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In Memoriam: John Prine (1946-2020)

April 8, 2020 By Joe Marchese 12 Comments

John Prine The Tree of ForgivenessLast evening, we learned of the passing of John Prine, 73, from COVID-19 complications. Though initially branded by the press as one of the “new Dylans,” it wasn’t long before the singer-songwriter transcended that label – and most others. With wit, humor, anger, empathy, and social conscience, the onetime “singing mailman” delivered mordant observations and poignant character studies over a career spanning five decades.

Prine burst onto the scene with his 1971 self-titled release on Atlantic Records, establishing his own blend of folk, country, and rock.  Though John Prine didn’t get any higher than No. 154 on Billboard‘s U.S. albums chart, it introduced more future standards than most top ten records. “Sam Stone,” “Hello in There,” “Angel from Montgomery” and “Paradise” all established Prine as a major voice. It wasn’t long before the album was raided by other artists looking for choice material. Bonnie Raitt and Carly Simon tackled “Angel,” Bette Midler recorded “Hello in There,” and Swamp Dogg covered “Sam Stone.”  Jackie DeShannon and John Denver were among the first to reinterpret “Paradise.” Denver also brought his warm style to the album’s “Spanish Pipedream,” and Prine’s friend and collaborator Steve Goodman recorded “Donald and Lydia” for a solo LP of his own.  Prine built his audience not only on records, but with his intimate live performances during which the connection between audience and artist was palpable.

John Prine launched a four-album tenure on Atlantic which saw him welcome Cissy Houston, Steve Cropper, Jackson Browne, J.D. Souther, Glenn Frey, Bonnie Raitt, and other notables to play and sing with him. In subsequent years, he continued to explore the human condition on the Asylum label and his own Oh Boy Records. After a brief, five-year sabbatical from the recording studio, Prine returned in 1991 with The Missing Years, featuring guest turns from Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Everly, and Tom Petty. No mere nostalgist, Prine recorded a Christmas album in 1994, comprising original songs in his singular voice with a couple of vintage standards.

John Prine Sweet RevengeA songwriter’s songwriter, Prine made fans of such diverse artists as Kris Kristofferson, Paul Anka, and Bob Dylan. Upon beating cancer, he took a left-turn and celebrated the country music of his youth on 1994’s In Spite of Ourselves. Duet partners lined up to sing with him, among them Trisha Yearwood, Emmylou Harris, Connie Smith, and Lucinda Williams. By this point, Prine was an influential elder statesman of folk, a role he embraced on such thoughtful albums as Standard Songs for Average People, For Better, Or Worse, and his final studio release, 2018’s The Tree of Forgiveness. On the latter, younger talents like Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, and Dan Auerbach paid him tribute with their contributions.

Of course, there was nothing standard about John Prine, but his chronicles for, and of, so-called “average people” gave them dignity and agency. His gift to us was evident from that very first collection of songs: witness the aging couple in “Hello in There,” the addicted veteran and father of “Sam Stone,” the lonely housewife of “Angel from Montgomery,” or the forgotten community of “Paradise.” He didn’t soften with the passage of time. Whereas that first record had “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You into Heaven Anymore,” sharply critiquing false patriotism, 2005’s Fair and Square addressed the Iraq War on “Some Humans Ain’t Human.” With unflinching honesty, keen observation, and genuine concern, Prine’s gentle rasp was a voice for our time, and for all time.

Categories: News Genre: Country, Folk Tags: John Prine

Joe Marchese

JOE MARCHESE (Editor) joined The Second Disc shortly after its launch in early 2010, and has since penned daily news and reviews about classic music of all genres. In 2015, Joe formed the Second Disc Records label. Celebrating the great songwriters, producers and artists who created the sound of American popular song, Second Disc Records, in conjunction with Real Gone Music, has released newly-curated collections produced by Joe from iconic artists such as Johnny Mathis, Bobby Darin, Laura Nyro, Melissa Manchester, Chet Atkins, and many others. He has contributed liner notes to reissues from a diverse array of artists, among them Nat "King" Cole, Paul Williams, Lesley Gore, Dusty Springfield, B.J. Thomas, The 5th Dimension, Burt Bacharach, The Mamas and the Papas, Carpenters, Perry Como, Rod McKuen, Doris Day, Jackie DeShannon, and Andy Williams, and has compiled releases for talents including Robert Goulet and Keith Allison of Paul Revere and the Raiders. Over the past two decades, Joe has also worked in a variety of capacities on and off Broadway as well as at some of the premier theatres in the U.S., including Lincoln Center Theater, George Street Playhouse, Paper Mill Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, and the York Theatre Company. He has felt privileged to work on productions alongside artists such as the late Jack Klugman, Eli Wallach, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. In 2009, Joe began contributing theatre and music reviews to the print publication The Sondheim Review, and in 2012, he joined the staff of The Digital Bits as a regular contributor writing about film and television on DVD and Blu-ray. Joe currently resides in the suburbs of New York City.

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Comments

  1. Harris Goodman says

    April 8, 2020 at 1:19 pm

    I didn’t know who John Prine was until I bought the “No Nukes” album in 1979, and heard Bonnie Raitt singing “Angel From Montgomery.” I was blown away by the song and checked the writing credit on the sleeve. “Hmm..John Prine. I’ll have to check him out.” I did and became a huge fan of his music for forty years.
    So sad that after successfully beating two separate bouts of cancer, COVID-19 took him from us. Rest in peace, John.

    Reply
  2. Robert Lett says

    April 8, 2020 at 1:28 pm

    Sad and angry. Was unnecessary he should have had more years to live. RIP.

    Reply
  3. Bill Freedman says

    April 8, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    Great tribute. Thanks.

    Reply
  4. Phil Cohen says

    April 9, 2020 at 4:00 am

    Not familiar with his music beyond hearing one song on a 1970’s Atlantic Records various artists L.P., but it should be pointed out that he had pre-existing medical conditions, and it was amazing that he lived as long as he did. I won’t go into further detail. Others will.

    Reply
    • Harris Goodman says

      April 9, 2020 at 6:20 am

      Those pre-existing medical conditions included two separate bouts with cancer which he fought and survived. They don’t make the fact that COVID-19 ultimately took him from us any less tragic.

      You must be lots of fun at funerals, Phil.

      Reply
      • Michael Roberts says

        April 9, 2020 at 12:03 pm

        Thank you for your voice of reason & compassion, Harris.

        A tragic loss to the music world indeed.

        Reply
        • Harris Goodman says

          April 9, 2020 at 12:22 pm

          You’re welcome, Michael.

          Some people….jeez!

          Reply
  5. Phil Cohen says

    April 9, 2020 at 2:04 pm

    I was trying to be subtle and tactful, by not going into detail about his pre-existing conditions. and I won’t be baited or provoked into providing further details.

    Reply
    • Bill Freedman says

      April 9, 2020 at 2:13 pm

      I don’t think anyone was asking you to, Phil. You might spend your time more productively listening to more of John Prine’s music than that single song on the sampler album that you have heard. I suspect he could teach you a lot.

      Reply
      • Michael Roberts says

        April 9, 2020 at 2:25 pm

        Yeah, I don’t recall anyone asking for further details.

        Compassion and empathy maybe. That’s not asking a whole lot at this time in the world.

        Reply
  6. Kevin says

    April 11, 2020 at 12:38 am

    I think I’ll make a compilation called “Prime Prine”, but maybe that has already been done.

    Reply
  7. Kevin says

    April 11, 2020 at 12:46 am

    I notice that one of the posters here left a comparable post on the new Doris Day album thread

    Reply

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