Disco de John Prine: “Diamonds in the Rough”

I was a kid working graveyard in a gas station working my way through my freshman year of college when the first self-titled John Prine album was released. I still remember the rush when I first heard "Illegal Smile" playing over the station radio one night about midnight. Shortly after that, he showed up in the studio of my favorite radio station - I think it was KPPC - you old LA'ers will remember that one, and played "the Late John Garfield Blues live over the radio. The DJ was so blown away by the song that he asked John if he would play it again, and he did. After running out and getting the album ($3.00 for vinyl those days), and hearing it all the way through, I knew he was another great one like my other singer/songwriter idols Lennon, Dylan and Ochs. The second album - "Diamonds In the Rough" - was somehow even better. Not as slick, or even as deep, but incredibly organic and heartfelt. Even though his biggest hits are on other albums, if I could only keep one of his, it would be "Diamonds." Even though I am an old fart now, that listens mostly to jazz, I still love it and consider it an essential.

A very simple set of brilliant tunes. Mainly just John and his guitar - just the way it ought to be. Funny tunes ("yes I guess they ought to name a drink after you" & "The Frying Pan") and soulful tunes ("John Garfield blues" and "The Tourch Singer").

This is a must have for anyone that likes Prine!

Maybe its because I play guitar and love to play and sing all these songs, but this album is easily my favorite Prine album. Prine combines his unique writing ability with a very emotional voice from beginning to end. Great musicians don't hurt this album either. "Clock and Spoons" (my favorite Prine song), "Souvenirs", "The Great Compromise", and "Billy the Bum" are powerfully moving songs, while "Everbody", "The Frying Pan", and "They Oughta Name a Drink after You" are just plain hilarious.

John Prine is one of a handfull of songwriters who are able to turn out great songs over and over again. Highly recommended to all Prine fans, but especially to those who are musicians themselves. New listeners of Prine would most likely be better off with a compliation album, but if you enjoy one of them, don't forget about this one.

Call it Prine Unplugged, or Prine's "Nebraska," this is my own favorite of his many excellent albums. Some of his best songs, performed in spare, often acoustic style. His most purely country album, too, before "In Spite of Ourselves."

Why would I call this one of my favorites albums ever and how the hell did I end up here writing this? Let me start off by saying that I am just a kid of 18.....x2.......+17. Yup just a kid. Still have a huge stack of vinyl and a turntable to play em on. So after all of these years and all of these 8 tracks and all of these cassette tapes and all of these CDs and all of these MP3s the old table does not get used much and the old plates did need that rest. But at least a few times a year, OK, maybe more than a few, one needs a good ol get drunk and howl at the moon alone break. So when the ice cold bottle of Jack comes out of the back of the fridge there stands my old turntable and the platter on the table is still to this day Diamonds in the Rough! Damn. Come to think of it I have been singing the title track in my morning shower for... holly smokes.. 30 some odd years!! You can think up reasons why one song or album might be a favorite but when you look at a piece of your own history and it resides on a real piece of history that you still use regularly!! Yup, must be one of my favorite albums ever and I had no choice but to be here writing this. "Christ I'm so mixed up and lonely, can't even make friends with my brain, I'm too young to be where I'm going, but I'm too old to go back again."