Disco de John Prine: “Fair & Square”

It's been a number of long years but well worth the wait. Who writes better songs? A great record in its own right and a fine introduction to those essential themes Prine has been working with since the 1970's. John's unique love songs: "Glory of True Love," "Long Monday," and "She is My Everything." His home and homesick songs: "My Darlin' Hometown" and a great cover of Blaze Foley's "Clay Pigeons." John's satirical eye and social conscience: "Some Humans Ain't Human" and "Crazy as a Loon." The relationship troubles we can all laugh at and identify with: "Taking a Walk," the bluesy "Morning Train," "The Moon is Down," "I Hate it when that Happens to Me," A.P. Carter's "Bear Creek Blues," and "Other Side of Town." John's sense of humor is as sharp and wonderful as ever and appears throughout. He has the most recognizable song writing voice-even when co-writing (which he does on seven of the songs here). There are two numbers with John's trademark talking/singing and a live number recorded at the Ryman Auditorium. If all this weren't enough, there are other great voices in addition to John's deep and gravelly one:: Mindy Smith and Alison Krauss doing harmony, Phil Parlapiano's ever present accordion, a great chorus on "Taking a Walk," a "call and response" group on "Safety Joe," many wonderful acoustic and electric guitar players, and a host of fine instrumentalists.

AND SHE LOOKED ME IN THE FACE

LIKE SHE NEVER DID BEFORE

I FELT ABOUT AS WELCOME

AS A WAL-MART SUPERSTORE (from "Taking a Walk")

SOME HUMANS AIN'T HUMAN

SOME PEOPLE AIN'T KIND

YOU OPEN UP THEIR HEART

AND HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL FIND

A FEW FROZEN PIZZAS

SOME ICE CUBES WITH HAIR

A BROKEN POPSICLE

YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THERE...

OR YOU'RE FEELING YOUR FREEDOM

AND THE WORLD'S OFF YOUR BACK

SOME COWBOY FROM TEXAS

STARTS HIS OWN WAR IN IRAQ (from "Some Humans Ain't Human")

CONSTANTINOPLE IS A MIGHTY LONG WORD

GOT THREE MORE LETTERS THAN MOCKINGBIRD

YOU PUT ME ON A MORNING TRAIN

YOU PUT ME ON A MORNING TRAIN

AIN'T NO NEED TO EXPLAIN

YOU PUT ME ON A MORNING TRAIN (from "Morning Train")

SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY

FROM MUHAMMAD ALI TO TEACHING BRUCE LEE HOW TO DO KARATE

SHE CAN LEAD A PARADE WHILE PUTTING ON HER SHADES IN HER MASARATI

SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY (from "She is My Everything")

WELL I ONCE KNEW A MAN WHO WAS GOING INSANE

HE LET LOVE CHASE HIM RIGHT UP A TREE

IT TOOK THE POLICE AND FIRE TRUCK JUST TO BRING HIM BACK DOWN

I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS TO ME (from "I Hate it When That Happens to Me")

A CLOWN PUTS HIS MAKE-UP ON UPSIDE DOWN

SO HE WEARS A SMILE EVEN WHEN HE WEARS A FROWN

YOU MIGHT THINK I'M HERE WHEN YOU PUT ME DOWN

BUT ACTUALLY I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN (from "Other Side of Town")

Prine fans will recognize the Prine voice in the above excerpts. Newcomers should "loosen up the buckle on your heart and start to chuckle" (from "Safety Joe").

Like all of Prine's work, this one takes time to sink in, but boy has it snuck up on me. It occurred to me this morning that it hasn't left my 5-disc CD changer (a Marantz CC4300 modified with OPA627 op amps - try it and you'll never leave the house :-) in weeks. So what is it about this album that finally got me?

Prine deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Dylan as one of our greatest songwriters. But unlike Dylan, who maintains some distance from his work, Prine's work is intimate and personal. He can move you to tears. His voice has gotten more rough-edged with the years and his treatment for neck cancer - but the gruff voice suits his work well. Compare "Souvenirs" to his debut album - to me, at least, Souvenirs is much more moving because it is delivered with perspective and experience. Well, the same goes for Fair and Square, which is not only delivered with perspective and experience, but written with it as well.

"Glory of True Love" is written by a man who has lost love enough times to know that it should be cherished when found. "Long Monday" and "My Darlin' Hometown" are full of loss and longing and perspective that can only come with age. And in case you're worried that time and illness had worn down his trademark sense of humor, "Crazy as a Loon" and "I Hate It When That Happens to Me" will put your mind at ease. He even includes a version of the Carter family staple "Bear Creek Blues" that has some real bite to it. And it's all wrapped in his most laid-back delivery yet, with the best-sounding backing since he played with Steve Goodman at his side.

Another masterwork from an underappreciated master.

First thoughts - John Prine has toed the mark! What an excellent piece of beauty.

The artistry overwhelms the musically inclined, so delicate and soft yet convincing

and relaxing. Memories of a young Kristofferson come into mind. The voices are similar

and the message is tight with a few loose spots. That's okay, cause it lets my mind wander.

This is a gem from the start....to the finish

It was well worth the 10 year wait!

It's dark funny, but I still got a spot open for the next Steve Goodman album and no space left for a new

John Prine album. I guess it's time to realize and move on. The greatest will always survive - dead or alive.

This is a great album! A must own....

Anyone who appreciates heartfelt wisdom, wit, insight and all delivered with superior homespun muscianship should buy this effort without further ado.

I cant stop listening as it is as if someone were telling me stories on the front porch during a warm summer afternoon.

At the age of 20, I can proudly say that I've been listening to John Prine my entire life. From the childhood car trips with his music playing non-stop, to the $260 tattoo I got of him recently; I've been a huge fan. This album is a little more bluegrass/country than he's done before (at least in my opinion) but it is still being played non-stop since I purchased it (not a fan of country music for the most part). The song Morning Train even includes a blues type song, which is an incredibly addition to his already spotless career. Whether you're a country fan, a folk music fan, or just looking for something new, this C.D. is it. I haven't found a friend who didn't like his music (with their intrests ranging from death metal to country). It's perfect for relaxing and at times even taking a comical break at the end of your day.