John Prine Album: “German Afternoons”

Although some of the songs were co-written, there is no doubt that 'German Afternoons' is unmistakably John Prine. His are short stories set to music...like O Henry, there are the twists of phrase, the surprise choruses....the thumbnails of funny and sad lives told by a confirmed optimist.

With A.P. Carter's 'Lulu Walls', Prine reaffirms the roots that influence not only his phrasing, but also his upbeat and melodic guitar. As a 20th-century man, he is bewildered by women in "Linda Goes To Mars", and loves them in "Lets Talk Dirty in Hawaiian". The latin-flavored 'I Just Want To Dance With You' makes you want to do just that. And in "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness", possibly the capstone of the album, he is surprised by, yet seemingly resigned to, a love gone wrong.

There is something strikingly different about a John Prine song. When you are listening to it, it seems to say so little. And when you are done listening, you are confounded. Because when you start to think about what you have just heard, you know you have heard a gem.

This album is one of the greatest accomplishments of western civilization! It's up there with the White Album. Prine is this planet's greatest living songwriter, and they're all here on this one. The bluegrass-flavored band he uses throughout the recording is a top notch bunch of fellows. This is the best thing he's ever done, and if you don't agree, you can come to my house and I will personally apologize to you in my front yard.

If you are a John Prine fan, this CD is a must have. While this is an older recording, it is classic Prine.

I have looked and looked for this album in Hawaii because of our all-time favorite "Let's talk dirty in Hawaiian."

Amazon.com is the ONLY place to go when you are looking for a particular song, but don't know what album.

This is a great CD with many good cuts but does not measure up to the soulful melancholy that I find so soothing in his "Fair and Square" album. It has some funny tunes tho.