Today would have been singer-songwriter John Prine’s 74th birthday. The native of Maywood, Illinois died in April from COVID-19 at a hospital near his home in Nashville. Prine was a beloved figure, a friend to many and a mentor to plenty of musicians inspired by his sardonic wit and emotionally honest songwriting.
With his 1971 self-titled album, Prine — who was working for the U.S. Postal Service — gave the world such authentic classics as “Angel From Montgomery,” “Sam Stone,” “Hello In There,” and “Paradise.” Prine’s career was bolstered by an early review in the Chicago Sun-Times by film critic Roger Ebert, who after walking out of a movie, by chance saw Prine performing at the Fifth Peg in Chicago. Other earlier support came from fellow singer-songwriter Kris Kristoferson.
While Prine’s recorded output continued producing standout originals like “Souvenirs,” “Lake Marie,” “Unwed Fathers,” “In Spite Of Ourselves,” “Storm Windows” and many more, he was also a talented live performer who brought that coy sense of humor and authentic enthusiasm to his concerts. This edition of Saturday Stream collects live performance by John Prine throughout his career in a Spotify Playlist featuring the remarkable aforementioned songs, along with other Prine favorites.
The playlist features tracks from Prine’s live albums, leading with The Singing Mailman Delivers, which was released in 2011 and features a November 1970 performance at the Fifth Peg. Highlights from Prine’s the “lost” LP, September ’78, which was recorded at Chicago’s Park West in the fall of 1978 and released in 2015, are part of the playlist as well.
Other tracks come from John Prine Live, which was mostly recorded during a three-night stand at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California in March 1988. There are also selections from 1997’s Live On Tour, which was recorded at various venues including Navy Pier in Chicago, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and at Austin City Limits and features Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and the late bassist Howie Epstein contributing to “Stick A Needle In My Eye,” “If I Could” (only Tench) and “You Mean So Much To Me” (Epstein producing).
There are also tracks from Prine’s 2010 live album, In Person & On Stage with Iris DeMent appearing on “In Spite Of Ourselves” and “Unwed Fathers,” Sara Watkins guesting on “The Late John Garfield Blues,” and Josh Ritter joining on “Mexican Home.” The playlist aslo contains Prine’s contributions to a 1985 tribute concert to Steve Goodman, who was Prine’s friend and musical peer, notably featuring Bonnie Raitt accompanying Prine on what became one of her signature songs, “Angel From Montgomery.”
The John Prine Performing Live In Concert Spotify Playlist can be streamed below:
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