On the first day of the great American singer-songwriter’s Australian tour, we check out some classic John Prine covers by Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Bette Middler, The Highwaymen and others.
A man recognized as one of America’s greatest songwriters is in our midst this week. John Prine might not be a household name but he is genuinely a songwriter's songwriter, and his songs have been recorded by a range of artists including Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Kasey Chambers, Bette Midler, and numerous others. He’s been making records himself since he was discovered by Kris Kristofferson and signed to Atlantic Records, which is also when he was able to quit his job as a postie in Chicago. His self-titled album for Atlantic earned him a “Best New Artist” Grammy nomination in 1972.
Other Grammy nominations (including three in 2018) and three Grammy wins have been forthcoming in an ongoing career that has also seen Prine start his own record label, battle cancer, and receive glowing accolades from the likes of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and even Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. He’s even been covered by John Laws, who named his 1972 album Rocks In M’ Pocket and Dirt in M’ Shoes after the Prine song he covered on it!
To celebrate John Prine’s first Australian shows in 26 years (and only his second visit ever), ILYOS looks at a handful of great covers of John Prine’s classic tunes.
Bonnie Raitt – Angel of Montgomery
This classic tune from Prine’s 1971 debut came up a treat in Bonnie’s gorgeous 1974 version, although the first line of the first verse “When I was a young girl” does lose its oddball charm when it’s not sung by the gruff-voiced Prine! “Angel From Montgomery” has also been covered by Carly Simon, Ben Harper, Kasey Chambers’ pre-solo band the Dead Ringer Band and others.
Everly Brothers – Paradise
Nearly 50 years ahead of his time, Prine wrote this tune chronicling the damage caused by coal mining, using the town of Green River, Kentucky as a case in point. Back then this wasn’t seen as any sort of political agenda; it was just making a point, and a number of conservative country singers covered it at the time, including Roy Acuff and John Denver. The Everly Brothers’ version is clearly the best sung, but there are other great ones, by Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, Dwight Yoakam and more.
Johnny Cash – Sam Stone
Perhaps Prine’s most controversial tune, “Sam Stone” is the story of a Vietnam War veteran who returns home and turns to heroin. This was written a decade or more before Springsteen wrote “Born In The USA,” and of course it’s perfect material for Johnny Cash.
Bette Midler – Hello In There
A beautiful song about aging, “Hello In There” is a perfect tune for artists who aren’t looking for the fountain of youth in their career. Bette included her version on her landmark The Divine Miss M album in 1972 – she and Prine were label mates at the time. The song has also been recorded by 10,000 Maniacs, REM and Joan Baez among others.
Paul Westerberg – Souvenirs
Prine’s work has always cut across to a young and rock audience because it speaks the truth. The wayward frontman of 80s/90s alternative/punk icons the Replacements no doubt learned a lot from Prine’s writing, and cut this version one of Prine’s most beloved songs in 2003.
Gene Clark with Carla Olson – The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness
Gene Clark was a brilliant singer-songwriter who first made his name with another songwriters material; he was the Byrds frontman when they hit with Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” in the mid-60s. Possessor of beautiful haunting voice, Clark was perfectly suited to one of Prine’s most beautiful and haunting songs, which first appeared on his 1986 album German Afternoons. Clark’s live version was recorded in 1990. Kasey Chambers sang this one too on a record by the Chambers family band, the Dead Ringer Band, along with her dad Bill, mum Diane, and brother Nash.
The Highwaymen – The 20th Century Is Almost Over
What songwriter would not have been thrilled to have one of their songs recorded by the band featuring Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, and John Cash? “The 20th Century Is Almost Over” is a Prine co-write with his old mate from Chicago, Steve Goodman, and it originally appeared on Goodman’s 1977 album Say It In Private. Cash also recorded it himself on his 1980 Rockabilly Blues album.
Kasey Chambers – In Spite of Ourselves
We’ve mentioned two Prine songs that Kasey recorded with the Dead Ringer Band before she went solo; alas neither of those recordings appear on YouTube. Neither, surprisingly, does Kasey’s version of a song that was a firm fan favorite for her back in the early days of her solo career. “In Spite Of Ourselves,” the comical but touching hillbilly love song featuring the unforgettable line “I caught him one sniffing my undies” was so popular in Kasey's concerts that her version drove considerable sales of Prine’s 1999 album In Spite of Ourselves here in Australia at the time. In lieu of Kasey, let’s here a great live version from Prine and his partner in crime on the original recording, the wonderful Irish Dement.
John Prine Australian tour dates:
Tue 05 Mar, 2019 The Tivoli, Brisbane
Thu 07 Mar, 2019 Palais Theatre, Melbourne
Sat 09 Mar, 2019 State Theatre, Sydney
