Legendary singer, songwriter and performer John Prine is featured on today’s episode of NPR’s “Fresh Air” with host Terry Gross. Listen to the full segment HERE.
The interview comes in the midst of a landmark year for Prine, whose critically acclaimed new album, The Tree of Forgiveness, recently debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart with over 54,000 equivalent albums sold in its first week—a career high chart position and sales week for Prine. The album also debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart, #2 on Billboard’s Country Albums chart and #2 on Billboard’s Rock Albums chart. Additionally, Prine is once again nominated for “Artist of the Year” at the 2018 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards.
Released on his own independent label, Oh Boy Records, the album is Prine’s first album featuring new material in over 13 years and was produced by Grammy Award winning producer Dave Cobb (purchase/stream here).
In celebration of the release, Prine recently performed the album’s first single, “Summer’s End,” on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” with special guests Sturgill Simpson and Brandi Carlile. Watch the performance HERE. Additionally, Rolling Stone recently premiered a short documentary on Prine and the new album, entitled “John Prine: The Road to The Tree of Forgiveness.” Watch HERE. Moreover, Prine’s NPR Music “Tiny Desk Concert” can be viewed HERE.
Prine’s extensive nationwide tour is currently underway including upcoming dates at Dallas’ AT&T Performing Arts Center, Austin’s Bass Hall, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall and two nights at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Of his recent sold out show at Radio City Music Hall, Rolling Stone declares, “…a night of joy and love at one of the most biggest shows of the veteran singer-songwriter’s career.” All 2018 shows are now on-sale. See below for complete details. Every concert ticket sold will include a copy The Tree of Forgiveness (CD only).
Recorded at Nashville’s historic RCA Studio A, the album includes ten new songs written by Prine along with co-writers Pat McLaughlin, Roger Cook, Dan Auerbach, Keith Sykes, David Ferguson and Phil Spector. Along with Prine (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Cobb (acoustic guitar, mellotron, claps, kazoo) and Prine’s longtime band, the album features special guests Brandi Carlile (harmony vocals on tracks 2, 4, 10), Jason Isbell (electric guitar on track 7, slide guitar and background vocals on track 9, 10) and Amanda Shires (fiddle and background vocals on track 9, background vocals on track 10).
The landmark album and tour follow a noteworthy 2017, which included an “Artist of the Year” award at the Americana Music Honors & Awards and a Chicago/Midwest Regional Emmy Award for his “Chicago Voices” performance with Renée Fleming. Last year also saw the release of Prine’s debut book, John Prine Beyond Words, which includes a selection of favorites songs, photographs and stories from Prine’s beloved catalogue. More info is available here.
A two-time Grammy-winner, Prine is among the English language’s premier phrase-turners. Almost 50 years into a remarkable career that has drawn effusive praise from Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, Bonnie Raitt, Roger Waters, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen and others who would know, Prine is a smiling, shuffling force for good. He is a Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and a PEN New England Lyrics Award recipient whose classic debut album, simply titled John Prine, is recognized as part of the Recording Academy’s Grammy Hall of Fame and whose songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Carly Simon, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Zac Brown Band and many others.
Following the 2015 death of his friend and business partner Al Bunetta, Prine is now President and sole owner of Oh Boy Records. He lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, Fiona, and enjoys spending time with their three sons, a daughter-in-law and his grandchildren.
THE TREE OF FORGIVENESS TRACK LIST
1. “Knockin’ On Your Screen Door” (by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
2. “I Have Met My Love Today” ft. Brandi Carlile (by John Prine and Roger Cook)
3. “Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)” (by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
4. “Summer’s End” (written by John Prine and Pat McLaughlin)
5. “Caravan of Fools” (by John Prine, Dan Auerbach, and Pat McLaughlin)
6. “The Lonesome Friends of Science” (by John Prine)
7. “No Ordinary Blue” (by John Prine and Keith Sykes)
8. “Boundless Love” (by John Prine, Dan Auerbach, and Pat McLaughlin)
9. “God Only Knows” (by John Prine and Phil Spector)
10. “When I Get to Heaven” (by John Prine)
