Jason Isabel says hi

One July afternoon in the very early 90's I'm ordering a beer at a lakeside bar on Lake Tahoe. While I'm waiting to get the attention of the bar tender I hear this fantastic song being played on the sound system. When the bartender delivers my beer, I said "Excuse me, but who is this singing this song?". He just looks at me sort of wryly and says "John Prine man" .

I was astonished there was someone singing this kind of music and I had not heard of them. Of course I discovered I had in fact heard some of his songs performed by others, but never by him.That started a my introduction and appreciation for John Prine.

There have been a few artists that when they die, I've been seriously shook up - SRV, Bowie, Petty,and today.

Here's one I recently learned he wrote.

Watched this CBS interview with John Prine this morning, gives you a great look into his wit and humor. Man had a way with words.

Holy ****, I just learned he co-wrote this:

He didn't write it, but his version of "Clay Pigeons" is about as good as it gets in my book. Man, I'm way sadder about John Prine passing than I thought I'd be.

Isbell does so freely and repeatedly.

I don't take the poster who said he'd never heard of Prine as bragging about his ignorance, but rather a statement of fact because up until a year or two ago I was the same way.

How did I finally hear about John Prine? Jason Isbell.

Isbell and Amanda Shires were dear friends of his the last few years and referred to him lovingly as "Uncle John". If you follow them on social media you would see them all just having dinner together and enjoying each others company.

Just this morning Isbell posted a picture of one of his Christmas gifts from Amanda a couple years ago. It was framed handwritten lyrics from Prine.

Saw him on ACL a while ago. He looked so bad that when I heard he had CV, I thought there would be no way he'd survive.

Pretty good write up by Todd Snider
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/todd-snider-remembers-john-prine-980532/

This one really tugs at my heart.

I miss TP.

Jock 07 said:

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Pretty good write up by Todd Snider
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/todd-snider-remembers-john-prine-980532/

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Nice article by Todd. He's one of a kind himself. Probably seen him 20-30 times, dating back to the Nervous Wrecks, but that John Prine show in Houston was the last. Todd is a great songwriting talent and fun performer, no doubt. But it seems he misses more and more shows lately. I worry about him. Like so many greats, Todd seems to be his worst enemy. I hope he finds what he's looking for.

Also, worry about Jerry Jeff. He's gone through the same throat cancer treatment that Prine did, and JJW is my dad's age of 79. Sounds like he's doing okay, had great treatment at MD Anderson, and played several hours at his annual gig down in Belize recently. I know he must be missing John Prine already.

rcb said:

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Jock 07 said:

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Pretty good write up by Todd Snider
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/todd-snider-remembers-john-prine-980532/

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Nice article by Todd. He's one of a kind himself. Probably seen him 20-30 times, dating back to the Nervous Wrecks, but that John Prine show in Houston was the last. Todd is a great songwriting talent and fun performer, no doubt. But it seems he misses more and more shows lately. I worry about him. Like so many greats, Todd seems to be his worst enemy. I hope he finds what he's looking for.

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Yup, if half his stories are true I'm surprised the guy is still functioning. Saw him last fall here in LA and he seemed much more "there" than when I saw him a couple years ago in Omaha.

Jock 07 said:

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rcb said:

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Jock 07 said:

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Pretty good write up by Todd Snider
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/todd-snider-remembers-john-prine-980532/

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Nice article by Todd. He's one of a kind himself. Probably seen him 20-30 times, dating back to the Nervous Wrecks, but that John Prine show in Houston was the last. Todd is a great songwriting talent and fun performer, no doubt. But it seems he misses more and more shows lately. I worry about him. Like so many greats, Todd seems to be his worst enemy. I hope he finds what he's looking for.

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Yup, if half his stories are true I'm surprised the guy is still functioning. Saw him last fall here in LA and he seemed much more "there" than when I saw him a couple years ago in Omaha.

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I will echo this sentiment. We saw Todd in Tomball the last time he was there and I did not expect him to finish the show when he started. Looked like he was in a complete daze and stumbled through the first few songs. He had trouble getting his guitar out of its stand at the start of the show, to the point that his helper had to jump up and hand it to him. After that he settled into a groove and pulled it together and put on a decent show.

He played a few shows at All The Best Fest in November and I will say that they were some of the best shows he put on. He was lucid and had "light" in his eyes that had been missing for a few years. It was really fun hearing him cover some Prine songs and even playing a song with him on the last night there. Enjoy him while he is here, his personality and past leads me to believe that he is going to go out in a ball of fire some day.

https://instagr.am/p/B-wrZCYHvs6

Old School Brother said:

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Tanya 93 said:

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Jason Isabel says hi

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Jason Isbell would bend the knee to John Prine.

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I've never even heard of Jason Isabel, but yeh that Isbell guy isn't part of this discussion of Prine and Dylan.

62strat said:

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Old School Brother said:

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Tanya 93 said:

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Jason Isabel says hi

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Jason Isbell would bend the knee to John Prine.

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I've never even heard of Jason Isabel, but yeh that Isbell guy isn't part of this discussion of Prine and Dylan.

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Bless your heart

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I've never even heard of Jason Isabel, but yeh that Isbell guy isn't part of this discussion of Prine and Dylan.

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He is not, but he's the closest thing out there right now. He has a handful of songs that are on those guys' level. He put out 3 consecutive albums that are pretty top-notch compared to anyone. If your Prine/Dylan guy you will probably be an Isbell guy.

Speaking of which:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/opinion/john-prine-jason-isbell.html

That's an awesome photo. Can't imagine the history made in there. I'm still kicking my own cheap ass for not buying tickets the last time he came through Austin. I'd seen him a few times before and decided not to splurge. Obviously regret that decision now.

For anyone with SiriusXM:

Jim01 said:

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Speaking of which:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/opinion/john-prine-jason-isbell.html

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Just read that. Never knew they were that close.

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For anyone with SiriusXM:

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Was listening to that this afternoon. Very enjoyable stories told and many wonderful tunes. He was well loved by other songwriters and musicians.

Prine currently has the #3 and #6 albums on ITunes right now, so maybe there is hope for humanity yet.

Which albums? I thought his last tree of forgiveness was outstanding

HTownAg98 said:

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My father in law and Steve Goodman were high school classmates. He would go see Steve and John play in Chicago. I don't know where he found this photo or even if he took it, but it would have been from the late 1960s. This is a picture of The Earl of Old Town. Notice the posters on the right side of the picture.

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Steve Goodman was a damn good songwriter too.

Of all the Prine stories I've read in the last few days, none mention my favorite lyric of his. From Spanish Pipedream :

"I knew that topless lady/had something up her sleeve"