John Prine's Remarkable 1971 Debut Album Has Never Sounded This Good
even the dated tunes retain their charms
We are all products of the times in which we live, to one degree or another, though some people transcend time. Listening to John Prine's 1971 debut album makes clear that he was at that time a product of it. If you want to understand the "zeitgeist of that time using music as your guide, this album is a good a place to start.
Prine opens with an obvious song about weed but younger listeners might not get the Hoffman reference. "Spanish Pipedream" is the quintessential "get back to the country" sentiment so popular at that time but sung by a draft dodger. "Hello In There" is the albums first outright classic—one of at least four on the record—that points to midwestern disaffectedness that drives much of today's politics. It was then and remains now a very sad song.
"Sam Stone", the one about the PTSD afflicted Vietnam vet who commits suicide with the memorable refrain " (there's a) hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes", digs into the futility of war with mordant humor. "Paradise", a song about coal miner displacement is another song of that time and of this time.
"Pretty Good" is a Dylanesque fantasy dream that's yet another look at the futility of "it all". As for "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore", it's of that time too, and sadly of this time too, but again because Prine did pound it with a heavy hammer, it still works.
If you had to pick one song as the album's classic it would of course be "Angel From Montgomery", owned by Bonnie Raitt until Susan Tedeschi grabbed a big piece of it. Fortunately there's enough there for both of them and of course John Prine too.
1971 was a year of disaffection and ennui. The Beatles had broken up, the hippie dream was over, four kids were shot in Ohio by National Guardsmen and you had CSN&Y singing a protest song that was powerful at the time but who wants to listen now? Prine's eyeglass was focused on all of the same things but his was an ironic, detached P.O.V. that remains vital and relevant.
The record is of that time but it is somehow of this time too, though Prine's delivery and from where in his throat he's singing obviously owes a great deal to Dylan. But that's really all he owed to Dylan; just a launching pad to his own destiny.
Some artists are one hit wonders and one album wonders. Not Prine. He kept doing it and gathering up new fans right until the end even when sickness made a physical mess of him. His final album Tree of Forgiveness on his own Oh Boy Records released in 2018 debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200. His highest charted record. He died of complications of "the Covid hoax" at age 73.
Almost all of this simply but tastefully arranged production was recorded at Chip Moman's original American Recording Studios, Memphis Tennessee out of which came so many hits and great sounding recordings. One track was put to tape at Phil Ramone's A&R Studios, but 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.
