John Prine

John Prine has been a prolific songwriter and performer since 1970. He was born on October 10, 1946 in MaywoodIllinois. His parents were William Prine and Verna Hamm. He was taught to play the guitar by his brother, David. This endeavor began at 14. John Prine served in the Army and was a postman for five years.  He was still delivering the mail in Maywood, Illinois when he began to sing at open-mic evenings at the Fith Peg. Prine was a spectator but responded to a dare from another performer- “You think you can do better?”

Prine was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer on the right side of his neck in early 1998. The diseased tissue was removed and he was left with a substantial loss of tissue. Six weeks of radiation therapy ensued. The surgery may have added a more "gravelly sound" to his voice. He was given the Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting by BBC Radio 2 in 2003. That same year he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In Johnny Cash's autobiography Cash, he admitted "I don't listen to music much at the farm, unless I'm going into songwriting mode and looking for inspiration. Then I'll put on something by the writers I've admired and used for years (Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Guy Clark, and the late Steve Goodman are my Big Four)..."

Roger Waters of Pink Floyd fame says of Prine, “ he lives on that plane with Neil Young and Lennon.”

I could go on with endorsements for John Prine.

John Prine writes of Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abbey).

He writes of "Sam Stone," the Purple Heart soldier junkie daddy, and his death by overdose. "The most familiar refrain in the song is "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes".

The song can be interpreted as a reference to the phenomenon of heroin addiction among Vietnam war veterans.

John Prine covers a broad spectrum including, Donald and Lydia," where people make love from ten miles away.

"You Never Even Called Me By My Name" is one of my favorite songs. I thought it was written exclusively by a great song writer who died of leukemia in 1984, Steve Goodman. It was written by Steve Goodman and John Prine. It’s a spoof of standard Country and western lyrics. It was very successfully done by David Allen Coe on his Once Upon a Rhyme album in 1974. Prine refused to take credit and the tune was credited solely to Goodman. Goodman showed his appreciation to Prine by buying him a jukebox as a gift from his publishing royalties.

Coe credited Steve Goodman for the song as Goodman added the last verse that made the song, indeed, the perfect Country & Western song. It now contained “mama, trains, trucks, prison and getting drunk”.

Another song that John Prine did so well by Steve Goodman was Souvenirs.

Steve Goodman was an outstanding songwriter and in good company.

Diamonds In The Rough

Sweet Revenge

German Afternoons

Bruised Orange

Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings

In Spite of Ourselves

Fair & Square

Best of John Prine

“Dear Abbey” “Hello In There”. I was a “Bad Boy”.

I might be “The Oldest Baby In The World”.

I’ve got “The Late John Garfield Blues”. Me and “Sam Stone” were the victim of “The Great Compromise”. We were “Down By The Side Of The Road” in our “Automobile” with an “Illegal Smile”. We were “Living In The Future” traveling at the “Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness” on a “New Train". “Please Don’t Bury Me” at “Christmas In Prison”.

“He Was In Heaven Before He Died”.

It was a “Spanish Pipedream” in “Paradise”. We were “Killing The Blues” with “Donald And Lydia” under a “Blue Umbrella” without “Storm Windows” near "Lake Marie".

.When the "Day Is Done" we "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody"

An “Angel From Montgomery” said “That’s The Way That The World Goes ‘Round”. “It’s Happening To You”. "Same Thing Happened to Me". "I Hate It When That Happens to Me".

“All The Best” “Unwed Fathers” have “Common Sense” with “Aimless Love” while committing “The Sins Of Memphisto”.

“Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard”. “It’s A Big Old Goofy World”. “Fish And Whistle” with a “Bruised Orange”.

There are always “People Puttin’ People Down”. "We Are the Lonely".

It might be “Sweet Revenge” to go "All the Way With You" while “Linda Goes To Mars” for “One Red Rose” and “Sabu Visits The Twin Cities Alone”. This "Big Fat Love", "This Love Is Real”.

"Leave the Lights On", "Humidity Built the Snowman". So "Quit Hollerin' at Me",

"He Forgot That It Was Sunday". It was a "Long Monday". He was "Crazy as a Loon". "Some Humans Ain't Human", "Taking a Walk" on the "Other Side of Town" in "My Darlin' Hometown" while "The Moon Is Down".

He left his “Saddle In The Rain” so she put him on a "Morning Train". "She Is My Everything". It’s "The Glory of True Love"

“Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You”

I guess Fair & Square has to be my favorite. You absolutely have to have all of his work but this is my favorite.

"The Glory of True love" will get your feet moving. "Morning Train" will smooth you out. The whole album will rock you!