Picture Show Celebrating John Prine

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, who passed away in April, was one of the most celebrated singer/songwriters of his generation and recipient of the 2020 Grammy® Lifetime Achievement Award. Considered a true folk-singer, Prine was known for his raspy voice and equally admired for his unique songwriting ability. Rolling Stone once dubbed him “The Mark Twain of American songwriting.

Two-time Grammy-winner, singer-songwriter, John Prine, is among the English language's premier phrase-turners. Forty-five years into a remarkable career that has drawn effusive praise from Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and others who would know, Prine is a smiling, shuffling force for good. He is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member whose classic debut album, simply titled John Prine, is recognized as part of the Recording Academy's Grammy Hall of Fame. (via John Prine)

Bonnie Raitt turned John Prine's Angel From Montgomery into an evergreen. Not by hazard, cause he's one of the best.

"…somehow until this reissue the recording's true sonic excellence was well hidden. This reissue cut by Ryan Smith using the original master tapes puts you in the studio with Prine and much Southern instrumental talent, or Prine in your room, or however you wish your head to arrange it. Definitely a fitting title for the Atlantic 75th Anniversary celebration, musically and sonically. Like the label, it's a record that stands the test of time." — Music = 9/11; Sound = 9/11 — Michael Fremer

The veteran songwriter celebrated surviving cancer with 1999’s In Spite of Ourselves, a set of country classics sung as male-female duets that proved righteously popular. Here, he repeats the trick with an impressive parade of young female singers to complement his own leathery tones, the exception being Iris DeMent. Most songs, made famous by the likes of George Jones and Jessi Colter, evoke the “countrypolitan” Nashville of the 50s and 60s, with Prine cast as laconic observer while the women take the lead. Kacey Musgraves is a standout on the divorcee’s lament Mental Cruelty, Lee Ann Womack and Alison Krauss soar gracefully and DeMent proves a reliably salty foil. Joyous, maudlin or gritty, it’s marriage country-style. Delightful.