John Prine

Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark had been waiting for him for a few years. And this damn Covid-19 sent John Prine to join them up there … Grandiose songwriter-storyteller little celebrated on this side of the Atlantic but Cult and adored on his lands, the one who was in his beginnings a protégé of Kris Kristofferson died on April 7, 2020 at 73 years old. The XXL disease, Prine knew well, he who had already struck down two cancers in 1998 and 2013…To understand the extent of his influence, two quotes from musicians, from two very distinct generations, among the thousands that have flourished on social networks since the announcement of his disappearance. Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver first: "if I am largely who I am as a person, not to mention as a musician, it's because of John Prine ". Bruce Springsteen also doesn't go four ways : "John and I were the" new Dylan "in the early' 70s and he was mostly the nicest guy in the world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for all ages. »

Broadcast live by King Biscuit on July 11th 1978, this superb performance from the now tragically late John Prine recorded at the Bottom Line Club in New York s Greenwich Village, several years into the man s career, is among his finest ever shows. His debut album had been released to huge critical acclaim, albeit somewhat modest sales (reaching only 153 on Billboard), in 1971 on the Atlantic label. Featuring such legendary numbers as Hello in There and Angel From Montgomery (versions of both are featured) it was voted into Rolling Stone s All Time Greatest 500 Albums list in 2003. The tour, of which this gig was part, was performed in support of Bruised Orange (1978), Prine s 5th studio album, and the lengthy 30-song set list features no fewer than 6 of the album s 10 cuts, although strangely John omits to perform the stunning title track. The remainder of the songs played are a mix from 3 out of 4 previous albums (he doesn t play anything from his sophomore record, 1972 s Diamonds In The Rough) plus a smattering of cuts yet to be released at show-time, but made available on 1979 s Pink Cadillac and post-1980 releases. A few well-chosen covers are additionally played, including a rocking version of Treat Me Nice (from the pens of messrs. Leiber and Stoller) and a nice Ballad Of A Teenage Queen - made famous by Johnny Cash but composed by Prine s friend Jack Clement. The line up for the evenings proceedings includes some fine backing by the group he had already assembled for Pink Cadillac, (John Burns - acoustic and electric guitars, Howard Levy - piano, harmonica, mandolin, Tom Piekarske - bass, Angelo Varias - drums) and it s interesting to hear some of his oldies performed with full band, although he does go back to just acoustic guitar for the likes of Hello In There.

John Prine One of the most celebrated singer/songwriters of his generation, John Prine was a master storyteller whose work was often witty and always heartfelt, frequently offering a sly but sincere reflection of his Midwestern roots, writing about the lives of ordinary people in a remarkable and perceptive way. While Prine's songs were most often rooted in folk and country flavors, he was no stranger to rock & roll, R&B, and rockabilly, and could readily adapt his rough but expressive voice to his musical surroundings.

[i[German Afternoons[/i] is the 1986 album by John Prine. This was not released on compact disc until two years later on the Los Angeles-based label Oh Boy Records.