• Folk,  Video

    Memorial Day

    Happy Memorial Day weekend. Take a few moments, reflect, and think about all of those who have sacrificed their lives for this country. And think about all of those overseas, who put their lives on the line day after day – while we get to be with our family and friends, barbecue, and drink beer.

    Here, John Prine is interviewed by Bobby Bare, talking about and singing “Sam Stone”. John was 38 at the time, which puts this at 1984.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=206XaNxQ5LQ]

    Here’s Bruce singing “Shut Out the Light” in Paris, 1985.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAqbN9HO68A]

  • Rock n' Folk

    Clay Pigeons – John Prine on Austin City Limits

    I was catching up on some recorded episodes of Austin City Limits this afternoon, and came across a goldmine: a repeat of the John Prine / Amos Lee episode that aired about 2 years ago. It was John’s version of “Clay Pigeons” that really affected me, and led me to the original songwriter, Blaze Foley. I wrote about that day here.

    I checked YouTube back then for the Prine ACL version, but no go. And today, after seeing John’s amazing performance again, I checked again, and lo and behold, here it is. I trust there’ll be a few of you who are just as affected as I was.

  • Ickmix

    Ickmix 2

    ickmix 2

    I used to really enjoy creating mixes for friends and – well – especially girlfriends. Inspiration would smack me like a freight train, and I’d dig into my collection and weave together tapestries of musical brilliance (at least I thought so!) and what I thought to be clever proclamations of affection. Well, the girlfriends are no more (my wife would kill me), but I have to get my mix fix in every now and then. So indulge me, my internet friends, and take in my new Ickmix.

    It’s a fairly mellow mix. I’m a mellow fellow. I hope you enjoy. If you do, let me know. It may give me a kick in the pants to make more.

    Ickmix 2 (mp3 – 63MB – 46:00)

    Playlist after the jump:

  • Folk,  Roots Rock

    Hittin’ the Speed of the Sound of Loneliness

    As I sit to type this, I’m watching American Idol contestant Kristy Lee Cook absolutely BUTCHER the Beatles song “8 Days a Week”. An uptempo, countrified version. Buhhh-leck. “Dolly Parton on helium,” says Simon. Lucky for me I don’t watch American Idol. Oh sh – -, caught!

    So anyway, here’s Alabama 3 with a version of John Prine’s “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” – one of my favorites in his catalog. A3, as the popular country group Alabama insists they call themselves stateside, is a British acid house band that mixes in genres like country, gospel, and blues. Their claim to fame so far is “Woke Up This Morning”, the theme song to The Sopranos (RIP). I heard this on Sirius a few weeks ago, and promised to share it with you fine folks sometime soon.

    From Last Train to Mashville, Vol. 2 (2003)

    It’s a fun version – hee-hawed up a bit and turned into a first person perspective. I don’t think they’re being irreverent, and I don’t think the point of the song is lost on them (Prine’s lyrics imply a more somber tone) – but they do alter the atmosphere of tune – one of sadness and – well – loneliness.



    photo by Senor McGuire

    And who captures the atmosphere of the song the best? My favorite version (I have to honestly say I like it better than Prine’s original) is Nanci Griffith‘s, from her great album of covers, Other Voices, Other Rooms. With a little help from Mr. Prine himself on backing vocals, Nanci sets the tone perfectly – wistful and bittersweet. Every time I hear it though, I wish Prine would take that second verse!

    From Other Voices, Other Rooms (1993):


    And that isn’t to say that Prine’s version is lacking in any way. Here’s the original from Prine’s 1986 album German Afternoons.

    John Prine – Speed of the Sound of Loneliness (mp3)

    From German Afternoons (1986)

    Links:
    Alabama 3’s Official Site
    Nanci Griffith’s Official Site
    John Prine’s Official Site

  • Laid Back,  Rock n' Folk

    John Prine – You Got Gold

    I’m in the John Prine state of mind.

    I guess it was a year ago about this time when I professed my love for The Missing Years album. Another track popped up tonight while I was holding my youngest daughter, getting ready to give her a bath. I immediately stopped in my tracks, and we spent the next four and a half minutes dancing and spinning. What a look of joy on her face. Goosebump moments.

    Non-parents have already moved on to the next web site, but you parents know how it is – those spontaneous moments out of nowhere where your child can somehow convince you – just with an expression or a gleam in her eye – that all is right with this world. Escapism in its purest, most innocent (not to mention healthiest) form.

    So it’s this song that I’ve absolutely loved since the record came out back in 1991. It’s the joyful, reeling melody, combined with Prine’s witty and beautiful lyrics. I mean look at this verse:

    Life is a blessing, it’s a delicatessen
    Of all the little favors you do.
    All wrapped up together no matter the weather,
    Baby you always come through.
    It’s a measure of treasure that gives me the pleasure
    Of loving you the way I do
    And you know I would gladly say I need your love badly
    And bring these little things to you.

    Who else but John Prine could craft that?

    So listen up, and if you have a spare few moments with your kid, give him or her a whirl with this one…

    John PrineYou Got Gold (mp3) – from The Missing Years (Boss fans – Bruce and Prine duet on “Take a Look at My Heart”, reason enough to pick up the album – and so do Tom Petty and Bonnie Raitt)

    John’s most recent album is a collection of old school country & western standards with bluegrass legend Mac Wiseman. It’s a great ride, and definitely puts me in a great place each time I hear it. Here’s a taste of what you’re in store for….

    John Prine & Mac WisemanDon’t Be Ashamed of Your Age (mp3) – from Standard Songs for Average People

    John’s Official Site

  • Video

    Friday Night Videos

    John Prine, sitting around the kitchen table, sings one of my favorites: “That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round”.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_YrJABjYBE 336 278]

    John Mellencamp’s (Cougar Mellencamp at the time) video for “Rain on the Scarecrow”.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Iy2Jw4DVk 336 278]

    Little Village was a great one album supergroup made up of John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, Nick Lowe and Jim Keltner. Here’s the video for “She Runs Hot”.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqQ7gtEjhhU 336 278]

  • Americana

    Plant, Kraus and Prine Kill the Blues

    I was driving home from work last week, listening to Sirius Disorder while Howard was on commercial (sorry, I’m addicted), and was thrilled to hear a great song that I’d only previously heard coming from the raspy voice of John Prine. But this time it was emanating softly and sweetly from the mouths of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.

    It turns out that Plant and Nashville bluegrass cutie Krauss holed up with producer T-Bone Burnett for an album of covers. They take on a broad sampling of some of their favorite tunes, ranging from the Everly Brothers to Tom Waits. The album, Raising Sand, will be out October 23rd. This should be good. Check out the track list (with songwriter in parenths):

    “Rich Woman” (Dorothy LaBostrie/McKinley Millet)
    “Killing the Blues” (Rowland Salley)
    “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us” (Sam Phillips)
    “Polly Come Home” (Gene Clark)
    “Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)” (Phil and Don Everly)
    “Through the Morning, Through the Night” (Gene Clark)
    “Please Read The Letter” (Robert Plant/Michael Lee/Jimmy Page/Charlie Jones)
    “Trampled Rose” (Tom Waits/Kathleen Brennan)
    “Fortune Teller” (Naomi Neville)
    “Stick With Me Baby” (Mel Tillis)
    “Nothin'” (Townes Van Zandt)
    “Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson” (Milt Campbell)
    “Your Long Journey” (A.D. Watson and Rosa Lee Watson)

    The song I heard in the car was “Killing the Blues”. Silly me, not knowing that “Killing the Blues” isn’t a Prine-penned song at all, but rather a 1977 composition by Rowland Salley, who went on to play bass in Chris Isaak’s band. A great song, cool lyrics

    PRE-ORDER Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand on the Rounder Records Site or Amazon.

  • Miscellaneous,  Rock n' Folk

    The Missing Years

    The Missing Years

    Whether you’re familiar with John Prine or not, you should at least make yourself familiar with The Missing Years. Produced by the late Howie Epstein of the Heartbreakers, and including such special guests as Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, and the Boss himself, the album is full of warm melodies, and funny & insightful lyrics. You can end the weekend just right by listening to this tune…

    John Prine: The Sins of Memphisto (mp3)

    Buy The Missing Years on eMusic or Amazon.

    Bonus: Todd Snider: That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round (mp3)

  • Laid Back,  Rock n' Folk

    Prine Time – Long Monday

    I don’t mean to bring everyone down with a song called “Long Monday” at the very end of the weekend, but since I’m experiencing a Springsteen hangover from last night’s great show, and I’ve been wanting to showcase a tune off of John Prine’s brand new release, ‘Fair & Square’ [Buy it Here], well, it’s just right.

    Though nothing in John Prine’s catalog has ever matched ‘The Missing Years‘ for me, this is a great CD, full of John’s witty & and often hilarious lyrics (e.g. “I felt about as welcome as a Wal-Mart superstore”), and laid back acoustic tunes.

    ‘Long Monday’ includes harmony from Mindy Smith, who I know little about, but I’m about to jump into her web site. In a nutshell, she’s a country-folk songstress from Nashville whose debut album came out last year. Anyhow, yep, another week begins, take it away, John.

    John Prine: Long Monday (mp3)