John Prine

The very first album by John Prine was released in 1971. Many albums later, many paths and detours on the way, and if one wants to know what the music of John Prine is about he has not far to go.

Simply pick up this self titled first album and do what I did. Realize that quite a few of these songs are songs that you have heard before, if not Prine's version, then one of the many, many covers of these songs have been recorded.

Prine has influenced so many singers. He is a singers songwriter. Artists from Johnny Cash to Roger Waters have listed him as among the greatest songwriters of the era, and indeed he was blessed with the uneasy title of the next Dylan upon the release of this, his first album.

Dylan he was not. No one could be. Prine has inevitably done well in his career. With double digit album releases, tours, and publishing fees there is no need to feel bad for John Prine.

He is one of those artists who never sold out for commercial success. He has been around so long there have been generation of folk, country-rock and alt country artists have sung his praises and accepted his blessings.

This first album is a rarity. It is an album with great lyrics, a strong voiced singer and a message.

The album opens with Illegal Smile, telling of how one can cheaply correct a day when one is having no fun. It is a standard still on tour and for good reason.

Later the song Hello in There an essay on the loneliness we all feel and hope to have broken is still relevant.

The first of many political songs written by Prine was Sam Stone about a returning wounded Vietnam veteran who " has a hole in his arm where all his money goes."

Songs such as Paradise take on Corporate Coal long before it was popular to do so. Mulenberg county was ruined by the Coal Train and Prine laments this beautifully.

On Far From Me, the song Prine often tells as his favorite we meet a man who loves a waitress named Cathy whose love he has lost.

Pretty Good, Quiet Man, and Donald and Lydia have all become staples of the country rock genre, performed by Prine or someone else.

The most famous song on the album and perhaps of Prine's career is a strong protest song. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore addresses the Vietnam War and advises that Heaven is too full from war to offer a guarenteed entry into all our public patriots.

John Prine is most likely an acquired taste. If you like Todd Snider, The Avett Brothers, James McMurtry or Kris Kristofferson it is likely you will find an affection for these songs. If you want someone to make you feel good about the status quo you most likely will not enjoy Prine's music.

Still in 1971 everyone wrote politically tinged music. Prine just did it better, and when he was not he was writing affecting songs of people on the edge with a feeling an depth which made you assume that wherever he came from he had seen the cliffs as well.

This is not only a good album, a great album, for influence alone it is one of the quintessential albums of all time.