Customer Reviews

Prime Prine: The Best of John Prine

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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.

When one Johnny Prine fan happens along another Johnny Prine fan, there's a unique familial warmth which arises resembling two separated-at-bith twins meeting once again for the first time. Prime Prine is wthout a doubt a collection of the best from the best, but it lacks at times the captivating prologues which the audience is treated to during Prine's live concerts. Similarly, I'm not sure I would have chosen the same arrangment order. But despite these two issues, the tracks themselves are outstanding and intense. Another great selection would be Prine's hosting of A Tribute To Steve Goodman (live at the Arie Crown Theatre In Chicago).

You can go out and buy all of John Prines albums, or you can just go out and pick up this one, and cherish the best of his best. John Prine is one of the best story tellers in music. He introduces his tales, and brings you through them leaving no detail out of place; There is a warmth, and a personal endeavor in each of his songs. John picks the trials that so many endure, and brings them out for us to acknowledge, and deal with. He sings about drug addiction afflicting people to the point of death, and goes on to sing about old age with its associated loneliness. In other songs, he emulates small town social dilemas that most city folks have no chance to experience, except through the songs John sings for us. All in all, we see the world through the eyes of small town life, with its innocence and simplicity; Something I have not seen since my days in the mid west many years ago.

"......There's a hole in Danny's arm, where all the money goes, and Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose....little pictures have big ears; dont stop to count the years; Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios..'

"And you may see me tonight, with an illegal smile; it dont cost very much, but it lasts along while. Wont you please tell the man, I didnt kill anyone; No I"m just trying to have me some fun.."

" Grandpa was a carpenter, built houses, stores and banks; Chain smoked Camel cigarettes, and hammered nails in planks. He was level on the level, shaved peter on every door; Voted for Eisenhower cause Lincoln won the war."

His most beatifull is "Hello in There". "You know that old trees just grow stronger,and old rivers grow wilder every day; People just grow lonsome waiting for someone to say hello in there, hello."

I was fortunate to have seen John three times, each with a different show and experience.

The best of his shows was the last time I saw him; He put on a tour with Bonnie Rait, but with a twist. Each performer came out solo; No accompanyment of any kind; Just the guitar around their necks. Each played for about 75 minutes, and gave the most honest performance I can remember for either of them. Watching and listening to John Prine play his music alone, is to see and hear him at his best. He is truly an outstanding performer who does much more than soak up the spot light. When he plays " Illegal Smile ", he rocks forward with each strum on the guitar strings, putting more force and determination with each note. To see this man perform, is to live the music on this album.

Grab this album, and experience a slice of life that many of us will never have a chance to taste, except through Johns music.

This CD collects twelve of John Prine's best songs from the early to mid-1970s, when he first started recording. The songs tell of the tragedy of a drug-addicted Vietnam war veteran (Sam Stone), John's own grandfather (Grandpa Was a Carpenter), the pain of growing old (Hello in There), and the search for love (Donald and Lydia), among other things. After approximately thirty years, the songs sound as fresh and new as they did when they were first written.

Prine doesn't preach. He isn't self-indulgent. He tells stories about some great characters, and his lyrics are those of a man who loves life and feels that none of those characters is alien to him. In doing so, he teaches important lessons, and makes some pretty good music, as well.

John Prine has to be the most overlooked singer/songwriter in music history, and for reason most people praise; because he is different. John Prine is John Prine, he's not country, he's not folk, he's not rock, he's simply JOHN PRINE.

This collection of some of his greatest moments is a must have for any already Prine fans, and anyone else who is just now being introduced to Prine's way of songwriting. This album is a great showing of what John Prine's songs can do to your life.

Critically acclaimed, and commercially ignored, but that's the sad truth about many great artists. The cover to me is a statement, saying that John Prine has many sides to him, and all-in-all it says that all of us have differnet sides to us. Think about it, if we were all the same, the world would be a boring place. And that individuality is shown greatly on this release.

Finally, I have to say this to the people who pick up this release: buy it, listen to it, memorize it, and apply it to your life. Thanks John, for giving us all something to hold onto.

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!

John Prine is a singer/songwriter that you either like or don't like, not much in between. He has been in my top ten list since I first heard him years ago. You won't likely find his work in Walmart or Target because is out of the main line. If you've never heard him,take a chance and buy this album.

I love the John Prine CD-- through about half the songs then it begins to skip and repeat. Doesn't look scratched and it has played this way since arrival.

I love this CD. I used to have it, but I had misplaced it so I bought it again. Unfortunately, this CD is damaged, and some of the songs are messed up.

Prime Prine CD - This is a great collection of John Prine's best known songs. If you want to get to know Prine better, this is the CD to choose. If you already are a fan, this is one of those one after another ahhhhhs when another familiar melody plays. As a singer-songwriter of contemporary folk/social issues, he cannot be equaled for sarcasm, wit and the unvarnished truth played out in the words of a story that is presnted as a song.