Close to You (02:47) 10 He Was in Heaven Before He Died (02:15) 11 You Never Can Tell (03:16) |
| Common Sense : Allmusic album Review : Prines sound slickens considerably here, as producer Steve Cropper fashions a commercial-friendly album of light funk and rock. Unfortunately, the cloying production overpowers the lyrics and relegates them to an almost cursory notion, and it doesnt help that Prine hasnt come up with much new material of note. His wit is still sharp, but it no longer shines; consequently, Common Sense has the unfortunate distinction of being the worst of Prines Atlantic albums. The exceptions are "Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard" and "He Was in Heaven Before He Died." | ||
 | Album: 5 of 27 Title: Prime Prine: The Best of John Prine Released: 1976 Tracks: 12 Duration: 43:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sam Stone (04:15) 2 Saddle in the Rain (03:34) 3 Please Dont Bury Me (02:49) 4 The Great Compromise (04:54) 5 Grandpa Was a Carpenter (02:12) 6 Donald and Lydia (04:28) 7 Illegal Smile (03:13) 8 Sweet Revenge (02:40) 9 Dear Abby (04:20) 10 Souvenirs (03:32) 11 Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard (03:20) 12 Hello in There (04:30) |
| Prime Prine: The Best of John Prine : Allmusic album Review : Atlantic Records compilation of John Prines first four albums was good for its time (and became his only gold record), but was later superseded by Rhinos Great Days anthology. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 27 Title: Bruised Orange Released: 1978 Tracks: 10 Duration: 32:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Fish and Whistle (03:14) 2 There She Goes (03:24) 3 If You Dont Want My Love (03:05) 4 Thats the Way the World Goes Round (03:20) 5 Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow) (05:20) 6 Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone (02:53) 7 Aw Heck (02:20) 8 Crooked Piece of Time (02:52) 9 Iron Ore Betty (02:42) 10 The Hobo Song (03:31) |
| Bruised Orange : Allmusic album Review : Despite some brilliant songs, Prines followup albums to his stunning debut were uneven until this, his fifth, produced by his friend Steve Goodman. Here, Prines always finely-tuned sense of absurdity once again collides with his ability to depict pain sympathetically for a whole album, typified by "Thats the Way That the World Goes Round," a neat statement of his philosophy, and "Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone," perhaps the best depiction ever written of life on the road in the entertainment business. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 27 Title: Pink Cadillac Released: 1979 Tracks: 10 Duration: 37:17 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Chinatown (02:24) 2 Automobile (04:23) 3 Killing the Blues (04:35) 4 No Name Girl (03:31) 5 Saigon (03:16) 6 This Cold War With You (04:11) 7 Baby Lets Play House (03:30) 8 Down by the Side of the Road (05:03) 9 How Lucky (03:38) 10 Ubangi Stomp (02:40) |
| Pink Cadillac : Allmusic album Review : John Prine went to Sam Phillips studio in Memphis to make his sixth album, Pink Cadillac, and got some of the Sun Records sound of 1950s rockabilly on a record produced by Phillips sons Knox and Jerry. (Sam produced two of the tracks himself.) Slapback bass here, a Bo Diddley beat there, and an overall loose feel characterized music that may have been more fun to make than it is to listen to, even though its quite entertaining. Prine wrote only five of the ten songs, however, and even though the covers were of high caliber -- notably Roly Salleys "Killing the Blues" and Arthur Gunters "Baby Lets Play House," a song Elvis Presley did at Sun -- Pink Cadillac was a good idea that went slightly awry in the execution. If Prine had had the songs as well as the studio, it would have been among his best. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 27 Title: Storm Windows Released: 1980 Tracks: 10 Duration: 32:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Shop Talk (03:12) 2 Living in the Future (03:26) 3 Its Happening to You (02:18) 4 Sleepy Eyed Boy (02:53) 5 All Night Blue (02:46) 6 Just Wanna Be With You (03:07) 7 Storm Windows (05:04) 8 Baby Ruth (03:07) 9 One Red Rose (03:17) 10 I Had a Dream (03:30) |
| Storm Windows : Allmusic album Review : Released in 1980 by Asylum, Storm Windows would be John Prines last attempt to record on a major label. One reviewer referred to the album as Prines "best-sounding record," but one could argue that the production removes a great deal of the singer/songwriters rough charm. While earlier albums like Diamonds in the Rough (1972) had seemed almost non-produced, Bruised Orange (1978) found the perfect balance between gruff and professional. Storm Windows isnt a bad album, but the songs and "studio musician" production lack the bite of Bruised Orange. The five-minute title track digs deepest, with Prine offering lovely lines like "And down the beach the sandman sleeps/Time dont fly it bounds and leaps." One has to wonder, however, if lyrics like "The spirits were high, til the well went dry" are autobiographical. Both "Storm Windows" and "Sleepy Eyed Boy" hint at disillusionment, as though an older Prine is looking back at his younger self. In this way, Storm Windows seems more confessional than early efforts like Sweet Revenge (1973). Other catchy pieces like "Shop Talk" and "Just Wanna Be With You" rock harder, but theyre more or less throwaways. While Storm Windows captures Prine on autopilot, fans will enjoy listening to his reflections at this transitional stage. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 27 Title: Aimless Love Released: 1984 Tracks: 11 Duration: 35:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Be My Friend Tonight (03:15) 2 Aimless Love (03:07) 3 Me, Myself and I (02:42) 4 The Oldest Baby in the World (03:05) 5 Slow Boat to China (03:46) 6 The Bottomless Lake (03:42) 7 Maureen, Maureen (03:16) 8 Somewhere Someones Falling in Love (03:04) 9 People Puttin People Down (02:48) 10 Unwed Fathers (03:30) 11 Only Love (03:29) |
| Aimless Love : Allmusic album Review : John Prine moved to his own independent label, Oh Boy, after stints at Atlantic and Asylum (later, he acquired his Asylum albums and reissued them on Oh Boy). On this label debut, he is under no commercial pressures, but that seems to make him more low-key, less striking. "The Oldest Baby in the World," "Somewhere Someones Falling in Love," and "Unwed Fathers" are good examples of his new sweetness, which is as winning as, if less impressive than, his witty older songs. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 27 Title: German Afternoons Released: 1986 Tracks: 12 Duration: 39:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Lulu Walls (02:37) 2 Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (03:29) 3 Out of Love (03:17) 4 Sailin Around (03:25) 5 If She Were You (03:35) 6 Linda Goes to Mars (03:06) 7 Lets Talk Dirty in Hawaiian (03:13) 8 I Just Want to Dance With You (03:28) 9 Love, Love, Love (03:00) 10 Bad Boy (03:28) 11 Theyll Never Take Her Love From Me (03:07) 12 Paradise (03:28) |
| German Afternoons : Allmusic album Review : Another straight country set, but unlike Sweet Revenge, this is a sleepy-town stroll, featuring snappy accompaniment by the New Grass Revival. After the terrific opening take on the Carter Family classic "Lulu Walls," the record glides along at a gentle tempo, yielding the clever "Lets Talk Dirty in Hawaiian" and one classic ballad, "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness," which was cut in a superb rendition by Nanci Griffith for her Other Voices, Other Rooms project. It also features "Linda Goes to Mars" and a re-recording of "Paradise" from Prines debut. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 27 Title: John Prine Live Released: 1988 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:14:38 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard (03:04) 2 Six OClock News (03:18) 3 The Oldest Baby in the World (06:50) 4 Angel From Montgomery (04:16) 5 Grandpa Was a Carpenter (02:31) 6 Blue Umbrella (03:34) 7 Fish and Whistle (03:01) 8 Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone (05:45) 9 Living in the Future (03:47) 10 Illegal Smile (04:16) 11 Mexican Home (04:16) 12 Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (03:27) 13 The Accident (Things Could Be Worse) (02:50) 14 Sam Stone (05:06) 15 Souvenirs (03:33) 16 Aw Heck (02:33) 17 Donald and Lydia (03:50) 18 Thats the Way the World Goes Round (03:47) 19 Hello in There (04:47) |
 | Album: 12 of 27 Title: The Missing Years Released: 1991-09-24 Tracks: 14 Duration: 54:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Picture Show (03:22) 2 All the Best (03:28) 3 The Sins of Memphisto (04:14) 4 Everybody Wants to Feel Like You (03:09) 5 It’s a Big Old Goofy World (05:10) 6 I Want to Be With You Always (03:01) 7 Daddy’s Little Pumpkin (02:41) 8 Take a Look at My Heart (03:38) 9 Great Rain (04:08) 10 Way Back Then (03:39) 11 Unlonely (04:35) 12 You Got Gold (04:38) 13 Everything Is Cool (02:46) 14 Jesus the Missing Years (05:55) |
| The Missing Years : Allmusic album Review : Prine took five years between his ninth studio album and this, his tenth -- enough time to gather his strongest body of material in more than a decade. From the caustic "All the Best" to the cliche compilation "Its a Big Old Goofy World," Prines gifts for emotional revelation and off-the-wall humor are on display in abundance, and hes aided by excellent production (courtesy of Heartbreaker Howie Epstein) and strong backup musicians. The Missing Years won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 27 Title: A John Prine Christmas Released: 1993 Tracks: 8 Duration: 32:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Everything Is Cool (03:25) 2 All the Best (04:35) 3 Silent Night All Day Long (03:53) 4 If You Were the Woman and I Was the Man (04:36) 5 Silver Bells (03:59) 6 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (03:07) 7 Christmas in Prison (04:00) 8 A John Prine Christmas (05:11) |
| A John Prine Christmas : Allmusic album Review : For anyone whod lost track of John Prine after the 1970s, the idea of a rather cynical singer/songwriter recording a holiday album must have seemed a rather odd one. But Prine, while never relinquishing his wry sense of humor, had mellowed quite a bit since writing about getting kicked off of Noahs ark in "Sweet Revenge." Besides, by 1988 he had his own record company, and its always nice to have a perennial favorite in the catalog. The first two songs are originals and are probably the best songs on the album, with Prine once again offering his observations on relationships gone sour. The first, though, surprisingly relates that even though the narrators girl dumped him a year ago on Christmas, hes learned to go on with his life. The bitterness, however, creeps back in to "All the Best." Prine opens this live piece with a funny monolog about him and a friend nailing a train set to the dining room table, and then delves into a sad story of love thrown away like yesterdays Christmas tree. He also includes a new version of "Christmas in Prison," a solid song from his third album, Sweet Revenge. The remainder of the album is filled with holiday classics, including a fun take on "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." The downside of the album is that its awful short -- 32 minutes -- and even then, one of the songs -- a duo with Margo Timmins on "If You Were the Woman and I Was the Man" -- doesnt even come close to fitting the holiday spirit (though it may have fit on the Dirty Santa soundtrack). Still, this isnt the run-of-the-mill holiday product, and Prine can still write a good song when he sets his mind to it. Old fans will be glad to see that even cynics can age gracefully. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 27 Title: Great Days: The John Prine Anthology Released: 1993-08-17 Tracks: 41 Duration: 2:28:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Illegal Smile (03:13) 2 Spanish Pipedream (02:41) 3 Hello in There (04:30) 4 Sam Stone (04:15) 5 Paradise (03:12) 6 Donald and Lydia (04:28) 7 The Late John Garfield Blues (03:04) 8 Yes I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You (02:09) 9 The Great Compromise (04:54) 10 Sweet Revenge (02:40) 11 Please Dont Bury Me (02:49) 12 Christmas in Prison (03:11) 13 Dear Abby (live) (04:22) 14 Blue Umbrella (03:28) 15 Common Sense (03:12) 16 Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard (03:20) 17 Saddle in the Rain (03:34) 18 He Was in Heaven Before He Died (02:15) 19 Fish and Whistle (03:14) 20 Thats the Way the World Goes Round (03:20) 21 Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow) (05:20) 1 Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone (02:53) 2 Automobile (04:23) 3 Killing the Blues (04:35) 4 Down by the Side of the Road (05:03) 5 Living in the Future (03:26) 6 Its Happening to You (02:18) 7 Storm Windows (05:07) 8 One Red Rose (03:17) 9 Souvenirs (03:33) 10 Aimless Love (03:07) 11 The Oldest Baby in the World (03:07) 12 People Puttin People Down (02:50) 13 Unwed Fathers (03:32) 14 Angel From Montgomery (live) (04:34) 15 Linda Goes to Mars (03:10) 16 Bad Boy (03:28) 17 Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (03:31) 18 Its a Big Old Goofy World (05:24) 19 The Sins of Memphisto (04:14) 20 All the Best (03:28) |
| Great Days: The John Prine Anthology : Allmusic album Review : Rhinos Great Days: The John Prine Anthology is an excellent summary of John Prines prime period, from his sublime 1971 eponymous debut to 1991s Missing Years. This (appropriately) draws heavily from his early recordings (including the aforementioned debut), but it also does a terrific job of finding songs on uneven albums, while giving weight to such classic albums as Bruised Orange. Although those previously mentioned albums are all worthwhile on their own terms (as are many of Prines other records), this provides a nearly flawless recap of his career -- so much so that its not only for neophytes, but also reminds longtime fans why they loved him in the first place. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 27 Title: Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings Released: 1995-04-04 Tracks: 14 Duration: 57:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 New Train (03:24) 2 Aint Hurtin Nobody (05:00) 3 All the Way With You (03:53) 4 We Are the Lonely (04:28) 5 Lake Marie (06:00) 6 Humidity Built the Snowman (04:27) 7 Day Is Done (03:33) 8 Quit Hollerin at Me (04:16) 9 Big Fat Love (03:58) 10 Same Thing Happened to Me (03:18) 11 This Love Is Real (03:18) 12 Leave the Lights On (03:28) 13 He Forgot That It Was Sunday (05:38) 14 I Love You So Much It Hurts (02:31) |
 | Album: 16 of 27 Title: Live on Tour Released: 1997 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:11:04 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Picture Show (03:55) 2 Quit Hollerin at Me (06:10) 3 You Got Gold (04:56) 4 Unwed Fathers (03:01) 5 Space Monkey (05:12) 6 The Late John Garfield Blues (04:11) 7 Storm Windows (04:32) 8 Jesus the Missing Years (06:39) 9 Humidity Built the Snowman (04:51) 10 Illegal Smile (04:33) 11 Daddys Little Pumpkin (03:38) 12 Lake Marie (08:49) 13 If I Could (03:11) 14 Stick a Needle in My Eye (03:06) 15 You Mean So Much to Me (04:14) |
| Live on Tour : Allmusic album Review : Prines second live album -- which also boasts three new studio tracks -- finds the singer/songwriter in fine form. Not surprisingly, the concert segment relies heavily on material from 1991s Grammy-winning The Missing Years, including rollicking versions of "Picture Show" and "Daddys Little Pumpkin," plus an affecting "You Got Gold" and the frequently hilarious "Jesus the Missing Years." Also here: a nine-minute reading of "Lake Marie" that improves on the version that highlighted 1995s Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings; the previously unrecorded "Space Monkey," about a Russian primate who spent 40 years you-know-where and came back to earth after the demise of the Soviet Union; and "Illegal Smile," the ode to marijuana that dates from Prines 1971 debut LP. The studio tracks tacked onto the end of this album are nothing to write home about, but overall, Live on Tour is a solid collection. Featuring everything from tender folk ballads to rockers packed with Prines trademark wacky witticisms, it would be a perfect starting point for anyone who has had the misfortune to have not yet encountered this one-of-a-kind artist. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 27 Title: In Spite of Ourselves Released: 1999-09-14 Tracks: 16 Duration: 43:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 (Were Not) The Jet Set (02:36) 2 So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad) (02:29) 3 Wedding Bells/Lets Turn Back the Years (03:46) 4 When Two Worlds Collide (02:21) 5 Milwaukee Here I Come (02:21) 6 I Know One (02:41) 7 Its a Cheating Situation (02:56) 8 Back Street Affair (02:47) 9 Loose Talk (02:44) 10 Lets Invite Them Over (02:11) 11 Til a Tear Becomes a Rose (02:50) 12 In a Town This Size (03:31) 13 We Could (02:17) 14 We Must Have Been Out of Our Minds (02:16) 15 In Spite of Ourselves (03:33) 16 Dear John (I Sent Your Saddle Home) (02:27) |
| In Spite of Ourselves : Allmusic album Review : In Spite of Ourselves is John Prines tribute to the music he grew up with -- good country songs written by folks like Roger Miller and Jack Clement. It is, at the same time, a golden opportunity for him to collaborate with some of his all-time favorite female vocalists. In the liner notes booklet, Prine tells the story: "I made a list of my favorite girl singers and the first nine I called said yes. I nearly fell over." One of Prines favorites is Iris DeMent, and her unique vocals grace four of the tracks here, including "(Were Not) The Jet Set," "We Could," and Prines lone songwriting appearance, "In Spite of Ourselves," a song written for the upcoming Billy Bob Thornton film, Daddy & Them, in which Prine appears. Trisha Yearwood, Connie Smith, Fiona Prine, Melba Montgomery, Emmylou Harris, Dolores Keane, Patty Loveless, and Lucinda Williams all share the studio with Prine, creating some mighty powerful duets. From Freddie Harts "Loose Talk" to Don Everlys "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)," the album manages to create a seamless scrapbook of both old and new songs, artists and memories. Prines duets are backed by some of the very best musicians available. Buddy Emmons and Dan Dugmore, two incredible pedal steel players, and Sam Bush, Kenny Malone, Jason Wilber, Jim Rooney, and Marty Stuart are just a few of the stellar players featured on the album. Overall, In Spite of Ourselves ranks as one of Prines finest works, a scrapbook of country classics, interpreted by some of the genres best female vocalists, in duet with one fine American singer and a great songwriter. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 27 Title: Souvenirs Released: 2000-10-31 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:01:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Souvenirs (03:42) 2 Fish and Whistle (03:00) 3 Far From Me (05:09) 4 Angel From Montgomery (05:07) 5 Donald & Lydia (04:09) 6 Christmas in Prison (03:36) 7 Storm Windows (04:26) 8 Grandpa Was a Carpenter (02:52) 9 The Late John Garfield Blues (03:46) 10 Blue Umbrella (03:53) 11 Six OClock News (04:36) 12 People Puttin People Down (04:00) 13 Sam Stone (04:39) 14 Please Dont Bury Me (03:06) 15 Hello in There (04:57) |
| Souvenirs : Allmusic album Review : In the liner notes to John Prines 2000 album Souvenirs, he calls the songs he has recorded during his 30-year career "faithful companions." They are indeed warm, friendly, and boldly intimate, whispering secrets to the listener -- but at the same time they are growing older and smoothing their youthful edge. In an effort to have his own master recordings of his favorite and most popular songs, Prine re-recorded 15 tracks for release in Germany (as he has always wanted to be popular in Germany), but upon hearing these re-recorded versions Oh Boy Records decided to release them in the U.S. (as Prine has always wanted to be popular there as well). The result is an interesting mix, wherein the historical stories ("Grandpa Was a Carpenter," "The Late John Garfield Blues") and rocking chair reminiscences ("Angel From Montgomery") are recalled with a genuine wisdom of the years, but the songs tinged with Prines signature cynical smirk ("People Puttin People Down," "Please Dont Bury Me") have lost some of their cheeky, finger-pointing optimism and almost sound like grumbling. Along with other performers who have tried to regain access to their compositions by re-recording them (it seems everyone from Merle Haggard to Prince has lost original song rights at some point), John Prines contemporary touches on these old favorites may provide new insights, but the new versions rarely surpass the originals. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 27 Title: Fair & Square Released: 2005-04-26 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:02:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Glory of True Love (04:12) 2 Crazy as a Loon (05:03) 3 Long Monday (03:22) 4 Taking a Walk (06:09) 5 Some Humans Ain’t Human (07:03) 6 My Darlin’ Hometown (03:14) 7 Morning Train (04:02) 8 The Moon Is Down (03:47) 9 Clay Pigeons (04:27) 10 She Is My Everything (04:25) 11 I Hate It When That Happens to Me (02:49) 12 Bear Creek Blues (04:45) 13 Other Side of Town (04:53) 14 Safety Joe (03:58) |
| Fair & Square : Allmusic album Review : Never an artist known to push himself harder than necessary, 2005s Fair and Square was John Prines first album in five years, and his first set dominated by new material since 1995s Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings (a live album, a set of covers and a collection of new recordings of older material helped fill the gap). Of course, Prine had a fair amount to occupy him during that decade between new albums, most notably a bout with cancer in 1999, and while by all accounts Prine beat the disease with proper treatment, the man on Fair and Square seems a good bit less scrappy and more contemplative than the guy who cut Prines most memorable material. The lyric sheet for Fair and Square reads like classic John Prine, with plenty of sly regular-guy wit and pithy observations on the state of life ("Crazy as a Loon"), love ("She Is My Everything") and the world around us ("Some Humans Aint Human" and "My Darlin Hometown"), but the spare, simple production (by Prine and engineer Gary Paczosa) and the rueful tone of Prines vocals suggest a man who is just a bit weary, though that seems to be not a matter of health as much as advancing maturity and the world around him (with "Some Humans Aint Human" explicitly addressing the War in Iraq amidst other recent failures of compassion). Its significant that the discs "bonus tracks" are easily the most upbeat -- the funny henpecked husbands tale of "Other Side Of Town" and "Safety Joe," a witty warning about the dangers of too much caution. Theres plenty of fine music on Fair and Square (Jerry Douglas and Alison Krauss are among the stellar pickers on-board) and there still isnt anyone who writes quite like John Prine, but for the most part this album is an unusually spare and subdued effort from an artist who usually cant help but crack a smile; with any luck hell be feeling a bit more hopeful next time out, though this is still great music for a quiet afternoon. | ||
 | Album: 20 of 27 Title: Standard Songs for Average People Released: 2007-04-24 Tracks: 14 Duration: 44:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Blue Eyed Elaine (02:34) 2 Dont Be Ashamed of Your Age (02:26) 3 I Forgot to Remember to Forget (03:01) 4 I Love You Because (04:22) 5 Pistol Packin Mama (02:43) 6 Saginaw, Michigan (02:55) 7 Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine (04:36) 8 Old Cape Cod (02:25) 9 Death of Floyd Collins (03:25) 10 The Blue Side of Lonesome (04:09) 11 In the Garden (03:08) 12 Just the Other Side of Nowhere (02:36) 13 Old Rugged Cross (03:31) 14 Where the Blue of the Night (03:01) |
| Standard Songs for Average People : Allmusic album Review : The title tells the story well enough on Standard Songs for Average People, a set of 14 country-leaning classics interpreted by venerable singer/songwriter John Prine and bluegrass balladeer Mac Wiseman. While Prine has never possessed a classically strong voice, he knows how to communicate a lyric well enough (even lyrics he didnt write himself), and its clear that he loves the songs hes selected for this project (Prine also co-produced with David Ferguson). Whatever Prine may lack in vocal polish, Wiseman easily brings to the table; if his voice is a bit sandier than it was years ago, he can still make the weepers sound convincingly sad and the uptempo numbers bring a smile when hes singing. The arrangements and production recall the smooth but homey sound of Nashvilles countrypolitan era, and the pickers bring the songs across with a simple but impressive aplomb (especially Tom OBrien on guitar and banjo and Joey Miskulin on accordion). And the songs...well, certain songs become standards because theyre so good almost no one can go wrong with them, and on this set "I Love You Because," "The Blue Side of Lonesome," "Saginaw, Michigan," and "Old Rugged Cross" sound fresh and engaging, even though youve probably heard them hundreds of time before. And while they may not be as well-known, Tom T. Halls "Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine," Kris Kristoffersons "Just the Other Side of Nowhere," and Bob Wills "Dont Be Ashamed of Your Age" sure sound like classics coming from Prine and Wiseman. The craft is strong on Standard Songs for Average People, but at its heart it sounds like two friends singing some old songs they love on a quiet evening, and thats part of the albums strength -- these are 14 songs sung by two guys who know a great tune when they hear it, and they allow these numbers to work their magic simply, which serves them very well. | ||
 | Album: 21 of 27 Title: Fair & Square EP Released: 2008-10-28 Tracks: 4 Duration: 15:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Carousel of Love (03:17) 2 Thats Alright by Me (03:08) 3 Thats How Every Empire Falls (05:34) 4 Dual Custody (03:50) |
 | Album: 22 of 27 Title: In Person & On Stage Released: 2010-05-25 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:12:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Spanish Pipedream (03:34) 2 She Is My Everything (04:50) 3 In Spite of Ourselves (04:41) 4 Long Monday (03:48) 5 The Late John Garfield Blues (04:19) 6 The Bottomless Lake (06:16) 7 Bear Creek Blues (05:29) 8 Saddle in the Rain (06:17) 9 Angel From Montgomery (04:57) 10 Your Flag Decal Wont Get You Into Heaven Anymore (05:35) 11 Mexican Home (05:20) 12 Unwed Fathers (04:32) 13 Glory of True Love (05:27) 14 Paradise (07:01) |
| In Person & On Stage : Allmusic album Review : A die-hard fan could, by now, accuse John Prine of coasting and have a good argument. Of the few albums hes released since the turn of the century, only one, 2005s Fair & Square, contained new material, and that one came only after a songwriting hiatus of about a decade. Why Prine has virtually given up on producing new material is known, one would assume, only to him, and thats a shame, because in Prines prime, the 70s and 80s, he was not just prolific but consistently brilliant. In Person & On Stage, it should come as no surprise given the title, that this is yet another rehash, Prines third official live album, with nary a new tune aboard. Cut at different shows with guitarist/mandolinist Jason Wilber and bassist Dave Jacques, both of whom also provide background vocals, the collection also features a number of guest artists, among them Iris DeMent, Josh Ritter, and Emmylou Harris, who is her usual arresting self on "Angel from Montgomery," a track from Prines 1971 debut that has since become quite possibly his most covered composition. Prine also draws from that debut with updated renditions of "Spanish Pipedream" (which opens the album), "Paradise" (which closes it), and "Your Flag Decal Wont Get You into Heaven Anymore," but he doesnt restrict himself to older material, offering four songs from the above-mentioned Fair & Square, as well. Prines performance is solid -- his voice has gotten grainier over the years, but his delivery is no less impassioned. Now if only he would get back to writing. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 27 Title: The Singing Mailman Delivers Released: 2011-10-25 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:15:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hello in There (04:05) 2 Souvenirs (03:20) 3 Great Society Conflict Veterans Blues (03:40) 4 Paradise (03:12) 5 Blue Umbrella (02:31) 6 Aw Heck (01:37) 7 Illegal Smile (02:38) 8 Flashback Blues (01:47) 9 The Frying Pan (01:19) 10 Sour Grapes (01:59) 11 A Star, a Jewel, and a Hoax (01:22) 1 Flashback Blues (02:39) 2 Hello in There (04:42) 3 Your Flag Decal Wont Get You into Heaven Anymore (03:12) 4 The Great Compromise (06:05) 5 Blue Umbrella (03:50) 6 Illegal Smile (03:19) 7 Angel From Montgomery (04:00) 8 A Good Time (03:48) 9 Hey Good Lookin > Jambalaya (On the Bayou) (01:41) 10 Quiet Man (03:05) 11 Paradise (03:37) 12 Great Society Conflict Veterans Blues (04:36) 13 Spanish Pipedream (02:58) |
| The Singing Mailman Delivers : Allmusic album Review : When John Prine released his self-titled debut album in 1971, it seemed as if a major new songwriter had miraculously appeared out of nowhere (or Chicago, which to many folks seemed like roughly the same thing at that time), and this set of early Prine recordings suggests that his gifts as a writer appeared fully formed without a long gestation period. The Singing Mailman Delivers includes Prines first demo tape, cut at a Chicago radio station in August 1970, and a recording of the songwriter on-stage at a Windy City folk club three months later, both put to tape when Prine was still holding down a day job as a letter carrier. The studio tape is as simple as can be, just Prine and his guitar, and the voice has a bit less of the drawl he would affect later on (which always seemed a bit suspect from a boy born and raised in Illinois), but the songs, all but one of which would appear on his early albums, make clear he already had a singular lyrical voice -- witty, literate yet plain-spoken, and mature beyond his then-24 years -- and he could deliver his material with a casual confidence that was winning. (The one otherwise unrecorded song, "A Star, A Jewel, and a Hoax," sounds more like a fragment than a fully formed song, and its no tragedy that it was lost to history until now.) The live tape has a bassist backing Prine on a few songs, but otherwise sounds quite similar, though he was already attracting a devoted audience (they can sing along on several of his tunes) and Prine appears to be having a ball, cracking wise between tunes, bantering with the audience, and breaking out his Tex Ritter impression for the final verse of "The Great Compromise." Still, while Prine doesnt betray a bit of pretension in front of an audience, he can also venture into more serious material like "Hello in There" or "Great Society Conflict Veterans Blues" (an early draft of "Sam Stone") and gently but firmly take his listeners with him. The Singing Mailman Delivers doesnt do much to rewrite Prines early history, but it confirms he revealed a remarkable talent as soon as he put his mind to writing songs, and its an entertaining addition to his catalog for longtime fans. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 27 Title: Live in Asheville 86 Released: 2016-04-28 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:25:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Lulu Walls (03:05) 2 Torch Singer (02:27) 3 Aw Heck (02:32) 4 Six OClock News (03:29) 5 Out of Love (intro) (01:33) 6 Out of Love (03:15) 7 Donald and Lydia (05:12) 8 Blue Umbrella (04:15) 9 Souvenirs (03:37) 10 Grandpa Was a Carpenter (02:56) 11 Fish and Whistle (03:15) 12 Storm Windows (06:15) 13 Illegal Smile (03:42) 14 Dear Abby (04:48) 15 Far From Me (04:00) 16 Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone (03:51) 17 Linda Goes to Mars (03:13) 18 Lets Talk Dirty (intro) (01:38) 19 Lets Talk Dirty in Hawaiian (03:07) 20 The Great Compromise (04:13) 21 Sam Stone (05:08) 22 Sailing Around (03:41) 23 My Own Best Friend (03:02) 24 Spanish Pipedream (02:46) |
 | Album: 25 of 27 Title: For Better, or Worse Released: 2016-09-30 Tracks: 15 Duration: 42:35 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Who’s Gonna Take the Garbage Out (02:41) 2 Storms Never Last (02:43) 3 Falling in Love Again (02:31) 4 Color of the Blues (02:54) 5 I’m Tellin’ You (01:50) 6 Remember Me (When Candlelights Are Gleaming) (03:32) 7 Look at Us (02:46) 8 Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, and Loud, Loud Music (02:58) 9 Fifteen Years Ago (03:06) 10 Cold, Cold Heart (03:32) 11 Dreaming My Dreams With You (03:12) 12 Mental Cruelty (02:23) 13 Mr. & Mrs. Used to Be (02:36) 14 My Happiness (02:55) 15 Just Waitin’ (02:49) |
| For Better, or Worse : Allmusic album Review : In 1999, John Prine released a thoroughly charming and engaging album called In Spite of Ourselves, in which he covered a handful of classic country tunes (tossing in one new original for good measure) as duets with nine talented female vocalists. Prine has given the same approach another try 17 years later, and though For Better, or Worse isnt quite as good as his first go-round with this concept, its still a fine collection of songs from a man who knows a bit about crafting a tune. The greatest strength of For Better, or Worse is also one of its weaknesses -- Prine himself. Prine was nearly 70 when he recorded this album, and his voice has grown worse for wear (his battle with throat cancer in the 90s and a more recent brush with lung cancer havent helped). But if he sounds his age on these tracks, he also spins that to his advantage; on numbers like "Whos Gonna Take the Garbage Out," "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke," and "Im Telling You," he sounds like an wily old rascal whos seen it all and has plenty to tell. Prines female co-stars are all in better shape than he is in terms of their instruments, and across the board they sound happy and honored to be working with the great man. Alison Krauss, Lee Ann Womack, Kacey Musgraves, Susan Tedeschi, Miranda Lambert, and Kathy Mattea all bring their A game to these sessions, and help to give Prine a boost when he needs it. Of course, the best tracks are the ones where Prine teams up with Iris DeMent; the two singers have long shown theyre simpatico, and hearing them together on "Whos Gonna Take the Garbage Out" and "Mr. & Mrs. Used to Be" is a delight. Add in a studio band that delivers the classic Nashville honky tonk sound these songs demand, and a closing solo performance of "Just Waitin," where Prine makes Luke the Drifters lyrics sound like something he could have written himself, and you get a fine latter-day album from a seminal artist. Its still troubling that one of Americas best songwriters seems to have lost the desire to pen new material, but For Better, or Worse shows John Prine hasnt lost his spirit as a performer. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 27 Title: The Tree of Forgiveness Released: 2018-04-13 Tracks: 10 Duration: 32:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Knockin’ on Your Screen Door (02:19) 2 I Have Met My Love Today (01:50) 3 Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone) (04:05) 4 Summer’s End (03:29) 5 Caravan of Fools (02:28) 6 Lonesome Friends of Science (04:41) 7 No Ordinary Blue (02:56) 8 Boundless Love (03:35) 9 God Only Knows (03:46) 10 When I Get to Heaven (03:42) |
| The Tree of Forgiveness : Allmusic album Review : The man looking out from the cover of The Tree of Forgiveness is 71 years old and just a bit worse for wear. He clearly has his wits about him, but he probably has little use for wasting time or needless effort. Hes been around the block a few times, and has some stories to tell if youre willing to sit down and listen. The mans voice is a nearly perfect match for the face: not as strong as it was in his youth, but still boasting enough spunk to make himself heard when he feels like it. The Tree of Forgiveness is John Prines first collection of original material since 2005s Fair & Square, and in many respects it sounds casual and easygoing, as if Prine and his pals could have cut it in his living room in a few afternoons. But even when he cut his debut album in 1971, Prine never exactly sounded young, and the high mileage thats so much a part of The Tree of Forgiveness seems to suit him and these songs. The rueful tone of "Summers End" and "I Have Met My Love Today" has been deepened by the relative fragility of Prines instrument, and he sounds rascally when he spins tales like "Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)" and "The Lonesome Friends of Science," engaging in lively wordplay that belies his years. And with producer Dave Cobb overseeing the sessions, The Tree of Forgiveness strikes a welcome balance between an informal guitar pull and a late-night meeting around the campfire where the volume may be low but the investment in the material is high. The Tree of Forgiveness never sounds forced, but Cobb and his crew have drawn out Prine in a way that uses his age as an asset, not a drawback. And while you cant ignore Prines septuagenarian status on these recordings, the closer, "When I Get to Heaven," suggests hes given mortality plenty of thought and is totally at ease with it. The Tree of Forgiveness is autumnal John Prine, but its also a potent reminder that his remarkable skills as a songwriter and his rough-hewn excellence as a singer havent failed him yet. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 27 Title: The Living Room Sessions Released: 2019-05-28 Tracks: 2 Duration: 07:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Unwed Fathers (03:55) 2 People Puttin’ People Down (03:42) |