John Prine Revisited at 80
Hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot join with the Chicago music community to pay tribute to John Prine on what would have been his 80th birthday. They revisit an interview with the songwriter from 2018 and dissect his debut album with author Erin Osmon.
John Prine
John Prine was probably your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter. The Chicago area native was catapulted into the music industry in the early 1970s with help from Steve Goodman, Kris Kristofferson and Roger Ebert. He was an early adopter of artist independence when he founded his own record label in the 1980s. After bouts with cancer in 1996 and 2013, Prine taught himself to perform again with a new voice. He visited Sound Opinions after his final album, “The Tree of Forgiveness,” was released in 2018.
Featured Songs:
- John Prine, "How Lucky," Pink Cadillac, Elektra, 1979
- John Prine, "Illegal Smile," John Prine, Atlantic, 1971
- John Prine, "Sour Grapes," Diamonds in the Rough, Atlantic, 1972
- Steve Goodman, "City of New Orleans," Steve Goodman, Buddah, 1971
- John Prine, "Hello In There," John Prine, Atlantic, 1971
- New Lost City Ramblers, "No Depression In Heaven," Songs from the Depression , Smithsonian Folkways, 1959
- The Carter Family, "The Wandering Boy," The Wandering Boy (Single), Victor, 1927
- John Prine, "Sweet Revenge," Sweet Revenge, Atlantic, 1973
- John Prine, "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness," German Afternoons, Oh Boy, 1986
- John Prine, "If You Don't Want My Love," Bruised Orange, Asylum, 1978
- John Prine, "God Only Knows," The Tree of Forgiveness, Oh Boy, 2018
- John Prine, "Bad Boy," German Afternoons, Oh Boy, 1986
- John Prine, "All The Best," The Missing Years, Oh Boy, 1991
- John Prine, "Lake Marie," Lost Dogs + Mixed Blessings, Oh Boy, 1995
- John Prine, "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore," John Prine, Atlantic, 1971
- John Prine, "Boundless Love," The Tree of Forgiveness, Oh Boy, 2018
- John Prine, "Angel From Montgomery," John Prine, Atlantic, 1971
- John Prine, "Sam Stone," John Prine, Atlantic, 1971
- John Prine, "Clay Pigeons," John Prine, Atlantic, 1971
- John Prine, "Summer's End," The Tree of Forgiveness, Oh Boy, 2018
- John Prine, "When I Get To Heaven," The Tree of Forgiveness, Oh Boy, 2018
- John Prine, "Caravan of Fools," The Tree of Forgiveness, Oh Boy, 2018
- John Prine, "Paradise," John Prine, Atlantic, 1971
- This Is Lorelei, "Billy Came Back," The Singer In My Band, Matador, 2026
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