John Prine Revisited at 80
Summary
In this tribute episode for John Prine’s 80th birthday, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot revisit their 2018 interview with the late singer-songwriter. Prine discusses his early days as a mailman, his friendship with Steve Goodman, and his decision to launch his own indie label. He also shares anecdotes about writing songs with Phil Spector and the creation of his acclaimed album, The Tree of Forgiveness. The episode concludes with a classic album dissection of Prine’s debut record, featuring author Aaron Osman.
Topics discussed
Intro, Goose Island 312, and Chicago listener stories
Patreon support and John Prine's passing
Celebrating Prine's 80th birthday and his legacy
Prine's health, voice, and proto-punk indie roots
Writing process and early songwriting from age 14
The Chicago folk scene and meeting Steve Goodman
Chicago's no-BS culture for songwriters
Early critical acclaim from Roger Ebert and others
Influences: Dave Van Ronk and the Carter Family
Resisting rock anthems and emotional ambiguity
Fan support and the birth of Oh Boy Records
Pioneering indie label status in 1984
Frustrations with major labels and artistic control
Playing 'Come Home' and the Oh Boy label focus
Meeting Phil Spector via Robert Hilbert
Collaborating with Steve Goodman and Phil Spector
Phil Spector's persona and the Ramones' fear
Decision to continue career despite setbacks
Preview of Sony Music offer and independence
Sponsor break: Quince clothing
Return to interview: Prine's 80th birthday tribute
Discussion of 'The Missing Years' album
Turning down Sony Music to stay independent
Writing 'The Missing Years' based on history
Incorporating news events into the song
Completing the song structure and chorus
Respecting the audience's intelligence
Family connections and intergenerational music
Avoiding being overly serious in lyrics
Humor as a survival mechanism
The 'pork chop' rule for song improvement
Writing session with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys
Playing 'Boundless Love'
Writing about aging and 'Sam Stone'
Inspiration from Vietnam veterans and protesters
Depicting heroin addiction and hopelessness
John Prine book and a humorous review
The 'Exorcists' anecdote and audience reactions
A reviewer's humorous experience at a show
Chart success at age 71 and family influence
'Tree of Forgiveness' reviews and mortality themes
Debunking the 'concept album' narrative
Wife's perspective on the album's thread
Closing thoughts on Prine's gift to music
Connection to Heartland Rock and Kentucky roots
Playing 'Muhlenberg County'
Aaron Osman joins to discuss Prine's debut
Atlantic Records and the Memphis session players
Incorporating pedal steel and lyrical focus
Session players gaining respect for Prine
The uniqueness of the self-titled debut
Prine's slow build and staying in Chicago
Prine's influence on modern songwriters
Debut album as a greatest hits collection
Thanks to Aaron Osman and the hosts
Outro and Patreon shoutouts
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