John Prine's self-titled debut album was released in 1971. Lauded by many as one of the most masterful albums of all time, and not just within country music, Prine admits he was never able to capture, at least in his mind, the magic of the project.
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"I wish I knew the guy who was writing those songs," Prine says in a 2016 interview, adding that he thinks "that guy left." "I haven't seen him since he signed with a record company, when it all became professional. It takes a certain amount of innocence out of [the songwriting] when that happens. Because you know you're writing songs to be recorded. Basically, I'm the same guy, but the guy who wrote those first songs he didn't know if anyone was going to listen or hear them. He was just writing."
Prine's first record includes songs like "Angel From Montgomery," "Paradise" and more. More than 50 years later, the songs are still being celebrated. Unfortunately for Prine, he had no idea at the time that he was creating anything extraordinary.
"I'm opinionated as anybody," Prine admits. "I see people and envision what they're like, what they're life is — and I might be totally wrong. But as a writer, I'm trying to come up with a good story. Those stories, I guess, show things. But I like to say I work off raw imagination and good instincts. That's why I usually turn down ideas to write songs for movies. It's somebody else's idea. I can't come to the conclusion they might want me to."
Prine released albums on Atlantic and Asylum before forming his own Oh Boy Records, where he remained until he passed away in 2020.
What Happened To John Prine
John Prine was 73 years old when he died on April 7, 2020, from COVID-19. A week before his death was announced, the family shared that Prine was struggling. On April 3, they issued a new update, revealing he had taken an unfortunate turn for the worse.
"This is John's 8th day in ICU. He is receiving excellent medical care and being treated with kindness and compassion by the entire team looking after him day and night," his wife Fiona writes, adding that she could not be with him, due to the pandemic. "I cannot be with him which makes this nightmare all the more distressing for me."
In addition to being on a ventilator, Prine also developed pneumonia in both lungs.
