John Prine

One of Prine's best albums, this is the country side of Dylan, but on the side that has inspired so many great alternative country and indie-folk bands. This is simple music with an attitude, a huge sense of humor and sarcasm, this is the way it should be done. Prine was an ignored artist most of his life, but at least his music became appreciated before we lost him to Covid-19. Prine will be sorely missed.

Great song writing

Apparently Roger Ebert, a film critic, is responsible for "discovering" Prine. Another interesting observation is two of the "country" artists on The List hail from the State of Illinois. Jeff Tweedy of Wilco & Prine, respectfully. Illinois is not a country hotbed like The List says it is. He does not have a traditionally good singing voice but makes up for with a great cadence when he sings. Amazing songwriter & funny, too. He is great with words.

Album #200: John Prine – John Prine ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Maybe three years ago, I was at a country music festival, and they did a tribute gig to John Prine, where all these different artists came on and did covers of his songs. At that point, I knew who John Prine was. I knew how respected he was. Musically, I only knew a handful of songs, and they were all from this album. So despite not being familiar with his music, I did find the gig incredibly touching and moving, and I couldn’t get over the quality of the songs being sung. I promised myself I’d do a deep dive into John Prine, and like a lot of promises, I broke it and never did it. So it was really nice to come to this one today and give this album a full listen. The first thing to say, and it’s nearly the only thing to say about the album, is that lyrically this thing is immense. You would struggle to find better lyrics on any other album. He’s just an amazing songwriter. A songwriter’s songwriter. Every song is so relatable. Every song is so sad, but so profoundly and devastatingly funny. He’s able to throw off a quick quip like, “The topless dancer had something up her sleeve,” to “There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where the money goes,” to “Jesus Christ died for nothing, I suppose.” I mean, to be able to whip these lines out from one lyric to the next is just incredible. And on your debut album as well. This dude just came fully formed out of the songwriting earth. It kind of reminds me of someone like Dave Berman from Silver Jews, someone able to be so sardonically funny but also able to make you cry at the same time. That’s such a rare feat as a songwriter, and John Prine should be the face of that style of songwriting from this album alone. The lyrics are obviously the biggest strength of the album. His singing is great, if a little one note. But, he’s got a great voice for his songs. Musically, I just feel like it’s not the most eye-catching thing in the world. It’s very understated, and I get that. There is a good bit of variety on it. You get a bluesy kind of Stones-style song, with Pretty Good. You get a lot of low-down country stuff. You get a little bit of traditional folk with Paradise, for example. So there is variety on it. I just don’t think the performances are very powerful, or that they necessarily back the songs up as well as they probably could have. It’s quite a low-key album. But I suppose it’s about low-key people. It’s an album about loneliness, and who hasn’t experienced loneliness? And it’s all so true. It cuts deep because we’ve all been a character in a John Prine song at some point. And it scores some political points too. “Your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore,” I mean, that song’s truer now than when he wrote it, I’d say. With the musical reservations here, it brought me back to that gig, and I realised that the songs are so good that when they’re sung by other people and given more of a performative element behind them, I think they really shine. I think that’s why he’s covered so well by other artists. The obvious one being Bonnie Raitt’s Angel from Montgomery, which is absolutely stunning. So yeah, his songs were made to be covered, in my opinion. In the right hands, these could be some of the greatest songs ever recorded. I genuinely do think that. Fantastic album, a strong four. Not a full five for me, but really, really enjoyed it. And maybe I will do that deep dive into his discography now.

Don't love country. Do love great writing.

(6/7) a very classy twang of country

Not too long ago, I could not conceive of a time when I might listen to a country album and give it a perfect five stars. This album has me doubting that belief. The imagery and thrift of language on this (debut) album showcase Prine as a fearless lyricist with an peerless gift for evocative phrasing, all at a mere 24 years old. I mean, when Dylan calls you a great lyricist, people should take notice. “There’s a hole in daddy‘s arm, where all the money goes, and Jesus Christ died for nothing, I suppose. Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios.” I mean, Goddamn. How do you not feel that one? When Angel from Montgomery is perhaps the third-best song on the album, you’re dealing with some powerful stuff. Ultimately, this one sticks at a 4.5 because the musicianship and vocals haven’t quite matured to match the intricate nature of Prine’s lyrics just yet. He would have plenty of time to grow into that over the next 5 decades of his career.

Looks like John Prine was in his John Prime when he made this, eh? 4/5

I really enjoyed this! Maybe I actually like country... Old country music is usually quite good. The lyrics are fun and the melodies are sweet and enjoyable. Would listen again, and I think I will.

John Prine has quite a debut here. Kind of a mashup of Croce, Charlie Daniels, and Dylan - but a bit more nasally and clever. Was not familiar with any of the version from John Prine, but recognized the covers of Spanish Pipedream (Denver) and Angels of Montgomery (Raitt) and a couple of others. Top tracks for me were Flashback Blues and Hello in There, but all song are good. Not quite my style but enjoyed the listen. (3.8*s) The man can tell a story…

Damn, I never really got into John Prine that much, but now I'm listening with more intent and am starting to see why he has his fans. Singer songwriters are usually more Nashville pop or pop rock oriented. This unadorned country/folk backing seems to allow his probing originality to flourish.

I can't say this tickled my fancy, exactly, but I did admire his writing and how whoever produced and arranged this trusted the material enough to let it sing. A good, honest piece of art, and I'm glad I finally got to put a sound to the name John Prine.

I effortlessly knew every song on the album. I guess that speaks to what a natural John Prine is. I just loved this. Had forgotten that he was an early COVID casualty.

Mostly great songs.

Very Bob Dylan-esque. Enjoyed.

Songwriting equal parts very funny at times and heart wrenching at others. His voice and song structure style made this very nice to listen to as well, I felt like I could sing along even before the end of the song. Really nice Americana kind of stuff.

A great storyteller album. I enjoyed Hello In There a lot.

Made an unexpected impression on me. Great songwriting, reflective and evocative. Not surprised Dylan liked him!

Wow, I love this guy. Perfect instrumentation that doesn’t get in the way of his poetic lyrics that can still be relevant today. Favorite song is Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven.

Now this guy wrote some truly gripping shit.

I'd heard of John Prine before but never really listened to him. I have actually heard Christmas in Prison which gave me an idea of his sometimes acerbic tone. I was surprised how conventional his musical backing but the lyrics were a revelation and this was one of the best finds of the year and a half I've been doing this project. Best track - Sam Stone.

Prine's lyrics are very interesting, but musically it all flows together. 3.5

Never listened to John Prine before and I found this very enjoyable. A great set of songs with a very slight dip in quality at the end. Beautiful storytelling. Favourite track: Hello in There

I had no idea who John Prine was before today, but I've enjoyed finding out about him today. Sounds like a more countrified Bob Dylan, but I actually prefer this to the Dylan albums I've listened to. Hello In There is a beautiful tune, with such heartfelt lyrics. And there are angrier moments as well. Sam Stone tells the story about the American Dream slipping through peoples' fingers, while Your Flag Decal... questions the emptiness of loyalty to a plastic flag. It's thoroughly engaging all the way through, from the fascinating opening Illegal Smile to the heartbreaking Six O'clock News. The music is well produced, neither sparse nor over the top and each track is different, yet they fit together perfectly. Thank you, John Prine. Today has been an enjoyable day. 4 stars.

This is cute. He has a nice voice and the songs have a nice flow.

It’s probably a crime that I’ve lived in Tennessee for over twenty years, and I’m just now listening to Prine. Shame on me. He’s amazing. This album is incredible.

What if Tom Lehrer was a country musician?

Funny little listen. It was like country music through the lens of Bob Dylan, with the sound of Schoolhouse Rock.

This is a keeper. Great lyrics.

Awesome! His voice sounds like a mix of Glen Campbell and Bob Dylan.

First song was rough - his singing voice sounds like if Larry the Cable Guy started a country career. When he said "Hot Dog Bun" I was really out on it. Once I was acclimated to the voice I started loving the album - some very funny lines ("your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore"). Feels like Dylan or Cohen but run through an Aw Shucks filter instead of a look-how-smart-I-am filter (again, very Larry the Cable Guy). He's best when he's doing his rye irreverent thing on a sad song like in Sam Stone.

Devastating

🤠🐴💌🎶👖

I highly respect John Prine's songwriting and lyricism, but I don't personally love his voice or the presentation of his songs. I don't dislike listening to him, but I just put more weight on his songwriting and lyricism than listening to him, much as I feel with Bob Dylan. That being said, there's no denying that there aren't great songs on this album that have had a long impact.

This was really really good. I'm going to say it's more folk than country, but that's probably more to justify to myself why I liked it so much..... Or perhaps after over 1000 albums, the list has finally converted me to country.... Hello in there is a really nice song. So is Sam stone. He's got a really nice way of writing. Your flag decal won't get you into heaven was great poignant too, all these years later. Pretty good was pretty good too I do think the second half isn't as strong but I really enjoyed it and I'll definitely be back 4

Great songwriting. If you haven't before - read Roger Ebert's review of John.

It’s clever! A mix between country western and folk music, not shying away from critical topics. Some great lyrical lines and a voice reminiscent of Dylan, this album grew on me as it went on. At times it was a little too country so to speak but I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed that a lot of the tracks had interesting musical tidbits - a little tension carrying a phrase into the next part of the song, or a song structure that doesn’t match your traditional pop track. It was fun.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bra country album. Berättandet och texterna är dess främsta tillgång. Det är enkelt, rakt och fyndiga texter. Jag är antingen av eller på när det kommer till country men detta tillhör det senare. Inga sänken till spår. Bäst är Spanish pipedream, Hello in there, Sam Stone, Angel from Montgomery

Love the sound of this album. Your flag decal won’t get you into heaven is a fav

one of those guys that sings like a buzzer going off. it's not bad though, he's even kinda funny

Love John Prine, solid album of his

Prine was always a good story teller and those stories were told with such humor, insight and poignancy. I've enjoyed his music for 40+ years.

First time listen, never heard of John Prine until now. The similarity too Dylan is obvious, but that's no bad thing. So I enjoyed it and thought it decent. Will listen again so it must be alright.

Surprisingly endearing and poignant

Pretty good, nice voice, good songs. Not something I'd listen to super often, but I enjoyed it.

Prine's great, isn't he?

A surprising good listen for me, sounds very Bob Dylan with vocals you can understand.

I dislike most country, but here is an exception. The lyrics he wrote are just too good to deny.

great album. i have heard all the accolades given to him, but i never listened to him. this album is a home run.

Absolutely love this album. This was an absolute hidden gem I never heard of.

I REALLY liked this. will be looking for a record of it. I love the anti-war messaging

'Pretty Good' and 'Flag Decal...' are top quality social commentary. If I'd had an album of these it would have been incredible. Very solid otherwise and once more I'm surprised by a genre I've never really shown a lot of admiration for.

Good album for a long trip through the countryside. Reminds me of Jim Croce.

High 4

Distinctive voice Great songwriting Stripped down music Folk influenced/country influence Sam Stone: great song about Vietnam vet Great album: four stars

Oddly salient over. 50 years later. This is the kind of country I go for. Pretty good stuff.

At first I thought "oh no another Bob Dylan rip off" but the first few tracks were really quite drole and the album grew on me- part late 60s protest, part straight forward country - certainly a few nods to Bobby both pre and post electric - but a unique and compassionate voice coming through. Think Country might be my new thing.

You mean country ISN'T just guns, beer, and a fifth grade education?? As someone who grew up in the midwest and had very little exposure to country as an actual art form as opposed to the squatted truck and thick fake accent poser shit, this album was honestly life-changing. The instrumentals still bore me sometimes, and the songs don't always hit, but thank you John Prine. Thank you for showing me the meaning that can be behind all forms of art, even the "guns and beer" music. A blindspot I was, well, blind too has become extremely apparent to me. Though it won't crack any of my all time lists, this will undoubtedly go down as one of the most impactful albums of the whole 1001 for me. Thank you John Prine. I owe you a great debt. Best: Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore Worst: Spanish Pipedream Liked songs: 9/13, 69% Low 4

Simple but super effective. Great country and folk instrumentation, a very pretty voice, sheer storytelling power and not much more, but what else do you really need? It's a very bittersweet and emotional record, but also feels very honest and homely. Lyrically the album isn't super abstract or metaphorical but it doesn't need to. John is just a regular guy and he tells his stories. It's a very comfy album.

This was my first time listening to John Prine and I’ll definitely do it again soon. This is a really great debut album.

Probably not as keen on the more fun/novelty songs but still a great album 4.5*

Had a bit of a eye roll when clicked on the Wikipedia page and saw country, thinking that this was that predictable sort of country that has all the stereotypes (Jesus, beer, guns, tractor music.) But no, this is not that! It's very country sounding - has that sort of barnyard sound - as you might expect from a country album, but it's that sort of country that has very conscious lyrics about sticking together. It's also fairly political like in "Paradise" which is about corpo's ruining small communities, and anti-Vietnam War themes best exemplified as "...your dirty little war" from "Your Flag Decal..." There's another side to lyrics which is humour. In some songs it feels like it's taking the piss out of bro country even though this album is from 1971, WAY BEFORE the watered-down country music genre. My favourite lyric (which happens to be humorous) is the eyebrow-raising, jaw-dropping "Well done, hot dog bun, my sister's a nun." This is a really great discovery, I feel this one of those album where everything is done just right. Oh and his voice is like Bob Dylan's but more well done. This is a definitely a must-hear album from country. Highlight Song/s: "Illegal Smile", "Spanish Pipedream", "Paradise" and "Your Flag Decal..."

This album deserves 5 stars just for one song, "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore". :) In all seriousness, most of these songs aren't my cup of tea but I recognize the quality in them.

Prine’s lyrics take this way beyond a quaint if not spectacular folk country album. He was something special, and this record showcases that.

love the way ’pretty good’ sounds. 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Strong 3 1/2

It was fun.

This was so much better than what I was expecting.

A pretty good country album. I like the humourous approach to songwriting and the guitar playing is nice to listen to but i feel like there are other country albums from the time that are better 7/10 Favourite: Illegal Smile Least Favourite: Far From Me

Honestly pretty good!

pretty good. I taste dust i think now. country hippie your flag detail indeed wont get you into heaven six o'clock news was crazy

A great classic country album. Each song tells a good story, and John Prince's voice and guitar are great for each one. I miss this kind of country, even if I wasn't around when it was happening. I love it when a song tells a story .

Relatable, articulate country/folk. I enjoyed this a lot.

Eigenlijk wel tof!! Jonas vond het heel leuk

Prine is another one of my blind spots. Loved the country vibes on here. The lyrics were great.

Loved this album. Simple but fun and enjoyable, there’s not a lot of country on the list so it’s nice to get some and it be so endearing. Need to return to this one later

listened to this whilst walking around my (going to be) new neighbourhood. beautiful sunny day, people enjoying the sunshine in the park. how perfect

muy buenos efectos/sintes, es del 71

Yeehaw!!!! I was having a very stressful day at work, played this album on my headphones to stop hearing all the bustle at the office and it took me to country paradise. It's rare for me to listen to country but when I do, I enjoy it.

solid 4, melodias muito gostosas com uma produção totalmente country-folk

This was lovely. I am not a country fan at all, but even with the twang in both guitar and vocals, I really enjoyed listening to this. He is just so witty and funny and weaves some great tales with some memorable characters. Definitely will keep listening to this

I was just reading a book where it talked about this artist. This is not what I expected to hear. This will be a journey today. Ok, this opening track is so catchy and fun. It’s what I miss about music. Clever lyrics. This album is fantastic. The music and singing is great and the songs are catchy and clever.

I love Paradise, what a great song!

Will occasionally listen to John, but it’s been a long time since I did. Country/folk with the lyricisms in the Dylan vein. Both funny and sad, the human condition. All as relevant as they were in 71. Musical instrumentation is fairly minimal, but still excellent but always fits as a vehicle for the stories. All are never less than interesting and a favourite, Hello in there is just achingly beautiful. 4 Star

I was pleasantly surprised and liked this a lot! I hadn't heard of Prine before, as I'm not generally huge on country/folk, but reading the wiki and seeing his writing praised highly by Bob Dylan had me intrigued. This album was really interesting to focus and listen to the stories in the lyrics, I wasn't bored for a moment.

This was Pretty Good.

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

I have this album.

Surprisingly likeable for a country album

Альбом супер, песня Donald and Lydia просто разрыв сердца, тексты очень социальные, настроение уютное

I really enjoyed this one also I appreciate well crafted lyrics and the humor. Great character building - short stories to music.

Wow, what a songwriter. If I was a more frequent listener of this kind of music I’d put this on a lot. The lyrics are so good. The emotional affect is perfect. I will say that 45 minutes is a touch long for an album like this, for me. I’d like to explore other albums of his. But this one is for sure a must-listen that will go on my list. #313.

Hard to believe this was his debut album. So good. Highlights: "Pretty Good" and "Angel From Montgomery"

John Prine is unmatched as a lyricist. He can tell a story, turn a phrase, and take the listener on a journey all at once. Musically, it's pretty simple stuff that serves his words without any flash or attempt at virtuosity.

American song writing treasure. Highlights: Hello In There, Sam Stone and Angel From Montgomery. 4.2

This is an excellent album that gets better as the album goes on. I love "Donald and Lydia."

When I used to live in the SF Bay Area, I used to go almost every year to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass before it got too crowded. It was, as I half-implied, a congregation of lots of important country/bluegrass artists, some new, some old. Prine was someone who would go pretty much every year, but I was a bit dumb and more interested in the non-country music offerings at the festival. I also wasn't quite into country like I am these days, so pretty much all of these artists from Prine's generation went ignored until pretty much today. Whoops, I hadn't realized that I missed out on such a unique artist! This is barely country as I know it. Prine has a clever, wry sense of humor that he injects with a straight face into his songs. These are also pretty tragic songs, about loss, depression, isolation, and degradation of society. While the music seems pleasant enough and makes for safe listening, the lyrics are anything but. Some of these are very heartbreaking: "And Daddy, won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County? Down by the Green River where Paradise lay Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away" "There's a hole in Daddy's arm where all the money goes Jesus Christ died for nothin', I suppose Little pitchers have big ears, don't stop to count the years Sweet songs never last too long on broken radios" "But your flag decal won't get you into Heaven anymore They're already overcrowded from your dirty little war Now Jesus don't like killin', no matter what the reason's for And your flag decal won't get you into Heaven anymore" These are SMART and INSIGHTFUL lyrics about American society that Prine was already witnessing, in 1971 no less. How much has changed since? I can see the Dylan comparisons (especially the vocals on "Pretty Good"), but the difference is that Prine is a lot more direct and realistic with his observations, whereas Dylan ventures more into the abstract and the surreal. The music is a little less interesting than Dylan's compositions, though. It gets a bit repetitive and samey over time (which is saying a lot), hence why I'm hesitating to give this a top score. But I really enjoyed Prine's approach here (for a debut, no less), and will try to listen to more of his stuff later on. And, no, "Illegal Smile" is not about smoking weed. It's more clever than that—about how we feel that we're not allowed to make ourselves feel happy with all of the pressures in life. Ha!

Some of my favorite musicians call this man their inspiration. Many of the great folk singers often refer to John’s work when asked about their own. He’s no doubt on the short list of the finest country folk singers of the modern era. Gone too soon, yet like fine art or a classic car, our appreciation for his music will grow. Unless he’s canceled… you never know.

I prefer John Prine over any other folk artist of that era

Overall Rating - 4.31/5 (8.62/10). (13 Tracks) Absolutely an outstanding album. I knew I recognized the title Angel from Montgomery (I had heard Bonnie Raitt cover it), Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore is even more relevant 55 years later.

I never got the big deal with this guy but I like this one a lot. Illegal Smile and Angel From Montgomery especially.

What a deceptively good album. I can definitely see why the session drummer was a bit flummoxed working with John Prine's take on country/folk singing (apparently thinking that playing with him was "'gonna be like milking a dag-blasted dog"), but I can see listening to this album several times to get the most from his lyrics (or perhaps some of his later work); in some ways he reminds me a lot of Townes van Zandt (I still can't believe nothing of his made it into this collection). The best tracks on this album are probably the saddest tunes--"Hello in there", "Sam Stone", "Paradise", "Far from me"--but all of them are surprisingly insightful and/or quirky, and I also really enjoyed the opening track "Illegal smile" (apparently mistaken for a dope song from early on) and the Dylanesque/Buffett-style "Good enough" as well as "Quiet man". It's also fun to read how well-covered some of his songs became (especially "Paradise" and the Thelma-and-Lousie-adjacent "Angel from Montgomery"). Thanks for a great and unexpected selection, 1001-Albums team (and Kris Kristofferson for hooking up Prine with Atlantic Records)!

love the cover "art"

Excellent songwriting.

Welcome to Bob Dylan lite. And not on a derogatory way either. Its just a first album that wears its influences on its sleeves. He goes for a sort of similar Dylan sound vocally. And the structure itself is Dylanesque. But he also pulls from country western also. And im less knowledgeable on them so I dont know the specifics but I hear it. Ive always meant to listen to this guy cause I liked the cover of a duet he did, in spite of ourselves. The viagra boys version is pretty sick and fun. Also that amyl and the sniffers girl rules. But there are a couple story songs here and they all have their charm too. Its a great little record and maybe ill get more someday

A 1971 album that emerged with the saturated singer songwriter boom and has subsequently been extremely positively reappraised. To my ears it’s a more produced version of early Bob Dylan, Arif Mardin no less. It’s all about the lyrics and they do strike a chord. I only heard about this guy when he died during Covid. I’ve enjoyed this.

Classssiiiccccc John Prine stays winning. Never heard the flag decal song and it’s as relevant as ever

twangier than I expected. didn't like it at the beginning but it grew on me.

Rating: 7.5/10 He has a great sense of humor, great lyricism throughout.

She don’t like her eggs all runny but I like this album

++: Spanish Pipedream, Sam Stone, Paradise, Pretty Good, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore, Angel from Montgomery, Quiet Man, Donald and Lydia, Flashback Blues +: Illegal Smile, Hello In There, Far from Me, Six O'Clock News 8,5/10

Really solid folk album.

I know that John Pine is considered to be one of America's great folk song writers. This album is a good example of why this is.

Nie wierzę, ale… podobało mi się. Momentami brzmiało jak Dylan a u mnie to komplement. Czasem teksty mnie żenowały, a country za bardzo countrowało, ale ogólnie dam 6.5/10 równane w górę. Sorry not sorry

Solid songwriting.

I can’t remember the last time I was so completely swept off my feet by someone’s songwriting. John Prine has a wry sense of humor, and he had me grinning from the opening track. But as the album goes on, he sharpens his jokes and wit, using them as weapons against war, religion, patriotism, the coal mining industry, and more. He’s got no shortage of one-liners (“I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve”), but I’m also really impressed by the structure of these songs. The lyrics reveal themselves gradually, the meaning of the song getting deeper with each verse. Great singer-songwriter album. I’d love to play it again and hear more from him. 4.5

Porra, que vibe massa, muito Bob Dylan mais country. Curto muito esse estilo Folk. Que álbum bom, não conhecia esse cara, e já me fez adicionar 2 músicas na playlist. Que achado. 4* pra ele.

Me surpreendi com esse álbum, vibe de estar no meio de Rancho Queimado, na primavera, aquele solzinho, brisa fresca. Músicas bem gostosinhas, tranquilas. Foi bem tranquilo de ouvir e acabei adicionando metade do álbum. Tem até a "pista molhada" dele. A música de história feels, só que uma versão mais game of thrones sinistra. A "Six O'Clock News" Não achei nenhuma música ruim, nada extraordináário, nem todas se destacam, mas são todas boas ou bem boas.

Actually really liked this. Very cool guitar solos.

Great, never heard him before but will check his other stuff out.

Why can’t modern country be this instead of like Morgan Wallen

The OG of clay pigeons, I didn’t know. A lyrical wizard. Big love.

Best song: Spanish Pipedream Nice find: Your flag decal won't get you into heaven

1/11/26. Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore, they're already overcrowded from your dirty little war! 8/10

Very good album!

A truly gifted songwriter.

i don’t know why country music makes me feel so warm, i have no connection to rural america, or the idea of living off the land and i’m not christian, but this just hits

Listen to this when you're hungry. Im not kidding. The songs are so yummy even tho music like that was never my style. The songs give me great feelings and I really didn't expect that

It is a strong record and was enjoyable to listen to. The melodies are catchy and the lyrics are good, particularly the ones that tell a story.

I was impressed by this. Not generally a fan of any of the genres here, but this was what singer-songwriter should be: Meaningful lyrics and instrumentation that is interesting but not the focal point. It works here, and was engaging enough throughout. I was not expecting to like this, but it surprised me, and ends up getting 4 stars.

A solid, solid debut album. Soulful lyrics and a catchy country twang is what gives makes this album stand the test of time.

i really like the songwriting its rly attention grabbing and charming.

Such smart songwriting (of course). By itself, “Angel from Montgomery” would get me pretty close to four stars. But there’s a lot more. And Prine’s quirky vocals absolutely suit the material.

8/10 Very good. Lyrically, it's Dylan-esque, with a slightly human edge. Musically, it's country - maybe a bit too much at times to make this a Great album

Loved this the first time I listened to it not long ago.

John Prine is prime folk music. Great when you're in a specific mood for it. One live performance that I wish I fully appreciated more when I saw him.

These songs made me think of all the elementary school teachers I had in the early 80’s who would fill our choir repertoires with the folk music they’d lived 10 years earlier. Every one of these songs could have fit easily into those duotangs. Even the ones about drugs.

For the songs others have covered, I usually like their versions better than John Prine's version, but his songs are incredible.

A high, nasal voice (but can really hold a note); deceptively simple folk-style guitar arrangements; beautiful, poetic, sometimes funny lyrics about ordinary people, political satire, and emotional experience - I feel like the person Bob Dylan fans seem to describe when they rave about him has actually been John Prine all along. Unlike Dylan, Prine can really sing (though his voice is still a bit of an acquired taste). I kind of loved this, though the style is not something I'd reach for to listen to regularly

can’t really handle country, but this was on the good side

Lyrics normally just kinda bounce off my head without landing but these were an incredible work of art

Definitely need to do a deep dive into John Prine. I only know a few of his songs. Crazy to think I've never any of his songs on the radio.

Really good album. Witty and poignant, Prine's debut is a classic. "Illegal Smile" and "Flag" are favorites if mine and the whole album is worth listening to. 4/5 Will listen again

[Chorus] But your flag decal won't get you into Heaven anymore They're already overcrowded from your dirty little war Now Jesus don't like killin', no matter what the reason's for And your flag decal won't get you into Heaven anymore

The great thing about John Prine's lyrics are that you can take them at face value and they're great as-is, but if you dig a little deeper and deeper, they start revealing something greater. The accompanying music provides a great beat and rhythm, nothing revelatory musically though. But the biting cynicism in his lyrics were always the focus of his songs. Most of his lyrics have proven to be timeless, both fortunately and unfortunately, but also, not every song is completely and totally on point. Regardless, he was a phenomenal lyricist and knew how to get to the point he wanted.

Good album

Your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore.

The voice and lyrical quality of Bob Dylan but slightly boring music. 3.6 stars

It's just casual country songs, theyre ok. He really likes talking about Jesus or how like no one he's met is like Jesus, which like, go off man lmao. 7/10

i like country

Loved the lyrics! So clever, funny, poignant, thought provoking,. Kept waiting for the next song just because he was so much fun as well as emotional to listen too. 4/5 (Didn't Love the voice)

Have a little fun, hot dog bun, my sisters a nun. That topless lady had something up her sleeve. Blow up your TV- throw away your paper... I'm not 10 minutes into this album and I've been hit with so many gems I feel like a jewelry maker. You can tell some artists just have a closer connection with the muse than ordinary people.

‘While digesting Reader’s Digest in the background of the dirty bookstore…’ ‘I’m just trying to have me some fun, well done, hot dog bun, my sister’s a nun.’ There’s also a line about a topless dancer with a trick up her sleeve somewhere in this. With lines like these, even haters of country have to crack a corny smile. Prine is a wholesome charmer from a time and milieu very particular to those of us who grew up in the Midwest. This guy could’ve been my uncle or my baseball coach. I’m not sure if this exact sort of personality type exists anymore, since ‘the kind and simple homesteader’ in middle America has been replaced by the ‘unstudied yet seethingly aggressive political conspiracy theorist,’ thanks to social media. But, listening to Prine takes me back to those better days, and reminds me that ‘simple’ is a deception. One can find ample poetry, feeling, and protest in these songs. I do speculate that Dylan had so many kind words to say due to the blatant influence Prine shows from Dylan’s work. He was flattered. I’m sure it made Dylan feel as though this was evidence in the flesh that he was shaping the course and sound of folk music. Would we still listen to Prine without Dylan’s endorsement? It’s difficult to say, but despite the obvious baton-taking, this is probably the third time I’ve listened through this John Prine album, and I’m always pleased all the way through and after.

I'm not a big country fan, which if I'm being honest about my criticism is probably the main thing keeping this from 5 stars. Because if I do choose to listen to country, this is the type of stuff I want to hear. Prine's lyrics are especially interesting and at times quite quirky and funny. This really wasn't what I expected, and even though I don't see myself returning to it often (or even at all), I'm glad I listened to it.

huge range of emotions on here, very classic

If you’d have told me this was Bob Dylan I would’ve believed you. Simpsons: No

4.5

This Prine was fine. I liked the time changes on the opening track. The clear standout to me was “Paradise”. Overall a really nice listen. Rounding up. 3.5/5

Always been a Prine fan. This one really survives based on the very clever, witty and pertinent lyrics. He’s really an excellent story teller with each song spanning a gamut of emotions. Good stuff that is still very relevant today.

Hard not to find beauty in the simplicity of this. Can get down with this almost anytime

Love me some John Prine. I did his cheeky lyrics. Tempted to go full stars on this one, but not sure it reaches that level. Good stuff. 4/5

One of the best country albums I've had the pleasure of hearing. It's a shame that John Prine is unknown in the UK. The first few songs on "Self-Titled" are perfect. There's nothing else I can say about this album. I hope I get an album that's just as good or better, 4 stars for "Self-Titled".

Never listened to John Prine before, loved that he’s based and wholesome Raffi for adults, per me.

when john prine said "hotdog bun, my sister's a nun" i really felt that. a few years ago, i got really big into sierra ferrell, which meant i wasn't far from discovering prine. in truth, i had no idea who he was until i began my foray into a genre i thought i hated; pretty quickly, i understood what all the fuss was about. when it comes to folk, i of course knew bob dylan and joan baez, and maybe a few more if someone had mentioned a name aloud. i can't believe i had been missing out on john prine! it's folk, blues, country-- everything all together. so nice. what i love about john prine's approach is that it's extremely accessible poetry. nothing about the instrumentation is technically impressive or difficult, and it doesn't need to be. it sounds as reasonable as anything else from its era. it's just easy. but his lyrics are punchy and raw, telling important and politically charged stories that were indeed braver than many of his contemporaries. tonally, it's obvious he wasn't concerned with any blowback, and i love that about him. his complete affability in his songs makes me laugh. can you imagine all the red-faced conservatives angry about antiwar lyrics from their singer-songwriters during america's conquest against the atheistic communism? come on now. learn your roots, fellas. while there's certainly a quality of similitude between most of these songs, it didn't make the album less of a joy to listen to. also, i hate to let my rating be influenced *too* much by legacy, but seriously, prine is the reason artists like sierra ferrell (and others) get to be as well-beloved as they are in 2025. plus, people are still covering "Paradise" and probably will be forever. love that.

Like an audiobook set to music. An entertaining listen, not sure I’d come back to it, but defintely worth the time.

Godfuckingdamnit this is how it's done. Up there with the likes of The Byrds, Townes Van Zandt and Gram Parsons as far as being forebears of what we would now call alt country, John Prine is the embodiment of what hackish music journos would call a "songwriter's songwriter." He might not have been the biggest mainstream star, but pretty much anyone in the country/folk/Americana sphere with any sort of cultural cache will sing his praises endlessly. Bob Dylan once compared him to Proust—a stark contrast to that one time Bob Dylan got angry at me in 2019 (But at least he thought about me. ) Anyway, what John Prine is best at (and maybe is, in fact, THE best at), is crafting entire worlds within the span of a 3-4 minute song. There's so many songs out there that purport to "tell stories" but are effectively meaningless until you've been told what they're about and they become retroactively clever. But John Prine's songs don’t require explanation or close reading. They are effectively full on studies of characters who feel real, fleshed out, rounded, without needing to engage in too much interpretation. By the time Sam Stone dies of that overdose, you know him. There’s an image in your mind. You know things about this man that the song never tells you. But you know him. Excluding choruses, "Angel from Montgomery" is 3 verses, 12 lines. And yet, again, you can envision the subject and understand basically everything about her just from that sparse description. I've always interpreted "Hello In There" as a companion song, the perspective of the husband/old man/child that’s grown old/cowboy from "Angel from Montgomery"... just two sad people whose lives didn't go how they always thought they would. I’m not smart enough to read Proust but I can definitely apply some of that Hemingway iceberg shit to these songs. And the older I get, the more I can relate to some of these ideas. "Blow up your iPhone" doesn't sound as good as "blow up your TV" but the sentiment is the same. Just unplugging and living a real life. I dig that more and more every day. Growing up in an area that has basically been demolished by coal mining, "Paradise" is really personal to me.. I also used to play against Muhlenberg County's Quiz Bowl team and they were nice people. When I’m president, “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” will be the national anthem. I love John Prine. I love this album.

I’ve only half-listened to John Prine in the background, reducing it to just some twangy folksy stuff that was only ok. Like bourbon, I thought Prine was something I was expected to enjoy because I’m from Kentucky. And like bourbon, if you give Prine a chance and acquire the taste, it’s an absolute delight. On this album, he spins tales of war, drugs, exploiting earth, and death that have the burn of a barrel proof bourbon. The sliding guitars, vibrato of Prine’s voice, and sweet chords make you feel the warmth of a toasted oak whiskey. Overall it’s a rich experience that pairs perfectly with Woodford Reserve Double-Oaked 45.2% alcohol by volume. GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.

Prine classic!

Kjekt å oppdage! Veldig mykje som minnar veldig om Bob Dylan Highway 61 Revisited

I see Bob Dylan really liked this and I can see it. It is a bit of a hick Bob Dylan, not that that's a bad thing. I don't think it has quite that same legacy aura, but I definitely enjoyed it.

Surprisingly entertaining and funny clever lyrics

bon c'è your flag decal ecc.. anche oggi mi andrà bene :)

ok. 4/5 for the quirky uniqueness.

I loved the chill vibes with this one!

Man, country music used to be good. We had songs actually about the working class, anti war songs, ones mocking superficial patriotism. RIP to John Prine, a songwriting legend

Simple, delightful storytelling. An easy, listenable voice.

Amongst all of the other terrible aspects of COVID-19, it took John Prine from us. This wonderful, thoughtful, beautiful folk debut album is a must listen for singer/songwriter and country fans. Favorite track: Sam Stone

Brilliant songwriting, and I think this guy's voice is suited to the genre. I should give this album five stars, but somehow, despite some of the songs being intelligently comedic, listening to the album leaves me with a profound sadness that I can't explain, and I don't like that feeling, so I'm downgrading to four stars on that basis... Because while I would listen to it again, it's not an album I would want in my collection.

I didn’t listen to lyrics but I enjoyed the folky country twang

Exceptional writing

This is what people pretend Bob Dylan was, but much better. Beautiful, witty writing paired with a sweet and modest voice. It’s 4.5 if I could give one.

This would be a 2.5 at the most if it wasn't for the completely unhinged lyrics. This guy's nuts. Love it. Hot dog bun.

Sympathique et candide. Certains accompagnements d’orgue et de guitare électrique sont datés, mais rien qui ne dépare l’ensemble

Prime, Dylan, and Springsteen all were played a ton in my house growing up as it’s what my dad likes, so they always have a bit of a soft spot for me. I don’t always dig the sound on this album but you just don’t get much better storytelling than this. Incredibly moving tracks like Sam Stone and Pretty Good are the highlights for me.

Favorite tracks: Spanish Pipedream, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore I've never been a country fan so when I heard that twang in his voice I wasn't particularly looking forward to this album. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed listening to it (even if it's one I likely won't revisit). The lyrics are punchy and unapologetic, and getting a reprieve from the Christian nationalism of a lot of today's country songs was refreshing (looking at you, Flag Decal). This album taught me that I can get behind country if the lyrics are actually meaningful, well done John Prine 👏🏼

This was in general more country than I typically like, but I recognize the quality of the songwriting, and there were a few songs that I thought were excellent: Hello in There and Angel From Montgomery were a couple of standouts. A very strong three. Actually, no, I think the songwriting sneaks it into four.

mi è piaciuto tanto ascoltarlo e molti testi sono davvero belli. è esattamente quell’album che ti senti in macchina facendo un road trip in america ma è stato anche bello ascoltarlo mentre facevo colazione nel chill

Un bell’album tra folk e country. Ascoltandolo sembra di stare in mezzo alle praterie sconfinate dell’america vera (🦅🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸). Una piacevole scoperta

Yeeeeehaw! Let's go! This guy sounds like a twangy Dylan who actually took a singing lesson or two. Illegal Smile is a low-key hilarious ode to drug use. In part because I've never heard such a thing over folk country twang. But equally for the hilarious lyrics: "fortunately I have have the key to escape reality;" "hot dog bun, my sister's a nun." While Illegal Smile might tout the harmless side of drugs, Sam Stone hits harder to the reality of the situation telling a tale of an addict who only works to stoke his habit while his kids run around without clothes on. Such a sad refrain: "there's a hole in daddy's arm where all the money goes; Jesus Christ died for nothing, I suppose." Absolutely love Pretty Good. Nice sway to it and its a bit harder leaning with the distorted guitar and organs. Also love Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore as an anti-war anthem. This was a damned solid folk country album that covered a lot of territory. Some songs were very twangy, while others dipped into blues and psychedelia. Touched on some serious subject matter (anti-war, drugs, civil rights), but did so with almost a black humor to it. I'll say this isn't one I'll listen to a bunch, but it was nice this morning. Soft 4.

Always have heard of this John Prine fella but never have given him a listen. That was some very good country and the type of country that I really enjoy listening too. Kristen Stewart and and Emile sing Angel from Montgomery in Into the Wild I am glad I was able to pull that form my brain when I heard it. Great movie, great song. Solid 4 for being a top tier country album

Hot dog bun my sisters a nun. RIP! I have a very soft spot for John Prine. My Dad pretty much raised me on some of his albums, and while I'm not a huge country person he scratches a certain itch. Sam Stone is an absolute classic. I randomly sing the chorus to myself here and there. Same with Angel From Montgomery. Enjoyable stuff all around. Glad we got a Prine album on here

When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad Seem like total silence was the only friend I had Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down and won And it was twelve o'clock before I realized that I was havin', no fun Very relatable.

It pains me a little to give this beautiful album just four stars, but while I thoroughly enjoyed re-listening to it and John Prine is clearly one of the greatest songwriters, I feel like the album itself is more of a collection of very good to great songs, and not really an album, with a specific arc or a “story” told through the songs. Maybe that’s an unreasonable request, but was unfortunately somewhat limiting to my enjoyment of the listening experience. Alas, I still love you John. You are one of the greatest.

John Prine is a legendary songwriter and I'd really like to spend more time digging into his discography. Where better to start than his debut? Angel from Montgomery is a hell of a song to have on your first album. I'm so glad to finally have listened to one of his albums and be as enamored with his storytelling as I was sure I would be. Excited to discover more.

Good country/folk album. The lyrics have a Dylan-esque quality to them; I could see going back to a few tracks on here.

John Prine John Prine John Prine John Prine. AmaJohn Prine. The big haystack himself. Bill Hicks impersonator extraordinaire. We’re back after a long weekend (not long enough am I right fellas????) and ready for the year music leaked according to this list Illegal Smile - That’s right everybody, the libs are trying to make smiling illegal. Wait wouldn’t that side be excited about that. Who knows. Buddy lost a stare down with a bowl of oatmeal. Liked that line. The words are very interesting, but unfortunately, it sounds like Raffi for adults. Spanish Pipedream - American man goes to Montreal. This song is better. Small amount of grit has been acquired and the lyrics remain a foray into deep left-field. Hello in There - This is what it’s like to be John Prine’s pet and live in a small cage as he tunes his guitar. Hello in there. This isn’t the beautiful song he thinks it is, but it’s not as bad as I thought it might get. A decent exploration of monotony and changes that accompany the passage of time. Sam Stone - Now that’s a good song. Dark track about drug abuse and the post-war perils faced by veterans of war. The lyrics are very creative; non pretentious, yet extremely creative. Two thumbs up. Paradise - Hell yeah. Gettin’ real folk-y. Up in them hills type beat. There is a lot to be said about our personal attachments to places. I get a lot out of this. Pretty Good - YEAH! This rips. Sad and blunt with a beautifully catchy chorus. Such an attitude on this one. Love it. Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore - BASED. Listen up dorks. Talk about being attached to a place, but this time in a negative light. All these doofus nationalistic christians who blindly support genocides, both foreign and domestic in the name of their god or country need to sit and listen to this song until they develop some level of sentience. Might be awhile. Far From Me - Heartbreaking. A little more repetitive than the previous tracks, but maintains the lonely charm I’ve come to enjoy. Angel from Montgomery - All lyrics here. Song itself is bleh, but the words have me on the edge of my seat. I’m not going to be able to pen a dissertation here about what exactly each phrase means to me, but hey, each word tends to grab me and at least lurch my brain out of idle. That’s a victory. Quiet Man - News for me? Well here’s some news for you, pal, I’ve got nothing for you. This is a banger. Donald and Lydia - Buddy loves talking about the days of the week. “It felt just like Sunday on Saturday afternoon.” That line left a smouldering crater where it landed here with me. Some lines just speak to you directly and that one was phrased so well. Music itself is once again just fine, but the lyricism continues to blow me away. Six O’Clock News - Ugh man. This one devastated me as well. Never been happier to be depressed. Atta boy Prine man. Flashback Blues - Verging towards the riverboat. A boring close. Should’ve let it linger in the devastation of the previous track. What I would give to be able to write like John Prine can write. He’s like Bob Dylan without the performative pretension. The way he doesn’t over explain, but still tells a coherent story is truly masterful. The lyrics on this record have carved a path in my mind. I will be revisiting this work as the music was competent and I cannot say enough about the prose. This record made a big impact with me. Time may increase its value even further. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Spanish Pipedream, Sam Stone, Sam Stone, Pretty Good, Quiet Man, Six O’Clock News

Easy listening country

Okay, it's possible I should have been listening to John Prine a lot sooner.

Only John Prine could have a happy song about illegally smoking pot and the most devastating song you've ever heard about illegally doing heroin two songs apart and get away with it so effortlessly.

I also ways appreciate John Prine's ability to be so sarcastically sincere.

I wish this is what country music sounded like today. I really enjoyed the social commentary of the time instead of hearing about how great Friday night in a field is. Just the right amount of folk influence as well. Overall a great listen I’ll come back to again. Well done, hot dog bun, my sister’s a nun.

John Prine is such an icon. Great songwriting. Great story telling. Pretty underrated in the scheme of music. 4/5

Country-folk with clever lyrics and songwriting

Pretty nice country folk album. I enjoyed it.

bob dylan if he was more country and funny. can’t recall ever actually laughing at music.

Starts with the wrong song. "Illegal Smile" is goofy and nowhere near as good as the tracks which follow it. The album is full of great songwriting stuffed with witticisms, criticisms, and soul. It's worth giving a chance to because it really does improve.

Haunting buy great

Fin country med mye vibber

John Prine isn't the greatest singer in the world, but it gives this album a bit of realness to it which works really well for it.

Classic

Another melancholy, heart-tugging album. Sigh <3

Prine somehow is able to combine the contemporary and folksy country in both themes and music. The songwriting cuts deeper than you initially think because it is simple yet insightful. Wonderful album.

Dit is één van de minst vervelende country albums op deze lijst. Tuurlijk gaat ook deze kerel weer knauwend allerlei levensverhalen zingen, maar we gaan rappers er ook niet op aanvallen dat ze het n-woord gebruiken en het hebben over het leven van de straat, toch? Toch?? Ik vond deze wel prima wegluisteren. Niet te lang. 3,5 en ach kom, ik maak er een keer een 4 van. Ik ben een gulle jongen.

Absolutely devastating lyrics

Man, I'm blown away by how much I enjoyed this album. I'm not a huge fan of the genre (Americana/Singer Songwriter/Country-ish) but the lyrics and the simplicity of it all really resonate. The songs all feel very personal and the stories told still hold true in 2025. Well done and I'll have to come back to this one for sure.

John Prine was an American treasure and a great songwriter. I get how someone might not love a whole album of folk music, but this isn't "Johnny Cracked Corn". These are American stories, what John Prine was best at telling. Particularly amused by "Illegal Smile" and moved by "Sam Stone".

real enjoyment.

A real surprise. I have always heard the name and Clay Pigeons but only first time I've sat with an album. Loved it. 4.5 for sure. Every song is a story that means your full attention

Don’t really usually like country but this was a cool listen, really good lyrics and nice vocals. 4 stars

Good old John — a lot of sweet lovely songs that can be sad at the same time. A distinctive vocal style that is all his own and very pleasing. A fine debut. Heartily recommend Prime Prime, a greatest hits album from 1976, with 4 tracks from this album.

Fierce dreary - 4 stars for me, 5 for my dad!

8/10

Not sure why I’m so late to the game on this guy, but his songwriting really pulled me in.

I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did. I'm not a big fan of country music, but once I got over the twang, I started to really enjoy the album's mellow and peaceful vibe. The standout element of this album is the lyrics. Every song told a story, sent a message, or criticized something in a creative and cheeky way. fav tracks: "Illegal Smile", "Spanish Pipedream", "Hello In There", "Paradise", "Quiet Man" 4/5

good ole boy music

Not generally my taste, but really well made. I enjoyed the lyrics especially.

I’d heard of John Prine but had never listened to an album let alone could name a song of his. I came away from this album with a legit respect. His songwriting is rootsy & intimate. Had I not followed along reading the lyrics I would not have appreciated this as much. Driving through the back roads of rural Pennsylvania while listening to this was a treat. After the first two tracks I thought I was going to hate this. I initially.thought how could this twangy hick music be appealing? I went back and listened to some of these tracks more than once and the more I listened the more it grew on me. Highlights are Hello In There, Sam Stone, Paradise, Pretty Good, and my favorite track is Angel from Montgomery, followed by Quiet Man. Bonnie Raitt & Susan Tedeschi each deliver stunning covers of Angel and take it to another level. His songwriting clearly influenced some of the greats.

The lyrics are unexpected and welcome! Feels Dylan-ish. My favorite is “Your Flag Decal Won’t get You into Heaven Anymore.” There are some special moments on this album.

I like country music, but with a few exceptions, not sung by male vocalists. Instead I prefer the female vocalists. I just don't like the affected tone of the male country voice. I just might add John Prine to the small list of exceptions. Lyrically this is excellent, and the songs hold your attention from the first track to the last, as each tells its story. Musically, the songs are engaging too. Four stars. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? Yes. Side one 1. "Illegal Smile" – 3:10 - What an excellent opener to an album and a great song title too. - 5 Stars. 2. "Spanish Pipedream" – 2:37 - 4 Stars. 3. "Hello In There" – 4:29 - 4 Stars. 4. "Sam Stone" – 4:14 - "With a Purple heart and a monkey on his back". This is a briilliant, tragic, sad song. - 5 Stars. 5. "Paradise" – 3:10 - 4 Stars. 6. "Pretty Good" – 3:36 - This is a superb song. The dry humour in conjunction with the stark subject matter. - 5 Stars. Side two 1. "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore" – 2:51 - My word this is so relevant today. - 5 Stars. 2. "Far from Me" – 3:38 - 4 Stars. 3. "Angel from Montgomery" – 3:43 - 4 Stars. 4. "Quiet Man" – 2:50 - 4 Stars. 5. "Donald and Lydia" – 4:27 - The coda to this song is beautiful. - 4 Stars. 6. "Six O'Clock News" – 2:49 - 4 Stars. 7. "Flashback Blues" – 2:33 - A little honky tonk. - 4 Stars. Total - 56 Average - 4.31

John Prine always felt like someone else’s artist. I didn’t know him growing up, And when you hear a name enough times as if I should have known him (and he should already be a favorite), it kind of feels like - welp, I missed that boat so why even try? Well I’m glad I finally was forced to listen. This is great. Super approachable, common man storytelling, Nice picking, nice slide - just comfortable music to really listen to or have in the background. 4.5.

Marvellous songs, full of the detail and grit of real people and their sufferation

This sounds just like Bob Dylan would if he didn't suck quite so bad. "Pretty Good" is an out-and-out banger. He's trying a little bit too hard with the album cover, though.

A sweet and quietly powerful debut. I hadn’t known about this unique charmer before. There’s a simplicity to his style—so understated it might be easy to overlook—but that’s part of the charm. It feels perfectly imperfect, much like the songs and the subject themselves. Minimal and honest, the album delivers lyrics that are deeply human—full of vulnerability, humor, and simply shared truths. There’s something affecting in how he weaves together brokenness and wit, all in a folky, country-tinged package. I was surprised by how much I connected to music I wouldn’t typically gravitate toward. John Prine has a way of pulling you in with his lyrics. Some lines that stood out: • “Your light is the sweetest thing.” • “Your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore.” • “Beauty and silence both run deep.” • “…dreaming just comes natural… like the love hidden deep in your heart.” It would have been a treasure to witness him live—there’s an intimacy in his songs that must have felt even more special in person.

John Prine makes the kind of country/folk music I like. Authentic, honest, simple, and great storytelling. Everything on this record is delivered real easy-like, and some of it with a wink, all of which might belie the depth in the themes he explores. Playing around with language that toes the line between playful and profound seems to be his schtick; but he's so damn good at it, I have to respect it as so much more than simple wordplay. A stunning lyrical classic like "Sam Stone" is the stuff of legends. "Paradise" and "Angel From Montgomery" are also big standouts here, but "Pretty Good" is unimpeachably my favorite. The lyrics are kinda silly, but Prine finds a way to make them work and sound so earnest. It's a like a honky-tonk version of "Is That All There Is?" Finally, "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" is still relevant, 55 years later; only instead of referring to Vietnam, I dedicate it to all the Christofascist conservatives and spineless neoliberals play-fighting while the world burns. Fucking motherfuckers.

A bit like a folksy John Denver. Words a bit cheesy. Guitar playing can be intricate and deceptively simple.

Country Folk like Dylan, great tunes, lyrics

Fun and easy-listening country/folksy twang that has a very friendly and warm tone. Entertaining and heartfelt stories with a lot to enjoy and relate to. Top tracks: Sam Stone, Paradise, Six O'Clock News

Good country album, good themes, simple music good voice.

Fucking love me some John Prine

Been talking about summer camp experiences this past week. This hit just right in timing. I am fairly sure we sang most of these at camp including "illegal smile" (episcopal church camp). While the song writing is classic, I cannot give 5 stars for production.

Pretty Good and Illegal Smile are two of my favorite old folk/country songs. Much rather listen to Prine than Dylan.

Thanks sarcastic country man for reminding me that our problems aren't new, just often worse

I wrote out a big review cuz I was so blown away by this but then had to restart my phone and it didn’t save. The long and short of was don’t be fooled by that terrible album cover, or turned away by the country twang. Just really give it a listen and think about things today.

Pretty fun album to listen to. Great opening track. Great stories told through melodies.

Surprisingly this was the first time I've ever listened to John Prine album or song, but I loved it. The music was ok, and his vocals a little nasally and rough, but he had a lot to say. I ended up listening to John Prine stuff after this album ended for the a couple of hours.

Good country. A bit softer compared to other country my group has gotten, but its nice nonetheless. Solid 4 Stars.

"Sam Stone" is probably one of the most depressing songs I ever heard. Prine's vocal approach seems to be where Bruce Springsteen is going. Not that that's a terrible thing, but it makes sense considering the songs on this album seem to be similar to a lot of Bruce's sentiment in a number of songs. "Your Flag Deal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" really hits on the nose from then and even now, doesn't it. "Angel From Montgomery" was a very pretty song, I enjoyed it. In fact, I liked most of Prine's work here, even with a bit of the country twang that's in most of the songs. I don't know if I would listen to it on a regular basis, but I enjoyed it. Top songs: "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore," "Angel From Montgomery," "Far From Me," "Six O'Clock News"

This is one of those albums that requires active listening, as the witty lyrics are far and away the best part. Or you could just read the lyrics on Genius, that works too. The country-folk sound isn't my favorite, but the poetry! Man oh man. Four stars just for that.

I guess I would call myself a John Prine skeptic. But maybe I’m wrong. Probably. This was really great.

This is a songwriting clinic! The music seems simple, but it has lots of unexpected twists. Prine is an amazing storyteller, and some of his lyrics are quite provocative for the time. I thought that bit about "there's a hole in my arm where all my money goes." was written decades later by Spiritualized' Jason Pierce! Liked Songs Added: Illegal Smile Angel From Montgomery

Some beautiful songs. Listened to this while walking around brooklyn.

first listen like this a lot

Solid Country music in Singer-Songwriter style

"Quiet Man" has good absurdist lyrics. Overall, though, this is pretty standard-issue.

I thought this was great. Country music with thoughtful “make love not war” lyrics. I was surprised it came out in the seventies rather than the sixties but 1971 is only just over the decade divide, I guess.

Wonderful!

I wasn't keen on his singing voice so wanted to give 3 but I do think the lyrics deserve another listen and that would probably lead to a higher score. So I give 4.

very relaxing and at the same time induces thinking

Country isn’t my preferred genre

Pure Poetic Story Telling with a twang and a steel guitar!

First album where I don’t even recognize the artist! We got a proper country boy here—I do like the typeface up top and how tiny it is, but otherwise I’d probably write this album off as not my thing at a record shop. 1 well that’s what my biases get me man, this is really great! Really charming, human folk that’s legit funny to boot— “A bowl of oatmeal stared me down / and won,” and “I called a rainbow down a one-way street / dead-end” are Mitch Hedberg esque one liners that both got an irl chuckle, and I just love the whole idea of Americana defending weed! Well paced song, I like how the chorus slows down a touch, seems to invite you to sing along. I like the instrumental generally, it’s impressively catchy given how forward the vocals are, good balance without taking the spotlight from the lyrics. I think there’s a bit of a drone or something in the third verse to accompany the more paranoid sobering thoughts, which I love, before silliness is reestablished by the totally nonsensical collection of non sequiturs that of the outro. Fantastic first impression. 2 Yo, based proto-anarchical Christian love song, erm, yes please! Okok 2/2 man this is great too, great story telling and cute as hell and I like how he says peaches and “For I knew the topless lady / had something up her sleeve” is goddamned hilarious (especially since she’s dancing the hoochie-coo lmao) and it’s all just likeable! Instrumental is fine, not quite as catchy as the first track but perfectly serviceable. Good! 3 The first two notes on the guitar are the exact same as the very first two notes of track one, probably not great for the variety of the album if we’re already repeating keys. I do like the electric guitar tone and keys on this though, so still a good sound. A bit more homey, folksy Americana on this, little less jokey— well done, though, just different. I like how the bass comes in on the chorus, really gives depth and heft. Lyrics are a bit less memorable, but still pleasant. I like all the names he uses. Ah, he gets a little quirky at the end— “a hollow ancient ass” sure is a silly way to address old people. Word to old people! 4 Keys on this have a bit of a steel guitar sound. Like the acoustic guitar panned to the right. Yo I know this song!!! I know a cover of it, but I can’t remember who, one sec. Okok I think I’ve heard the Johnny cash version. The line “There’s a hole in daddy’s money where the money goes / Jesus Christ died for nothing I suppose” is just an incredible line, and I’m bummed that cash took the latter half of that line out, kinda cheap. Strong, powerful song. Something like sitar at the end? Or a mandolin with heavy effects? Really cool. Oh, or I’ve heard it on Spiritualized’s song “Cop Shoot Cop?” Yeah wait it’s totally that, cos I remember the “hole in my head” line that follows. Cool interpolation. Anyways, fave of this album so far. Sad as fuck. Great. 5 Critique on the development over American nature, very progressive and dope. Folk and country often used to be on the forefront of what we see now as liberal thought, funny enough. Good song, even if the instrumental is not too unique— my heart breaks a little every time he says “coal train.” 6 Again, speaking to violence and the assault of women, not to mention religious unity, in a super modern way while still making a banger. Love the electric guitar fuzz, love how hard the rhythm guitar and drums are panned— kinda Blue Note. Third verse is particularly catchy, word to Allah and the Buddha at the last supper, funny but also poignant. 7 “I was digesting reader’s digest” is immediately funny, but the lyrics throughout balance wit and social critique perfectly. True cowpokes are anti war!! God man there is just not a bad song on here. 8 Huh well right after I say that, this didn’t hit like the rest of this album did. There’s a bit more nuance and observation than the average pining for a love song, and I like the glockenspiel bits and the hard panning, but something’s off. The pacing of the verse is kinda weird, or maybe it’s just a meter thing? But yeah, not quite as excellent as the rest of the record so far. 9 Hm okay meter of the verse on this one is weird again, don’t know what the drummer is doing— kinda hard to feel the picket outside of just up-beats. Lyrics are the most banal that they’ve been, I don’t care about an “old rodeo” as much as I care about the other specificities elsewhere on the album, and the use of fem pronouns is cool— probably a cover? Dope he didn’t change the words if it is, even doper if that’s just a choice he made. Still catchy enough, nice and bluesy. Just feel like we’re losing a bit of steam here. 10 See here we go, love the personification of the week days as time and information washing over the everyday, super creative. Very Bob Dylan for sure. New choice to repeat a couple lines towards the end, they’re not his best but certainly good. Liked it! 11 The steel guitar is kinda wearing on me, because it just sounds the same every time. Wish it was used a bit more sparingly so it could maintain its potency. I like the lyrics, very simple poetry in a cute way. Dreamy and kinda surreal, almost like psychedelic Americana? Prine really does have that thing that truly great vocalists have where he just says words and they sound special— “First breath from a baby” as an example. Really really liked the outro, wish that melody was used elsewhere, or otherwise just foreshadowed 12 Love the electric guitar tone. This really showcases the mixing of this album, everything is so forward and yet all sounds so good and balanced. Listen to that bass man, wow! Love that he sings about changing diapers, just something super humble and cute about it. Oh god sad sad lyrical turn in the third verse. Damn, really recontextualizes the whole thing. Lovely losing about being grateful for the small parts of a domestic life. 13 Whoa, jaunty closer! Wouldn’t have guessed that, thought we were kinda winding down— fiddle? Woo! Fun! I’m square dancing yeehaw, lil ragtime piano? Best guitar solo on the album! Damn dude great stuff just a really catchy fun song. Really really good record overall!.

Timbro della voce molto simile a Dylan, leggo che infatti piaceva molto a lui. Sarebbe da riascoltare in maniera più concetrata per le storie

Sam Stone is one of the most devastatingly sad songs of all time.

Good but has a couple boring songs.

Now this... is what country music should be like. Why isn't more country music like this?! What is it about John Prine's self-titled debut that I love so much? Well, let's talk about it. This album kind of feels like a country take on something like a Bob Dylan album, which is honestly not a bad thing. Part of this comes from the singing, which is kind of Dylan-esque in a way, but is also just kind of what country singing is like a lot of the time. Still, I think it fits the theming of the album. The instrumentation is quite enjoyable. It's definitely on the more mellow end of the genre, which I've always preferred. There aren't really any particular songs that stand out for musical reasons, but I also can't say that these songs all sound the same. The instrumentation of the songs isn't the focus here though. See, there's another reason why I and many others have compared this to a Dylan album. That, of course, is the fact that John Prine's songwriting is just excellent. There's so much to unpack here with these songs and lyrics. The storytelling of songs like "Angel from Montgomery" and "Spanish Pipedream" really shows off some considerable talent for the craft. I said that the songs don't particularly stand out for musical reasons, but the themes of each song really do the heavy lifting in regards to creating stand-out songs. You have some songs that manage to actually be pretty funny and entertaining like the opener, "Illegal Smile" balanced out by melancholic war tunes like "Sam Stone." I love it. The songs have aged remarkably well too. The fact that a song like "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" was written in 1971 is stunning to me. This song feels like a perfect embodiment of post-9/11 America, so to hear something like this 30 years prior is crazy. I love it though. It goes to show how ahead of his time John Prine was. Overall, this might just be the best country album I've heard yet. Between the solid musicianship and phenomenal songwriting, this album has stood the test of time as a classic of the country genre. High 4/5.

I really love the lyrics and the stories, but the music is not necessarily my style. Solid 3.5.

RIP Mr Prine

Nice!

Fav songs: Paradise; Pretty Good; Donald & Lydia Never heard of this artist before and thoroughly enjoyed the album's humor. If you're a fan of folk-country, you cannot go wrong here. As an aside, I already knew how to pronounce Muhlenberg before listening to Paradise due to where I grew up. Did not ever occur to me there is likely an umlaut missing over the 'U'. 😊

Songwriting and storytelling was really entertaining on this album, and I thought the production was really good. I can only take John Prine in batches, so I started to get a little tired of his voice and the similar song structures throughout the album. Still had a good time listening to the stories, though. He isn't known for his vocal melodies, but there were some pretty guitar picking and chord progressions. I'm thinking on a soft 4. Favorite songs: Illegal Smile, Hello in There, Pretty Good, and Six O'Clock News, Sam Stone

Maybe I've just been in a weird place emotionally recently but this album made me cry. Probably the best album I'm giving a 4.

While the actual music may sound like unassuming country/follk, the lyrics and subject matter are deep. Death, war, alcoholism, coal mining/environmentalism, death, and rape. Deep stuff. That fact makes this much more appealing to me.

hoooooweeeee

Väldigt 60-tal, folk, tidig singer-song writer. Dylanesque! Men raka sköna 60-tals arrangemang och stabil sång. En fyra, skulle kunna vara en femma om man gav honom chansen och verkligen djuplyssnade, tog in texterna.

This is very good. I really like this country folk style of music. The songs were excellent with great lyrics.

Actually some good country

I'd never listened to this before but it was a great find. I'm not typically into this kind of music, but these are some great lyrics and stories.

3.8 2x surprised as a solid country album with folk influence

Before 1001 Albums I knew of John Prine but really hadn't listened to him. Even though he tends to Country which isn't my gig, I have really enjoyed this album for both the song lyrics and the music on it. Standouts are "Paradise" , "Pretty Good" , "Angel from Montgomery" and "Quiet Man" although I really should include "Flashback Blues" :D.

drei bis vier Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore Six O'Clock News

A pretty sentimental and passionate "classic" country album. I know nothing about John Prine, but it's easy to tell (and hear) that he was a talented songwriter who drew inspiration from the everyday man/woman. The fact that Prine was 24 while recording all of this makes the previous sentence all the more impressive. The music itself is a bit simplistic and unremarkable, but it's the poetry that really shines here. 8/10

I wasn’t initially sold until I got to Your Flag Decal, and it clicked. I enjoy a folksy, country tune. But the biting satire of patriotism not making you a good person was a refreshing change from a genre often oversaturated in religious sentiment.

A guy from Chicago who made it with country/folk music. I recall seeing him on SNL long ago (maybe even season 1), but I don’t recall what he sang on the show. This album exceeded my expectations, and it makes me wonder whether the guy who compiled this 1001 albums list included country western artists. Maybe he doesn’t consider this one country western?

John Prine is one of those artists I've heard all the reverence for but haven't listened to his stuff much. Or at least I thought that was the case and then I listened to this album and recognized so much of it. He was the real deal.

You’ll laugh and you’ll cry listening to these observations from God’s own down to Earth Mail man

Great country music.

Well, this is very twangy and nasaly - I was all ready to set fire to this album, but then I listened to it a little closer. "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes." Sometimes it's good to go outside of your bubble.

I'm surprise how much I enjoyed this! I do not typically listen to country music, but I like how laid back and listenable this is.

I normally dread when I get an album by a singer/songwriter as often times they feel over represented on this list. I knew a couple of his songs going in and was expecting I would enjoy those and be turned off by the other tracks on the album. I was surprised to find myself quite pleased with the whole album. I had to pause when I got to today's rating and think before ultimately choosing 4 stars as it was almost a 5.

Gute Texte auch

Bonito album de country. Un buen descubrimiento

One of my favorite bumper stickers that I’ve seen said “John Prine is pretty good”. Such a fantastic understatement. This guy told stories like no other. One of my big regrets is missing him in concert last time he came through my town since he died shortly after.

Story- songs about regular people.

Nice album, good country music

Good album. I like his story telling skills spiced with humor. I find listening to him very calming.

I like it. Not really creaveable music, but I gotta give 4 stars to my hometown boi.

The music is relatively simple, but the lyricism is great. It mixes humor with seriousness well, and has a lot of clever wordplay. I thought Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore was especially a good listen, since the message hasn't really changed in the last fifty years.

That’s how I wished Bob Dylan would sound like

John Prine is underrated as a song writer/influential artist and this is probably his best album (though I can’t claim to have listened to the whole catalog)

Love John Prine. Great album, though i do prefer his later work. This oscillates between fun songs about life to criticisms of our society and government. Repeats: Spanish pipedrram, your flag decal, far from me, angel from Montgomery