JOHN PRINE - BBC Session & Interview 2018 (Flac)

* Special Post *

JOHN PRINE (1946-2020)

John Prine bravely fought and conquered cancer twice before sadly becoming another victim of the current pandemic. 

His peers and fellow musicians described him in glowing terms:

Bruce Springsteen said:

"We are crushed by the loss of John Prine. John and I were "New Dylans" together in the early 70s and he was never anything but the loveliest guy in the world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages. We send our love and prayers to his family.

Bob Dylan described John's music as:

"Pure Proustian existentialism". "Midwestern mind trips to the nth degree. And he writes beautiful songs."

Robbie Robertson, ex-The Band - called him:

"A genius".

and Robert Plant, ex-Led Zeppelin - said of his work:

"A beacon of clear white light cutting through the dark days," and "His charm, humour and irony we shall miss greatly."

Here he talks candidly to BBC DJ & legendary OGWT presenter, Bob Harris and also performs two songs from his latest album 'The Tree Of Forgiveness'

This short session was recorded by me over a year and a half ago, and is new to circulation. Just a brief example of John's brilliance as a musician, songwriter and raconteur.

Thursday 23 August, 2018
BBC Radio 2  FM broadcast
Bob Harris Country show
John Prine is in session

01. Bob Harris Intro  (0:27)
02. John Prine - Summers End (session)  (3:14)
03. Interview pt. 1  (6:40)
04. John Prine - Crazy Bone (session)  (3:26)
05. Interview pt. 2   (5:02)

Lineage: Denon FM tuner > WAVLAB 6 > FLAC 8
Recorded: thebasement67
 

BBC Radio 2 FM notes.
Earlier this year (2018) legendary singer/songwriter John Prine released his first album for 18 years. Tonight he plays songs from it and discusses his 50 year career with Bob.

Back in 1970, Prine was playing at the Chicago folk club The Fifth Peg when the young journalist Roger Ebert dropped in for a set. At the time, Prine was a 23-year-old mailman who had been singing his original songs every Thursday night for about two months. Ebert wrote a glowing review for the Chicago Sun- Times , essentially launching Prine’s music career. Kris Kristofferson became one of his earliest advocates; their friendship has lasted decades and they have toured together extensively over the years. In turn, Prine has invited a new generation of songwriters, such as Jason Isbell and Margo Price, to open his concerts. His 2018 tour schedule includes select dates with Sturgill Simpson.

Prine still remembers the first three songs he performed on any stage: “Sam Stone,” “Hello in There,” and “Paradise.” With humility, he recalls, “I sang those three songs and people just sat there and looked at me. I thought, ‘Wow, those are really bad.’ They wouldn’t even applaud.”

Of course, the opposite is true today. Those three songs are Prine signatures. His songs have been recorded by iconic singers like Johnny Cash (“Sam Stone”), Bette Midler (“Hello in There”) and Bonnie Raitt (“Angel from Montgomery”).

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