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Old 07-19-2017, 07:09 PM
KFP55 KFP55 is offline
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Default John Prine....

So I'll admit I'd never heard his name mentioned until joining this forum (please don't hurt me...) - but really enjoying listening to his huge library of songs on Spotify. It's a bit odd to jump in now since he's been around so long - what would you consider to be his "sweet spot" years/ best album or 2? I like to listen to the same thing constantly until I know it by heart and can't figure where to start.

And for all of his fans on here, can you recommend 2-3 songs to learn to play solo? I still have a tough time discerning easy from difficult songs until I dig in to them, but as a new-to-JP listener, I'd love a few recs on some of his songs you've enjoyed playing live.

Thanks!
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:21 PM
Goat Mick Goat Mick is offline
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The number one Prine song to learn is Paradise. D - G - D - A. Now you know how to play it. It's a great song that I've been playing for 30 years and always gets a great response. As far as albums, Prime Prine is an excellent one to start with.

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Old 07-19-2017, 07:21 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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Angel From Montgomery
Paradise
Glory Of True Love

...not necessarily in that order, and just off the top of my head.

If you want to get to know him more deeply don't miss this recent 1-1/2 hour Grammy Pro "Up Close And Personal With Sturgill Simpson and John Prine" interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2w7drfMaHk

Last edited by Rudy4; 07-19-2017 at 07:29 PM.
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:23 PM
Bob from Brooklyn Bob from Brooklyn is offline
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Nice to see him getting some buzz after all these years. Jason Isbell is a champion for John.
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:25 PM
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The first record is pretty darn hard to beat......and then there were a couple later in the mid 80's I liked a lot - Aimless Love and Jesus, The Missing Years. There was also a good Live album around that time.

Never heard much I disliked by JP.....

Here's a tune I recorded a couple years ago - "Let's Talk Dirty In Hawaiian" - kind of exemplifies the Prine way....

https://app.box.com/s/04u0pi4v7niig7h5verp
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:25 PM
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funniest song might be " in spite of ourselves" w/ Iris Dement
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:27 PM
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I have to agree with "Paradise" & "Angel from Montgomery" but will add "In Spite of Ourselves". "Hello in There" is another great one with more complexity than you'll normally find in a JP song.
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:33 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by docwatsonfan View Post
funniest song might be " in spite of ourselves" w/ Iris Dement
Excellent choice, but the duet with Dolores Keene "In A Town This Size" sends chills up my spine every time I hear it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLMuQbYB4vM
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Old 07-19-2017, 07:49 PM
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The definitive version of Angel from Montgomery with Bonnie:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x42rxf
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Old 07-19-2017, 08:08 PM
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Grandpa Was a Carpenter... I love that song reminds me of my own dad. Angel from Montgomery is a classic and Paradise of course and Sam Stone. Many more to I've been a John Prine fan for a long time. When I was a young man I spent 12 years in radio so I was introduced to John Prine very early in his career. I worked midnight to 6am when I was 20 at one of the first FM stations in Cleveland where I was going to school for broadcasting. I think I played Prines first LP (1971) almost every night. Lucky for me being the first FM country station in Cleveland we had a small audience especially overnight.
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Old 07-19-2017, 08:37 PM
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Granpa Was A Carpenter
Illegal Smile
Sam Stone
Angel fr Montgomery
Hello In There
Dear Abby
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Old 07-19-2017, 08:46 PM
brancher brancher is offline
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Granpa Was A Carpenter
Illegal Smile
Sam Stone
Angel fr Montgomery
Hello In There
Dear Abby
Please Don't Bury Me
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Old 07-19-2017, 09:33 PM
Scootch Scootch is offline
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I play:
Illegal Smile
Christmas in Prison
Sweet Revenge
Please Don't Bury Me

John Prine is a national treasure.
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Old 07-19-2017, 09:46 PM
Mandobart Mandobart is offline
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You all know me and my stance on "done-to-death" covers. I love all John Prine tunes, been a fan since '79. I have all his albums, most as LP's. But....
Paradise, Angel and Sam Stone are done to death. All his songs are the easiest things in the world to play. I think Bruised Orange is still my favorite album. Probably the best song of his to hear live is Lake Marie.

I like to play Grandpa, All the Best, One Red Rose, A Good Time (including the nice Steve Goodman solo), Flashback Blues, of course Spanish Pipedream, Sour Grapes, Souvenirs. The only song of his I won't do is Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian. I know he meant no malice but as a big supporter of Hawaiian language and culture I think it ridicules both.
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Old 07-19-2017, 09:58 PM
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My favorite Prine song to play is Souvenirs

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