Customer Reviews

Diamonds in the Rough

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although not quite as powerful as his self-titled debut album, "Diamonds in the Rough" still manages to hold its own with its eclectic collection of tunes. Prine's voice sounds, to me, even more rough-hewn and whiskey-soaked, an extremely evocative instrument that conveys deep humor and sorrow in the same album.

For me, the poignancy of Prine's writing and performing is best on display in "Souvenirs." The idea of the singer looking back wistfully on what he has lost has been much worked and can be ruined by sentimentality. But Prine conveys a sense of real loss. After cataloging the items, he sings, "It took me years/To get those souvenirs/And I don't know how they slipped away from me." It's a lament for the passage of time and friends and relatives gone, not for the material things themselves.

There is finely crafted protest, as well, with "Take the Star Out of the Window," a comment on a soldier's innocence lost in war. While the unspoken reference is to Vietnam, with overtones of the My Lai massacre that stained America's misadventure there, Prine humanizes the tune and makes it universal ("Take the star out of the window/And let my conscience take a rest.")

As I noted, there is plenty of humor in the record as well, particularly in "I Guess They Oughta Name a Drink After You," a great sendup of the tried-and-true singer-crying-in-his-beer tune.

A couple of the songs don't work as well as others (the first album contained no weak songs, to my ears), but overall this is a strong effort, a release that grew on me with repeated listenings.

I was a kid working graveyard in a gas station working my way through my freshman year of college when the first self-titled John Prine album was released. I still remember the rush when I first heard "Illegal Smile" playing over the station radio one night about midnight. Shortly after that, he showed up in the studio of my favorite radio station - I think it was KPPC - you old LA'ers will remember that one, and played "the Late John Garfield Blues live over the radio. The DJ was so blown away by the song that he asked John if he would play it again, and he did. After running out and getting the album ($3.00 for vinyl those days), and hearing it all the way through, I knew he was another great one like my other singer/songwriter idols Lennon, Dylan and Ochs. The second album - "Diamonds In the Rough" - was somehow even better. Not as slick, or even as deep, but incredibly organic and heartfelt. Even though his biggest hits are on other albums, if I could only keep one of his, it would be "Diamonds." Even though I am an old fart now, that listens mostly to jazz, I still love it and consider it an essential.

Rolling Stone ranked John Prine as one of the most influential songwriters of the 1970s, and this record is one of the reasons why. The more obvious antiwar songs are overshadowed by the simple faith that is constant theme throughout Prine's work. Diamonds in the Rough, the title song sung a capella, is the perfect vehicle for Prine's ragged voice. The his clever plays on words offer a humorous undertone to the bleak themes of Late John Garfield Blues and The Great Compromise. I have been listening to Prine since 1973 and never tire of this record.

A very simple set of brilliant tunes. Mainly just John and his guitar - just the way it ought to be. Funny tunes ("yes I guess they ought to name a drink after you" & "The Frying Pan") and soulful tunes ("John Garfield blues" and "The Tourch Singer").

This is a must have for anyone that likes Prine!

This album is very bare-bones but is strong throughout, and contains one of the greatest songs ever written - "Souvenirs" The most heartfelt song of rememberence ever penned will send shivers down your spine every time you hear it.

"I hate graveyards and old pawnshops, for they always bring me tears. I can't forgive the way they rob me, of my childhood souvenirs".

This album also contains "The Great Compromise" which would otherwise be the best song on this album (or any other album) if it weren't for Souvenirs.

Maybe its because I play guitar and love to play and sing all these songs, but this album is easily my favorite Prine album. Prine combines his unique writing ability with a very emotional voice from beginning to end. Great musicians don't hurt this album either. "Clock and Spoons" (my favorite Prine song), "Souvenirs", "The Great Compromise", and "Billy the Bum" are powerfully moving songs, while "Everbody", "The Frying Pan", and "They Oughta Name a Drink after You" are just plain hilarious.
John Prine is one of a handfull of songwriters who are able to turn out great songs over and over again. Highly recommended to all Prine fans, but especially to those who are musicians themselves. New listeners of Prine would most likely be better off with a compliation album, but if you enjoy one of them, don't forget about this one.

Best John Prine- One of the best albums ever recorded. Blows Dylan out of the water. EVERY song is a diamond. Get Diamonds in the Rough and a bottle of Jeremiah Weed. Do it for yourself!!

Call it Prine Unplugged, or Prine's "Nebraska," this is my own favorite of his many excellent albums. Some of his best songs, performed in spare, often acoustic style. His most purely country album, too, before "In Spite of Ourselves."

my favorite prine album. a fitting title for a less polished, raw ramble. of particular interest are everybody, torch singer and ought to name a drink after you. i used this album as the soundtrack for my first australian film, it was warmly received. talk about stating the obvious. the rumour is that this one is out of print, so i suggest buying it from amazon 'cause, other than used music stores, it is hard to find. and hey, these guys are listing it for [money]. best ... bucks you might ever spend.

Why would I call this one of my favorites albums ever and how the hell did I end up here writing this? Let me start off by saying that I am just a kid of 18.....x2.......+17. Yup just a kid. Still have a huge stack of vinyl and a turntable to play em on. So after all of these years and all of these 8 tracks and all of these cassette tapes and all of these CDs and all of these MP3s the old table does not get used much and the old plates did need that rest. But at least a few times a year, OK, maybe more than a few, one needs a good ol get drunk and howl at the moon alone break. So when the ice cold bottle of Jack comes out of the back of the fridge there stands my old turntable and the platter on the table is still to this day Diamonds in the Rough! Damn. Come to think of it I have been singing the title track in my morning shower for... holly smokes.. 30 some odd years!! You can think up reasons why one song or album might be a favorite but when you look at a piece of your own history and it resides on a real piece of history that you still use regularly!! Yup, must be one of my favorite albums ever and I had no choice but to be here writing this. "Christ I'm so mixed up and lonely, can't even make friends with my brain, I'm too young to be where I'm going, but I'm too old to go back again."