John Prine

John Prine

John Prine

ASIN: B000002I98

Track Listings
 
1. Illegal Smile
2. Spanish Pipedream
3. Hello in There
4. Sam Stone
5. Paradise
6. Pretty Good
7. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore
8. Far from Me
9. Angel from Montgomery
10. Quiet Man
11. Donald and Lydia
12. Six O'Clock News
13. Flashback Blues

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Prine's 1971 self-titled debut set the tone for the rest of his career. A critical smash and a commercial disappointment, the record contains many of his best known compositions. Proving himself capable of tackling folk balladry, country, and rock with ease, Prine seems to spring into being as a fully formed singer-songwriter at age 24. Lyrically diverse, Prine offers topical songs such as "Sam Stone," the tale of a drug addicted Vietnam vet, achingly sad songs, such as the oft-covered "Angel from Montgomery," and, of course, his trademark wit gets ample time in the spotlight. Produced by the legendary Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Hall and Oates), the record is understated, letting Prine's comfy voice drive things. When needed, the famous house band at American Recording Studios in Memphis kicks in tasteful backing. --Ian Landau

John Prine,John Prine,Atlantic / Wea,Contemporary Folk,Folk & Traditional,Folk-Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Progressive Folk,Singer/Songwriter,United States of America
Standard Songs for Average People
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Prine and twang......
  • I guess I'm an "average people."
  • A Disappointment ...and so sorry to say it
  • John Prine Love
  • Awfully corny
 Standard Songs for Average People
John Prine & Mac Wiseman
Manufacturer: Oh Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000NVLJRO
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Tracks:

  1. Blue Eyed Elaine
  2. Don't Be Ashamed Of Your Age
  3. I Forgot To Remember To Forget
  4. I Love You Because
  5. Pistol Packin' Mama
  6. Saginaw Michigan
  7. Old Dogs, Children And Watermelon Wine
  8. Old Cape Cod
  9. Death Of Floyd Collins
  10. The Blue Side Of Lonesome
  11. In The Garden
  12. Just The Other Side Of Nowhere
  13. Old Rugged Cross
  14. Where The Blue Of The Night

Amazon.com

Things don't get much schmaltzier than a Dobro played Hawaiian style, which is why it's fitting that Cowboy Jack Clement offers one up on "The Blue Side of Lonesome," Leon Payne's dated but charming classic--only one such excursion into blue-haired reminiscing on an album of over-the-top sentimentality. It was the legendary Clement who paired smart-ass folkie Prine and bluegrass totem Wiseman, but the singers themselves chose the repertoire, which reads like songs people of a certain age might pick on a dry drunk. The tunes range, believe it or not, from religious hymns to covers of Patti Page's 1957 hit "Old Cape Cod," Kris Kristofferson's underrated "Just the Other Side of Nowhere," and Tom T. Hall's "Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine," with a little Elvis and Ernest Tubb thrown in for good measure. It's fitting that Prine and Wiseman revisit the Hall standard, since oddly, both singers vocally favor the Nashville storyteller from time to time. But one has to question their use of the Grand Ole Opry's Carol Lee Singers, who show up on several cuts and seem, well, just bizarre on a John Prine record, even as they evoke the lushly famous Nashville Sound of the 1960s. Suffice it to say, this is a quirky project, and if Prine's scratchy baritone and Wiseman's melodic tenor sometimes overlap to where you can't tell who's singing what, it doesn't much matter. You're listening to two new pals having what seems to be the time of their life. --Alanna Nash

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Prine and twang.............2007-07-03

I first caught the wind of the country & western direction in John Prine when I heard his earlier CD "In Spite of Ourselves." The Nashville influence has laid a noticable twang on his voice to the extent that the vocals are sometimes hardly recognizable as Mr. Prine. As mentioned in some of the other reviews, on my first listening, I also thought immediately of Tom T. Hall. For long time followers more accustomed to John's rebellious angles (and the wry title, at least, is pure Prine) this CD might be quite a shock. But I accept it as simply the mark of a mature artist stretching himself artistically, not "selling out" for the sake of sales to a mellower audience. My apologies for not commenting more about Mac, I am less familiar with his work but I assume that stylistically this is more in his comfort zone. His vocals bond nicely with John's and this is definitely equality in a duet. A nice relaxing work, accept it for what it is, not what you expect of John Prine.

4 out of 5 stars I guess I'm an "average people.".......2007-06-27

I heard John Prine and Mac Wiseman on NPR one afternoon
and fell in love. Their song choices are wonderful.

3 out of 5 stars A Disappointment ...and so sorry to say it.......2007-06-26

This was such a disappointment. I had looked forward to this for months, having admired Mac Wiseman for over fifty years, and Prine for thirty or so. But this just doesn't work.

The songs are such classics that each singer could do them well while singing by himslef. But there are just no strong emotional tugs from these "collaborations." Mac has done some great work singing with other bluegrass singers, and Prine has been terrific in his work with women singers ... but these two great men never seem to feed off one another. The feel suggests that these guys were not even singing together. I'll lay this away and go back to the many songs that I have by each that are so terrific.

5 out of 5 stars John Prine Love.......2007-06-14

I don't think there is anything John Prine could do to diminish the love we feel for his music in our family. We think he might be America's poet, or one of them anyway. This CD is sweet and lovely and seems like two great guys sitting down playing and singing some nice tunes together and we all get to listen or sing along. "Standard songs for average people..." - the title says it all. Just a sweet ole time with John Prine and, in this case, with Mr. Wiseman, too. I gave this to my husband for our anniversary, along with the recently released John Prine DVD, and we are always just so grateful for great artists and John Prine is surely one.

1 out of 5 stars Awfully corny.......2007-06-12

Sorry, love nearly all of JP's output but this is the worst I've ever heard, schmaltzy, corny, cringe-inducing, hurts me to say but it's the way I would see it. Bought it blind on the strength of all John's other stuff and regretted it immediately. If everyone else thinks it's great, maybe I can get my money back on ebay...
Fair & Square
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • One of John Prine's very best
  • Great...Wonderful...One of His Best!
  • John Prine Fair & Square
  • Meat and potatoes songs from a meat and potatoes guy
  • awesome
 Fair & Square
John Prine
Manufacturer: Oh Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0007VROHE
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

  1. Glory Of True Love
  2. Crazy As A Loon
  3. Long Monday
  4. Taking A Walk
  5. Some Humans Ain't Human
  6. My Darlin' Hometown
  7. Morning Train
  8. The Moon Is Down
  9. Clay Pigeons
  10. She Is My Everything
  11. I Hate It When That Happens To Me
  12. Bear Creek Blues
  13. Other Side Of Town
  14. Safety Joe

Amazon.com

Good things come to those who wait. During John Prine's nine-year interval between albums of original material, fans who hailed his recovery from cancer wondered whether he'd ever return to full creative speed. Here, Prine puts doubts to rest with an album that ranks with the finest of an inspired career. The big heart of "Glory of True Love," the socially conscious bite of "Some Humans Ain't Human," the reflective grace of "Taking a Walk," the wry whimsy of "Crazy as a Loon"--the hallmarks of Prine's artistry are reaffirmed on Fair & Square. The album also reflects Prine's first attempt at producing himself, with the warmth of his rough-hewn vocals finding a comfortable fit among the organic, largely acoustic arrangements. Though Prine penned 12 of the 14 cuts (including two bonus tracks, one recorded in concert), a pair of covers prove revelatory: Blaze Foley's "Clay Pigeons" sounds like it could well be one of Prine's own (with a melody that recalls "Hello in There" and a lyric of renewal that sounds like personal testament), while A.P. Carter's "Bear Creek Blues" carries an electric charge as the traditional song rocks harder than anything else on the album. With a generous selection of close to an hour of music, the album stands as a creative triumph for Prine, a fully satisfying effort that rewards the patience of his loyal fans. Welcome back. --Don McLeese

Album Description

John Prine takes his own sweet time dancing with his muse -- and truly writes what's in his soul. So if it takes him a little longer to write the songs that capture moments and reveal the gently folded human truths that bind us all together. It's always worth the wait. Now, nearly nine years since the release of his Grammy-nominated Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, the iconic American writer has put the finishing touches on his latest offering, appropriately titled, Fair & Square. "It was just time," says Prine in his always understated way. "I had a bunch of songs. I'd started recording them, and it turns out, I liked them pretty well. So, now, I get to get them all just the way I like them - and then I get to let them go out to meet the world." With the occasional wheezing accordion, curlicue electric guitar parts, quick-wristed mandolins, billowing B-3 pads and puddles of pedal steel guitar, the rough-voiced singer/songwriter's first self-produced record is a homey affair that draws generously from the palette of traditional American music -- be it folk, bluegrass, shuffles, vintage rock & roll, torch, country -- for an amalgamation that would be at home on any Wurlitzer in a whiskey-soaked tavern with beer signs flickering from age and the walls stained deeper than sepia from the years of constant smoke.

With bluegrass queen Alison Krauss on the ode to his Irish refuge "My Darlin' Hometown", the street corner desolation of "The Moon Is Down" and alt-country princess Mindy Smith bringing allure and tartness to "Morning Train," "Long Monday" and the melted neon ponder of "Taking A Walk," Fair & Square is the work of a man at ease with his life, secure with his place in the world and willing to share the things that he sees. "It's been a while, so I'm pretty excited," Prine admits with that Oh Boy grin. "And that's a really good place to be."

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars One of John Prine's very best.......2007-07-03

I am a long time fan of John Prine and was thrilled with this albumn, it may be his best yet?

5 out of 5 stars Great...Wonderful...One of His Best!.......2007-06-13

Love this album! Can't get the tunes out of my head... if you love Lost Dogs, you'll love this one too! It was worth the wait!

5 out of 5 stars John Prine Fair & Square.......2007-05-30

WOW!!!! What a fabulous CD. I bought two and gave one to my daughter. My favorite CD. Have copies in all 3 of my cars and on both computers.

5 out of 5 stars Meat and potatoes songs from a meat and potatoes guy.......2007-04-07

A classic song doesn't belong to its creator. It's ours. We take it into our lives and use it for our purposes and sing it in the car or the shower --- we own it so completely we might as well have written and recorded it ourselves. "My favorite song." It's like that.

What are the elements of a classic song? No one can quite say. But some people seem to have the knack of not trying to write them --- and then rolling them out with frightening regularity. Like John Prine.

Prine was once a prodigy, the next savior of the music business. At a tender age, he was introduced to Kris Kristofferson, and the next thing he knew, Kristofferson had called him up on stage. Prince sang a few songs on a borrowed guitar. Kristofferson announced, "No way somebody this young can be writing so heavy. John Prine is so good, we may have to break his thumbs." The legendary producer, Jerry Wexler, was in the audience. The following day, he offered Prine a recording contract.

Prine is such a natural songwriter that on his first album he used two songs he wrote when he was fourteen. At 19, he wrote "Hello In There," a song about senior citizens that will bring audiences to tears until the end of time. For thirty years, he went his own way, pleasing himself and, in the process, delighting his loyal audience. And now, clearing 60, he has a CD that is studded with classics.

This CD is so satisfying, so easy to put on the machine and play all day, so damn comfortable that it almost seemed that Prine had intimate access to my head. It was like, "These are my songs. This is how I feel. So how did this guy in Nashville come to write and sing them?" That was when I decided that I wanted to talk to John Prine. That's usually a terrible idea --- in my experience, you do best never to meet your heroes. But this thing could be arranged, and, in short order, I discovered that the smart, laid-back, endlessly amused persona of John Prine on "Fair & Square" is very close to the actual person I was talking to. Here are the Greatest Hits of that conversation:

HB: Why do these songs sound so familiar

JP: Because this was the most comfortable I've ever been in the studio. I sang these songs in concert over the last 3 years. I knew they fit, I knew people liked them.

HB: "Hello In There" was an instant classic. Forty years later, can you bear to perform it?

JP: More than any other song, it gets stronger every day for me. I never tire of singing it. I don't know how I came up with such a pretty melody. It was an exercise --- to use every chord I had ever heard. I paid a guy five bucks to write it out so I could publish it. I couldn't believe it when he played it on piano

HB: Some of these new songs are so funny, do you laugh while you write them?

JP: I laugh at the funny lines --- hey, I laugh at even the serious stuff. When it's going well, I feel like I'm taking dictation. But I don't have hundreds of songs waiting --- you've heard them all.

HB: Do they come out in a rush?

JP: I type so slow I can edit as I write

HB: You say you're lazy. Do you feel guilty when you go for months and don't write?

JP: I 'm not Catholic, I'm not Jewish --- I can talk myself out of feeling guilty. Because it's easier to not write. I only love the songs I have to write. I trust a song like that --- a song straight from the gut. There are some really good songs that, if you don't write them down, someone else will.

HB: On "Fair & Square," there's a political song, "Some Humans Ain't Human" --- but it's mostly funny, with only one direct reference to the President.

JP: I always felt that way about protest and politics --- include it in your conversation instead of raving about it.

HB: How does that song go over in the red states?

JP: When I'm first singing about some issue, people change the subject. Later, it seems about right.

HB: What's your daily media intake?

JP: I hardly read at all. My wife reads three books at a time, but I read "Archie and Veronica" --- in the comic book form.

HB: Who do you listen to?

JP: I buy a lot of CDs, and I listen to them once. But Van [Morrison] or Bob [Dylan] or Merle [Haggard] --- I listen carefully to all of those.

HB: Taking care of yourself?

JP: I have a poor diet --- I'm a meat and potatoes guy. That has something to do with how I see things. There are no peas on my plate.

"No peas on my plate" is a throwaway line from a song John Prine will never write. No loss. The songs he wrote will do just fine. Not country. Not rock. Not folk. Just...songs. With no gimmicks. I guess if you write classics, that's good enough.

4 out of 5 stars awesome.......2007-03-31

I am a newcomer to John Prine's work. This is an awesome cd and I definitely recommend this purchase.
John Prine
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Wise Beyond His Years
  • still his best.
  • Such sad songs, telling of American grotesques
  • John Prine
  • Lyrical genius
 John Prine
John Prine
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002I97
Release Date: 1990-01-24

Tracks:

  1. Illegal Smile
  2. Spanish Pipedream
  3. Hello In There
  4. Sam Stone
  5. Paradise
  6. Pretty Good
  7. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
  8. Far From Me
  9. Angel From Montgomery
  10. Quiet Man
  11. Donald And Lydia
  12. Six O'Clock News
  13. Flashback Blues

Amazon.com essential recording

Prine's 1971 self-titled debut set the tone for the rest of his career. A critical smash and a commercial disappointment, the record contains many of his best known compositions. Proving himself capable of tackling folk balladry, country, and rock with ease, Prine seems to spring into being as a fully formed singer-songwriter at age 24. Lyrically diverse, Prine offers topical songs such as "Sam Stone," the tale of a drug addicted Vietnam vet, achingly sad songs, such as the oft-covered "Angel from Montgomery," and, of course, his trademark wit gets ample time in the spotlight. Produced by the legendary Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Hall and Oates), the record is understated, letting Prine's comfy voice drive things. When needed, the famous house band at American Recording Studios in Memphis kicks in tasteful backing. --Ian Landau

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Wise Beyond His Years.......2006-12-17

John Prine's self-titled debut album appeared in 1971 when he was about 24 years old. The songs within it would be great coming from a 30 or 40-year old with significant life experience. Their depth, compassion and understanding are simply amazing coming from such a young person.

That said, the album opens with two counterculture songs, starting with the somewhat silly "Illegal Smile", which laments the balance between the "evil" of marijuana use and the penalties imposed by society. It's a great singalong song, and ends with the wonderful nonsense rhyme "well done, hot dog bun, my sister.....is a nun!" Next comes "Spanish Pipe Dream" in which Prine encourages us to "blow up your TV" and "move to the country", advice that's probably more relevant today than in 1970.

"Hello In There" is an immeasurably sad and poignant song about the lives of older people--again, it's hard to believe that a 24-year old could have such insight. Later Prine revisits the theme from a country perspective with "Angel from Montgomery", a song that's been covered countless times--Bonnie Raitt and Prine do a great duet on his "John Prine Live" album.

Two anti-war songs come soon after, the rollicking "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore" and the anguished "Sam Stone", one of the few Prine songs that ever got any mainstream radio airplay--strange given its graphic chorus "there's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes; Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose."

"Donald and Lydia" is another achingly poignant song, this time about a young couple separated by his life as a private at Fort Polk. Prine gives us another look at Army life with "Oh Heck"--a love song written by a soldier --the title comes from one of Prine's army buddies looking at the lyrics (which includes "the cannibals can catch me and fry me in a pan, long as I got my woman") and exclaiming "oh heck!"

In "Far From Me", the love affair is close range, but falling apart, "ain't it funny how an old broken bottle looks just like a diamong ring." In "Quiet Man", the love affair is over and Prine waxes elliptical in the beautiful chorus--"oodles of light/what a beautiful sight/both of God's eyes are shining tonight/rays and beams of incredible dreams/I am the quiet man."

Family turmoil is the theme of "Six O'Clock News"--again, it's hard to see how a 24-year old could have such insight. "Paradise" is autobiographical, I think, as Prine, who was raised in Illinois, visits his father's homeland in Kentucky only to see that "Mr. Peabody's coal train has hauled it away." I've sung this song at open mike nights more times than I can remember.

Hands down the funniest song on the CD is "Pretty Good", which runs the gamut from used car salesmen to sex with aliens to "the saviours' feast" featuring Allah and Buddha. Has anyone written a funnier line than "up in the sky an Arabian rabbi fed Quaker oats to a priest"? "Flashback Blues" finishes the set, an OK song, but in my mind not the equal of all the songs preceding.

Prine's vocals are steady throughout and the arrangements all work, but the signature feature of "John Prine" and of much of his work over 35 years is the quality of his songs, a feature that made and has kept me a big Prine fan.

5 out of 5 stars still his best........2006-10-21

john prine's 1st album is still his best. it would indeed be hard to top this record. each song is terrific. an absolute classic of american songcraft. enough said.

5 out of 5 stars Such sad songs, telling of American grotesques.......2006-10-11

I heard "Hello in There" years ago and marveled at what an incredibly sad song it was. But I never heard this album until a windy day I was out walking and the college radio station played the entire album. Afterwards, I thought "Donald and Lydia" was the saddest song on the album. But I was also transfixed by the "American grotesque" element, of small town people living small town lives but also being heroically American about it.

Nowadays, this music would be called alt-country or something, but back then it was folk and it is now more like Americana, nearly legendary. Few people listen to tis music, perhaps, but it is something easy to appreciate and it will change the way you think about things.

5 out of 5 stars John Prine.......2006-08-19

My husband & I just discovered John Prine last year through friends. He is a total delight & wish we would have known about him through the years.

5 out of 5 stars Lyrical genius.......2006-08-17

This isn't the first time I have heard this cd. In fact, I had the album many years ago. Love all the songs on it. Prine's lyrics are tremendous and he has a unique quality to his voice.
Great Days: The John Prine Anthology
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Days is GREAT
  • Takes you on the gamut of emotions
  • Gave it as A Gift
  • Great Compromise
  • WARNING!! This collection contains the saddest song ever written
 Great Days: The John Prine Anthology
John Prine
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003329
Release Date: 1993-08-17

Tracks:

  1. Illegal Smile
  2. Spanish Pipedream
  3. Hello In There
  4. Sam Stone
  5. Paradise
  6. Donald And Lydia
  7. The Late John Garfield Blues
  8. Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You
  9. The Great Compromise
  10. Sweet Revenge
  11. Please Don't Bury Me
  12. Christmas In Prison
  13. Dear Abby (Live)
  14. Blue Umbrella
  15. Common Sense
  16. Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard
  17. Saddle In The Rain
  18. He Was In Heaven Before He Died
  19. Fish And Whistle
  20. That's The Way That The World Goes 'Round
  21. Bruised Orange (Chain Of Sorrow)

Tracks:

  1. Sabu Visits The Twin Cities Alone
  2. Automobile
  3. Killing The Blues
  4. Down By The Side Of The Road
  5. Living In The Future
  6. It's Happening To You
  7. Storm Windows
  8. One Red Rose
  9. Souvenirs - Steve Goodman
  10. Aimless Love
  11. The Oldest Baby In The World
  12. People Puttin' People Down
  13. Unwed Fathers
  14. Angel From Montgomery (Live)
  15. Linda Goes To Mars
  16. Bad Boy
  17. Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness (Live)
  18. It's A Big Old Goofy World (Live)
  19. The Sins Of Memphisto
  20. All The Best

Amazon.com essential recording

If you buy Great Days: The John Prine Anthology, you may live to regret it. He's probably the best American folk-song lyricist of his generation, mixing low-key poignancy and deadpan humor in perfect proportions. His musical limitations serve to reinforce the understated nature of his art, and his short, plain-spoken lines (written in the offhand conversational style of his Midwestern and Appalachian characters) sneak through the back door of your imagination and won't leave. So where does the regret come in? Well, as you listen to the 41 songs arranged chronologically on these two CDs, you're going to ask yourself, "If someone can write 41 songs as good as these, isn't there a good chance he wrote more than 41?" After hearing the anthology's six songs from Prine's 1971 debut album, for example, you may decide to go out and buy that album itself. After you hear songs as delightful as "Pretty Good" and "Your Flag Decal," which didn't find their way into the collection, you may soon find yourself hunting down all 10 of Prine's original studio albums. Then you may regret having bought Great Days. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Great Days is GREAT.......2007-07-10

This Anthology is wonderful. I have enjoyed hours of listening. It shipped very promptly and arrived in great condition.

5 out of 5 stars Takes you on the gamut of emotions.......2007-01-18

This is a collection of John Prine's work from about 1971 to 1997. The songs came from Prine's first ten albums. I'm not going to argue why some songs were included and others not--this is an excellent view of Prine's work. The mastering is pretty good, the selections are both cheerful and some of the saddest songs I've ever heard, including "Donald and Lydia" and "Christmas in Prison."

In retrospect, I almost wish I'd gotten the first ten CDs instead, but this is a good start and an interesting mix of Prine's work. Well worth the price.

4 out of 5 stars Gave it as A Gift.......2007-01-11

I had never heard of John Prine before, but I gave this CD set as a gift to one of my best friends. She loved it. I guess there are a few of his songs missing from this collection, but otherwise, she gave it a rave review!

5 out of 5 stars Great Compromise.......2006-09-12

If you are like me you have JP's albums on vinyl and really didn't want to re-buy them all just so I could have Johnny in the car so this looked like a "great compromise." Like a lot of reviewers have complained they left some fine tunes off but that's just a sad byproduct of compilations, ain't it? Get over it and move on. When all is said and done this is suitable for the fan such as myself who needs a little "Paradise" and "Sabu" on his daily commute. The accompanying booklet has a lot of info from Prine about each song that makes for fine reading, too.

4 out of 5 stars WARNING!! This collection contains the saddest song ever written.......2006-08-18

"Donald And Lydia" is easily the saddest song ever written. Sure on the first listen it sounds like a song of hope but crushes it in the last line of the last verse.

Be prepared to open a vein after the fifth or sixth listen when the sheer hopelessness of the lyrics hit you.

BTW "Goddamn Lonely Love" by the Drive By Truckers is the second saddest song.
In Spite Of Ourselves
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Romantic country ballads for "meetin', cheatin', and retreatin'"
  • Skips or burps
  • Great sing-along songs
  • Excellent Album
  • Duets of Discovery
 In Spite Of Ourselves
John Prine
Manufacturer: Oh Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  4. Infamous Angel
  5. Sweet Revenge

ASIN: B00000K3LI
Release Date: 1999-09-14

Tracks:

  1. (We're Not) The Jet Set
  2. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
  3. Wedding Bells/Let's Turn Back The Years
  4. When Two Worlds Collide
  5. Milwaukee Here I Come
  6. I Know One
  7. It's A Cheating Situation
  8. Back Street Affair
  9. Loose Talk
  10. Let's Invite Them Over
  11. Til A Tear Becomes A Rose
  12. In A Town This Size
  13. We Could
  14. We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds
  15. In Spite Of Ourselves
  16. Dear John (I Sent Your Saddle Home)

Amazon.com

You've got to hand it to John Prine. On the first song on this collection of duets, he plunges valiantly into "(We're Not) The Jet Set," singing the part made famous by George Jones, the Caruso of country music. And Prine, never blessed with the most pliant pipes, promptly pancakes a note flatter than Kansas. Aw, heck! The songwriter's songwriter takes a curious turn with his first studio album since 1995's Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings. Here he's penned only the hysterically coarse title track, opting instead to coo a slew of classic lovin'-and-losin' country tunes with Iris DeMent, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, Connie Smith, Trisha Yearwood, Melba Montgomery, Patty Loveless, Fiona Prine, and Dolores Keane. Given Prine's ragged-but-right voice, the effect is something akin to casting a grizzled character actor opposite Katherine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story. And you know what? It'd probably still be a charming (albeit very different) movie, because romantic comedies, like country duets, are all about chemistry, which is something In Spite of Ourselves has in excess. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Romantic country ballads for "meetin', cheatin', and retreatin'".......2007-07-02

John Prine remains a prominent artist in the country music arena; and with this album of duets with talented female singers he moves ever closer to center stage. Sure, some people say that he occasionally sings a note or two flat, but somehow this only serves to enhance his performance. His singing is sensitive, realistic and engaging; and John Prine's duet partners on this CD match him beautifully. We hear John doing duets with Iris DeMent, Lucinda Williams, Dolores Keane and more. Awesome!

The CD starts off with John and Iris DeMent singing a beautiful interpretation of "(We're Not) The Jet Set." John and Iris don't miss a note and they harmonize to perfection. This song celebrates love between a man and a woman who are, like me and most of the rest of us, middle class Americans. The musical arrangement with its guitars bolsters the number very well; but John and Iris's vocals remain squarely in the spotlight.

"So Sad (To Watch A Good Love Go Bad)" features John Prine singing with Connie Smith; John starts off singing passionately and when Connie comes in their vocals glisten brightly. The easy going, comfy musical arrangement belies the sadness of the lyrics as John and Connie lament the ending of their love affair. Love that piano, too!

Other gems on this CD include "When Two Worlds Collide;" this number has some great guitar and a handsome piano solo on it. John and Trisha Yearwood deliver this number without a superfluous note. Wow, how they sing together so well! I like the quick key changes in "When Two Worlds Collide." "It's A Cheating Situation" has John teaming up with Dolores Keane; they sing of a love they share even though they are already committed to other people. "It's A Cheating Situation" boasts a catchy melody and John and Dolores sing their hearts out for this number.

"'Til A Tear Becomes A Rose" has Fiona Prine joining John for this ballad; they sing with great sensitivity, passion and honesty about how they will be there for each other even though right now they are still involved with other people. The guitars work wonders on the arrangement; and John's slightly gravelly voice goes so well with Fiona's silky smooth voice.

"We Must Have Been Out Of Our Minds" has a classic country ballad that really shines. John and Melba Montgomery sing to perfection. John's occasional flat note here and there only works to make the number even better. In addition, "In Spite Of Ourselves" is a singularly beautiful ode to an undying love even though the couple sees things in each other that they don't always like. John Prine and Iris DeMent sing quite a few flat notes--and this makes "In Spite Of Ourselves" somehow all the more charming. The guitar works very, very well. I think you will really enjoy "In Spite Of Ourselves."

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. The CD ends with "Dear John (I Sent Your Saddle Home)." "Dear John (I Sent Your Saddle Home)" has a great upbeat catchy beat to it that belies the sadness of the lyrics about the end of a love affair. The male backup chorus harmonizes really well; and I like the guitar work on this number.

The liner notes give you the complete lyrics to all the songs along with the song credits. There is a brief essay by John Prine himself and Jim Rooney also contributes an essay. The cover artwork reflects good taste, too.

As time goes by, John Prine will remain a huge force in the world of country music. The duets on this CD feature John singing his heart out with many talented female singers, too. People who enjoy classic love ballads will also enjoy this CD; and if we're lucky John Prine will continue to entertain us for countless years to come.

1 out of 5 stars Skips or burps.......2007-06-09

The track inspite of ourselfs has problems. It's skipping not what I would expect from a new cd. Very disappointed

5 out of 5 stars Great sing-along songs.......2007-04-21

This is my favorite from Johnny. My ten year old granddaughter sings all the girls' parts and loves it even though she doesn't know who John Prine is. WE LOVE IT!

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Album.......2007-02-27

...was introduced to John Prine's music recently by the way of a local radio show here in Orlando, FL called "Sunday Morning Coming Down". Purchased this ablum, love it and have shared this with a bunch of my friends. So far I know of at least 6 people that i have told about this album that have bought it. Worth every penny.

4 out of 5 stars Duets of Discovery.......2006-12-24

In the late '90s I was hoping for John Prine's first new studio album since 1995, but was still happy to buy "In Spite of Ourselves", a collection of duets by Prine and a number of female country and folk singers. Some are classics and others are obscurities--I'm not well-versed enough in country music to know the difference, but I still enjoyed most of what's here--especially the three duets with Arkansas folk artist Iris DeMent (we bought three of her solo CDs), including Prine's outrageous title composition, paired songs "Wedding Bells/Turn Back the Years" with Lucinda Williams and the wry "In a Town This Size" with Dolores Keane. "Milwaukee Here I Come" with Melba Montgomery as Prine asks "me or Jerry Lee?" is also a hoot.
Prime Prine: The Best of John Prine
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • It was for my boyfriend
  • DO NOT BUY THIS COLLECTION. [Unless You Absolutely Must..]
  • Remarkable!
  • My sweetie's favorite
  • Not quite Paradise, but dern close
 Prime Prine: The Best of John Prine
John Prine
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Fair & Square
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  3. Sweet Revenge
  4. The Missing Years
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ASIN: B000002I8Y
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Sam Stone
  2. Saddle In The Rain
  3. Please Don't Bury Me
  4. The Great Compromise
  5. Grandpa Was A Carpenter
  6. Donald And Lydia
  7. Illegal Smile
  8. Sweet Revenge
  9. Dear Abbey
  10. Souvenirs
  11. Come Back To Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard
  12. Hello In There

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars It was for my boyfriend.......2007-01-19

My boyfriend had this cassette years ago and someone took it. He told me about it. I wanted to do something extra special for him so I bought him this CD. He listens to it ALL the time!

5 out of 5 stars DO NOT BUY THIS COLLECTION. [Unless You Absolutely Must..].......2006-12-13

Let me cut to the chase: John Prine is our Greatest Living American Folk Artist. Resoundingly so now that Johnny Cash is dead, and even before then it was a tie for first. Dylan barely touches the frayed hem of his coat.

He's put out some 19 albums, I think. I own six, and have most of the rest of his songs off concert bootlegs & such. This collection, though the first collection of his I ever bought, I do not consider as one of the them. The fact that I do not own everything John has recorded is cause for slight shame. I excoriate myself for this inadaquacy publically, so as to goad myself to action: My brother, my sister, we all ought immerse ourselves in the ocean of Prine. Get all pruny in Prine. Taste the primordial essence rich on our lips, lap it succulent with our tongues, suck marrow lush from the bone.. Ummm... Yummy.

Don't be ashamed. Don't be like I've been, like I am. Embrace the Prine, allow the anarchic hobo hippie beat bluecollar wobbly patriot mystic in you free. We need all aquire the entirety of John Prine's work.

I mean, allow me to clear this confusing silliness up here: this collection was issued in 1976. Thirty years, and some fifteen albums ago.. "Great Days: The John Prine Anthology" would be a better compilation for a broader taste of his career. Still,

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SELECT TEN - OR ANY OTHER NUMBER OF - SONGS BY JOHN PRINE AND LABEL THEM HIS "BEST."

His "best of collection" is his entire opus. Trying to select amongst that profusion of genius is a raw rancid obscenely ridiculous charade indulged in my record company flacks so as to rip you off. Not of your money - or not simply of your money - no, of something far more precious than mere filthy lucre (which is all those blinking scoundrels apparently care about, God help them) No, what they are gypping you of is the full beauty of John Prine's work. You need to bite the bullet and acquire it all. Every song. Do not deny yourself.

John is the equal of Townes Van Zandt, transcendent comedy to Townes' tragedy. An American folk Aristophanes to Euripides.

Analogy: Trying to pick the best of Prine is like trying to pick the best of Led Zepplin. I used to be a Zepplin fanatic, ages past, when I was still teething. It's a perfect analogy: Any true Zepplin fan would just shake his head if you suggested abridging the corpus. I mean, they only put out eighty songs. Once you've heard and loved one of them, you will inevitably hear and love them all. I mean, Sam Stone and Dear Abby may be equivalent to Stairway to Heaven and Black Country Woman.. excellent songs that everyone knows when they hear them.

But they're just the surface:

Christmas in Prison. Angel from Montgomery. The Hobo Song. In Spite of Ourselves. Sleepy Eyed Boy (I tear up a little just thinking how good this song is..) Muhlenburg County. City of New Orleans. Big Fat Love. I Just Wanna Dance with You. That's the Way the World Goes Round. Clocks & Spoons. Chain of Sorrow. The Accident (Things Could be Worse.) People Putting People Down.

I mean, Holy Freaking Smokes. All of these Songs are all utterly incredible, and NONE OF THEM ARE ON THIS COLLECTION!! Sheer travesty. A bloody silly joke.

Don't restrict yourself foolishly. Dive. Plunge into Prine. You will not - never ever - regret it.

This album is not even a primer, let alone a "best of album." These are all great songs, for sure - Dear Abby, Sam Stone, The Great Compromise, Sweet Revenge, Illegal Smile.. all great stuff.

So I give this album 5 stars +++ because I would never ever give John Prine anything less. But I recommend you NOT buy it. Buy everything - everything - else he's done instead.

Long Live John Prine. Keep picking my friend.

5 out of 5 stars Remarkable!.......2006-05-25

if you're expecting something common, you're in for a surprise. If you think that these themes have been used, Then think again.

Instead, you get blown away by things that no one has thought to write songs about. The genre is a mix of blues, Folk and country. but the thoughts behind the music are fresh and original. Prine's voice may not be perfect, but his lyrics are.

yes, the album was premature and lacks several good songs of his. But it gives a very good overview of John Prine, and I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5 stars My sweetie's favorite.......2005-07-09

My man, Norman LOVES John Prine and this CD. we are going to see John in concert in a few weeks, oh boy! I'm not the fan my Norman is, but I like it fine. country meets Grateful Dead, and a wee bit more. dang good.
~~~
edited to add:
well, we went to the concert - I am now a full-fledged John Prine fan! I gotta have ALL his CDs! he's blues, country, folk, rock, a little Johnny Cash, a little Joan Baez. full of feeling and a lot of heart. and funny. Lake Marie, and some of the really good ones - I got tears in my eyes!

5 out of 5 stars Not quite Paradise, but dern close.......2004-01-09

Look, I'm not going to feed you crap here. Prine is dang near the best songwriter ever. He is right up there with Dylan, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, and Randy Newman as one of the greatest American songwriters (as if we know any other kind of songwriters...Elton who?). This early "Best of" might have been a bit premature at the time, but has a great collection of songs, especially for anyone who is not familiar with Prine.
It's too bad that "Paradise" is not included on this set. If you're ready to drop a little more change and get a better range of John Boy's stuff, go for the Anthology. It's well worth it.
Prine was "discovered" by Kris Kristopherson, and wrote a lot of songs with Steve Goodman. If you're a fan of either of those artists, or any of the many they've influenced (Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Todd Snider, etc), then you'll love Prine.
If you're already a Prine fan, and you just want to know if this album is worth it, don't. Get the Anthology instead. It has better recording quality, and much more of Prine's hits.
Sweet Revenge
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Better then a Vendetta....
  • Prine's best
  • John Prine "Sweet Revenge"
  • Songs' value lost in production
  • I got kicked off of Noah's Ark....
 Sweet Revenge
John Prine
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002I79
Release Date: 1990-01-24

Tracks:

  1. Sweet Revenge
  2. Please Don't Bury Me
  3. Christmas In Prison
  4. Dear Abby
  5. Blue Umbrella
  6. Often Is A Word I Seldom Use
  7. Onomatopoeia
  8. Grandpa Was A Carpenter
  9. The Accident (Things Could Be Worse)
  10. Mexican Home
  11. A Good Time
  12. Nine Pound Hammer

Amazon.com

For his third album, John Prine returned to the fuller sound of his landmark debut while venturing into increasingly cryptic lyrical terrain. Songs such as "Mexican Home," "Accident (Things Could Be Worse)," and "Blue Umbrella" are open-to-interpretation explorations that reveal the songsmith's intrepid reflections; they're also among the 12-song set's best numbers. "Dear Abby" is a comical novelty number while "Christmas in Prison" is a doleful in-the-clink carol. The openhearted "A Good Time" slipped into the shadows after Sweet Revenge (like Prine's other Atlantic albums) failed to hit commercial paydirt, but it's as touching as anything Prine has penned. This outing isn't as musically distinctive as Prine's other albums from his early period, but as collections of songs go, it's first-rate. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Better then a Vendetta...........2006-07-02

Prine makes us laugh out loud at ourselves.. A true sampling of a great balladeer.. almost Dylan like in creativity..a must for the 70's affecionado...

5 out of 5 stars Prine's best.......2004-10-05

I love Prine's music. I own more of his albums than I can count. If I had to pick 10 desert island disks, 7 of them would be by Prine. Out of all of them, this one is my favorite - it's the one I find myself listening to over and over again. Great songs, lively music with an edge, and some great guitar playing by Steve Goodman and others. A masterpiece.

3 out of 5 stars John Prine "Sweet Revenge".......2004-06-16

"Sweet Revenge" 5/5
"Please Don't Bury Me" 5/5
"Christmas In Prison" 5/5
"Dear Abby" 5/5
"Blue Umbrella" 4/5
"Often Is A Word I Seldom Use" 4/5
"Onomatopoeia" 4/5
"Grandpa Was A Carpenter" 4/5
"The Accident (Things Could Be Worse)" 3/5
"Mexican Home" 2/5
"A Good Time" 2/5
"Nine Pound Hammer" 3/5

"Sweet Revenge," the third album from John Prine, is a great effort. The album is littered with awesome songs, with the first four being among his best. Definately a record to check out.

Overall rating: Three and a half stars.

3 out of 5 stars Songs' value lost in production.......2004-05-15

I love John Prine. He has the ability to make you laugh while you're crying. His songs are masterful blends of dark sorrow and light humor. Howerver, that magic is lost for me on most of this album. The production is way too thick for my attention to pierce to access songs like Blue Umbrella amd Mexican Home. These songs are better realized on "John Prine Live". Granpa Was a Carpenter and Please Don't Bury Me are staple Prine but in my opinion, best aquired in a collection like Prime Prine. Leave this one 'til last.

5 out of 5 stars I got kicked off of Noah's Ark...........2004-02-20

With this line John begins to take us on a wonderful ride of emotions, wit and sadness in the span of about 40 minutes. You might say "hey, this dude never had a hit record in his life" and you are right but that's one of his better qualities as far as I'm concerned. His slice-of-life songs are so memorable that you'll have a hard time forgetting them. "The Accident" and "Dear Abbey" are hilarious. "A Good Time" and "Christmas in Prison" are breathtaking. I could go on and on but the best advice is to just listen and soak it all up.
The Missing Years
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • so far from the valley of the unconcerned
  • One of my two favorite Prine recordings...
  • Pure Magic
  • There are some great songs here.
  • Excellent As Always
 The Missing Years
John Prine
Manufacturer: Oh Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000005XY
Release Date: 1991-09-24

Tracks:

  1. Picture Show
  2. All The Best
  3. The Sins Of Memphisto
  4. Everybody Wants To Feel Like You
  5. It's A Big Old Goofy World
  6. I Want To Be With You Always
  7. Daddy's Little Pumpkin
  8. Take A Look At My Heart
  9. Great Rain
  10. Way Back Then
  11. Unlonely
  12. You Got Gold
  13. Everything Is Cool
  14. Jesus The Missing Years

Amazon.com essential recording

John Prine was a battle-scarred veteran of the '70s "new Dylan" club and a superb craftsman whose modest commercial success found him without a major label deal in the '80s. Prine's solution was to move to Nashville and roll his own, setting up the tiny Oh Boy imprint and making records he wanted to hear, a survival game that paid off handsomely with this 1991 set, produced by Heartbreaker bassist Howie Epstein and boasting cameos from Phil Everly, Divinyls' Christina Amphlett, Tom Petty, old pal Bonnie Raitt, and another "new Dylan" alum, Bruce Springsteen. But it's Prine himself who holds your attention here, with his reliably fine songs mixing droll, dead-on narratives of recognizable Everymen, sweetly goofy parables, and unvarnished love songs that his craggy drawl inhabits with touching authority. --Sam Sutherland

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars so far from the valley of the unconcerned.......2007-03-07

I am listening to John Prine's CD `The Missing Years' while waiting for my brown rice spinach pilaf to cook for lunch, Tuesday, March 6, 2007. The words of the songs are printed inside the CD case, but you won't get that from me. I have printed words and chords for entire John Prine albums from the internet, with three or four songs per page. There are plenty of words in a song like `It's A Big Old Goofy World,' but it has been years since I tried to memorize the words so I could sing a song the way it would be performed. Now I'm more impressed by words that jump out at me, like the lines in `The Sins of Memphisto':
Sally used to play with her hula hoops
Now she tells her problems to therapy groups
Grampa's on the front lawn staring at a rake
wondering if his marriage was a terrible mistake
I'm sitting on the front steps drinking Orange Crush
Wondering if it's possible for me to still blush
UH HUH OH YEAH.
I have plenty of favorite people playing on this CD: David Lindley, Howie Epstein, Benmont Tench, and Mike Campbell. Four of the names for the people singing background vocals are well known. `Jesus the Missing Years' is the song which shows the greatest imagination, but `Daddy's Little Pumpkin' has the most "fire burning, burning right behind your eyes" kind of sense. There is a great blues song on this CD, `Great Rain' written by John Prine and Mike Campbell, which is something I never expected from John Prine, which has enough greatness to easily picture:
I thought I heard you calling my name
I was standing by the river
talking to a young Mark Twain.

5 out of 5 stars One of my two favorite Prine recordings..........2006-04-11

This is one of my favorite Prine releases, the other being Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings. If you are a long time Prine fan, this is a very nice additon to your collection, if you are new to JP, it is a nice place to start. The best cuts in my opinion are:

Picture Show
Sins of Memphisto
Everybody Feels Like You
Unlonely
Take a Look at My Heart

The other cuts are ok, however I am not as taken with them as I am with the ones listed.

Sins of Memphisto has to be one of my favs, the lyrics are nonsensical and thats what makes the song what it is. Kind of like American Pie, you keep listening, trying to figure out something that can't be figured out.

You won't be dissapointed.

5 out of 5 stars Pure Magic.......2005-12-01

Ever get in a rut where you don't know what to listen to? I can always find my way back to my music roots listening to this CD. Every song is magical and makes you feel like you're sitting there next to John while he tells stories. Don't miss this one. It is a must have.

4 out of 5 stars There are some great songs here........2005-10-11

This is the only John Prine album I've ever really listened to, but it's a good testament to his abilities as a songwriter and musician, and a good advertisement to make a person want to hear his other work.
"The Sins of Memphisto" is a terrific, upbeat song about growing old and gaining regrets.
"Unlonely" and "You Got Gold" are happy, hopeful, beautiful love songs.
And "All the Best" is a slightly bitter well-wishing to an old flame, and may be the album's best track.
"I wish you love
And happiness.
I guess I wish
You all the best.
I wish you don't
Do like I do
And ever fall in love
With someone like you."
All of the songs tell stories (though some are cryptic), and almost all of them are good. Some I could take or leave. Overall though, this is a good collection of songs, and John Prine's voice and the songs and arrangements are all very worth listening to, and all worth getting to know.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent As Always.......2005-08-22

Another excellent collection of John Prine! I mean really, come on, have you ever heard a bad John Prine album/cd?
Bruised Orange
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Laughs,beers,and bikes
  • One of Prine's Best
  • It's a happy enchilada ...
  • John Prine "Bruised Orange"
  • I Beg to Differ
 Bruised Orange
John Prine
Manufacturer: Oh Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000005XV
Release Date: 1989-08-08

Tracks:

  1. Fish And Whistle
  2. There She Goes
  3. If You Don't Want My Love
  4. That's The Way That The World Goes 'Round
  5. Bruised Orange (Chain Of Sorrow)
  6. Sabu Visits The Twin Cities Alone
  7. Aw Heck
  8. Crooked Piece Of Time
  9. Iron Ore Betty
  10. The Hobo Song

Amazon.com essential recording

It took John Prine seven years to make his peace with the "New Dylan" expectations that accompanied his critically hailed 1971 debut. Which isn't to say that the Illinois-born singer/songwriter didn't make some fine music in the years that passed between his initial recording and this, a comfortable-as-an-old-shoe collection that signals the start of Prine's settling-in period. Folk-circuit fellow traveler Steve Goodman's sympathetic production suits Prine just fine. The songs, meanwhile, are sprinkled with wise and witty wordplay. "Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone" chronicles a misbegotten movie promotion. "If You Don't Want My Love" is an oddly unrepentant exercise in self-pity copenned with reclusive pop producer Phil Spector, while "Aw Heck" is its polar opposite--a sing-it-from-the-rafters celebration of passion ("I could get the electric chair for a phony rap / Long as she's sittin' in my lap"). It's not faint praise to note that Bruised Orange is thoroughly likable. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Laughs,beers,and bikes.......2005-12-17

I used to live in Marquette, MI. On snowy winter nights I would hang out with my friend Matt and work on bikes,drink beers, and listen to this album. All he had was a crumby cassette tape of this recording. So, months later, I knew I had to have this CD in my collection. Its so awesome! This is great songwriting! Very happy ,life loving songs. I need more John Prine, thats all I know. Thanks John, where would we be with out you?

5 out of 5 stars One of Prine's Best.......2005-08-08

Folk legend John Prine's albums are all somewhere between good and excellent, and "Bruised Orange" is one of the best. The opener, "Fish and Whistle" and "That's the Way the World Goes Round", have been played countless times at open mike shows in my hometown of Baton Rouge and many other places I would imagine. "If You Don't Want My Love" certainly sounds a lot different from the other more folksy selections, but I still like it--it just presents another side of Prine's songwriting ability. My other favorites are the title track, which as another reviewer noted features a poetic refrain about the wages of anger "for a heart stained with anger grows weak and grows bitter, you become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there wrapped up in a trap of your very own chain of sorrow."--unmatchable lyricism--and the closing "Hobo Song", which features another great chorus "could it be that time has gone and left them tied up in life's eternal traveling sack," sung by the "Hobo Chorus", which in producer Steve Goodman's able hands sounds very much like you'd expect a chorus of hobos to sound.

4 out of 5 stars It's a happy enchilada ..........2005-04-23

One of my two favourite John Prine albums, the other being the more recent "Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings". And Prine followers will know the "happy enchilada" reference from his live performances ... this was the album where it appeared first!

3 out of 5 stars John Prine "Bruised Orange".......2004-06-16

"Fish And Whistle" 5/5
"There She Goes" 3/5
"If You Don't Want My Love" 1/5
"That's The Way The World Goes 'Round" 4/5
"Bruised Orange (Chain Of Sorrow)" 3/5
"Sabu Visits The Twin Cities Alone" 5/5
"Aw Heck" 4/5
"Crooked Piece Of Time" 3/5
"Iron Ore Betty" 3/5
"The Hobo Song" 3/5

"Bruised Orange," is John Prine's fifth studio album. Highlights include "Fish And Whistle" and "Sabu Visits The Twin Cities Alone."

Overall rating: Three and a half stars.

5 out of 5 stars I Beg to Differ.......2004-04-22

While this album is just as wonderful as the reviewers below have said, and a classic of the singer-songwriter genre, I want to cast a vote in favor of the cut "If You Don't Want My Love" which is much-maligned below. While it has none of the whimsy and humor which characterize most of Prine's work, it is in fact a perfect encapsulation of a bitter cast-off lover's state of mind -- and stays on and on in the memory. It is in fact my favorite cut on the album!
Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • John Prine at his best
  • Great Stuff
  • Some good memories
  • Classic Prine
  • What can I say, I like Mr. Prine.
 Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings
John Prine
Manufacturer: Oh Boy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000005Y2
Release Date: 1995-04-04

Tracks:

  1. New Train
  2. Ain't Hurtin' Nobody
  3. All The Way With You
  4. We Are The Lonely
  5. Lake Marie
  6. Humidity Built The Snowman
  7. Day Is Done
  8. Quit Hollerin' At Me
  9. Big Fat Love
  10. Same Thing Happened To Me
  11. This Love Is Real
  12. Leave The Lights On
  13. He Forgot That It Was Sunday
  14. I Love You So Much It Hurts

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars John Prine at his best.......2007-05-21

From folk infused blues to rockabilly, it's hard to put a label on John Prine. But whatever you choose to call it, there's no mistaking his lyrical style. This is John at his wordsmithing best.

5 out of 5 stars Great Stuff.......2007-01-30

I have been a John Prine fan since the early 1980s and always tended to be fonder of his older material. This CD blew me away. It has his usual wit,keen insight and catchy tunes

5 out of 5 stars Some good memories.......2006-04-12

I remember my dad got this when I was about six (and it first came out) and played it a lot, since then I've always liked it, and would say this is a great album with some unforgettable lyrics.

5 out of 5 stars Classic Prine.......2006-04-11

A real winner of a CD. One of my favorites. Lake Marie is a superbly written song. The rest of the cuts are very good also, there is honestly not a bad cut on the CD or one that have to hit the Next Song button on. Others have given descriptions that I don't need to repeat. Get this and enjoy it!

4 out of 5 stars What can I say, I like Mr. Prine........2006-03-15

I enjoy the talent of John Prine,our view points seem to run along paralell line's. The CD,Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings,is a good listener,if you like John Prine. The creative jucie's seem to be a bit restrained here,yet the Prine talent always comes through. That is why I find it problematic in chosing a favorite,
each song speaks something different to and at different levels of heart,mind and soul. "New Train," and "Lake Marie,"are nearly impossible to compare due to the subject matter,at least for me.In my opinion,He's done better,I just can't remember when. Should you disagree,I refer to the title.

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Album Review