Disco de John Prine: “Souvenirs”

There's a whole herd of singer-songwriters out there--Steve Forbert, Robbie Fulks, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt--who have more talent individually than every combined member of every band on the Top 40, but who couldn't sell a CD if they parachuted naked with Madonna and Britney Spears onto the roof of Caesar's Palace. (Steve Earle and John Hiatt do a little better in the sales department, but not much.) Of this brilliant but unfortunate group, none is better than John Prine, and "Souvenirs" is a latter-day collection of some of his best songs. It takes chutzpah to write, "These songs are beautiful," at the beginning of your own liner notes, but in Prine's case he is only acknowledging the obvious. Songs like "Fish and Whistle," "Angel from Montgomery" and "Christmas in Prison" have the gritty, poignant inevitability we associate with the classic folk songwriters--Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie. Prine's blunt, tuneless voice--rather like Dylan's, but with a little more country and whiskey in it--is the perfect expressive instrument for these wonderful songs.

Listening to these pristine recordings, reveling in the near-reference quality sonics, somthing occurred to me: John Prine is one of the greatest songwriters. Ever. On par with Dylan, Van Zandt... whoever. This set stongly makes this case. Sure, it took him 30 years to assemble this batch of songs, and one could regard it as a mere "Best Of", but hearing all of Prine's best material in a coherent package really brings home the point that Prine has few equals. His compostions combine humor with heartbreak to great effect. I dare you to listen to "Hello in There" and not get a lump in your throat. His delivery and phrasing, tempered by wisdom, his voice tempered by a bout with cancer, bring these haunting tales to life with all the nuance and absurdity that is the human experience. The arrangements are simple and sympathetic, allowing the songs to do the work. And great work they do. For those unfamillar with Prine, this a great introduction to his weird worldview. For veterans, think of this as the Prine disc you'll pull out and play for newbies, but also listen to more than a few times yourself. It's a good a record, and a great sort of thesis statement arguing for Prine's place alongside the great songwriters of the last half-century.

*Note that the listing on this website incorrectly lists the track order. The title track is the 1st song, not "Fish and Whistle"

John Prine's albums are usually "warts and all" affairs, and that's one of his charms. But Souvenirs is different, this is an older, wiser, more mellow Prine singing here. He's smoothed out the rough edges, making his material more accessible.

This CD would be a great introduction to John's music for those who are not that familiar with his work. It features many of his best songs, with simple arrangements, performed in a laid back style. I think all Prine fans should buy Souvenirs for their friends, then they might understand why we love this man's music so much.

I don't recall ever hearing more beautiful acoustic guitar picking than on the title track. Wonderful, revealing new versions of his most beautiful songs. I found the new renditions moving and eye-opening, particularly on Souvenirs and Six O'Clock News, but they're all gems. An essential addition to any John Prine collection.

When i first heard about this album I had a brief moment of dread. Take a bunch of songs I love and give them the "guest star remake" treatment--you know, "Sam Stone" as a duet with Sting.

No such worries anymore. These are the real songs, plain as can be, plainly and sparely arranged and played by regular guys--no bells and whistles. Very few songwriters write songs that could withstand such treatment. Prine's songs shine like burnished gold, but then he's always been good at leaving things out. Who else could sum up an entire relationship with, "Well ya know she still laughs with me/But she waits just a second too long."

These are fifteen of the man's best, which is to say fifteen of the best songs ever written by anyone. Every home should have more than one John Prine album, but this would be an excellent start. For long time fans who love the songs, it is a rare and generous gift from one of the great singer/songsriters of all time.

Thanks, John.