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What is the best John Prine album?

By YPB Team

Half a century of records, from a debut that arrived fully formed to a farewell made at 71, with duet albums and a couple of overlooked eighties gems in between. Pick the one you would hand to someone who has never heard him.

  1. John Prine — ranked #11
    John Prine
    His 1971 Atlantic debut, home to "Angel from Montgomery", "Sam Stone", "Hello in There" and "Paradise".
    1000pts
  2. The Missing Years — ranked #22
    The Missing Years
    The 1991 Howie Epstein-produced comeback that won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
    897pts
  3. Fair & Square — ranked #33
    Fair & Square
    His 2005 album, his first set of new songs in a decade, which won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.
    717pts
  4. Storm Windows — ranked #44
    Storm Windows
    His 1980 Asylum album and last major-label record before he founded Oh Boy Records.
    636pts
  5. Pink Cadillac — ranked #55
    Pink Cadillac
    A rough, rockabilly-flavoured 1979 record cut at Sun Studio with Sam Phillips' sons.
    538pts
  6. Aimless Love — ranked #66
    Aimless Love
    The 1984 album that launched his own Oh Boy label, with "People Puttin' People Down".
    538pts
  7. Sweet Revenge — ranked #77
    Sweet Revenge
    His 1973 album with "Dear Abby", "Grandpa Was a Carpenter" and "Christmas in Prison".
    538pts
  8. Bruised Orange — ranked #88
    Bruised Orange
    The 1978 album produced by Steve Goodman, with "Fish and Whistle" and "That's the Way That the World Goes 'Round".
    418pts
  9. German Afternoons — ranked #99
    German Afternoons
    A 1986 Grammy-nominated record that revisits "Paradise" in a bluegrass setting.
    418pts
  10. Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings — ranked #1010
    Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings
    His 1995 album, with "Lake Marie", a song Bob Dylan has named among his favourites.
    418pts
  11. Standard Songs for Average People — ranked #1111
    Standard Songs for Average People
    A 2007 album of country and bluegrass standards sung with Mac Wiseman.
    418pts
  12. For Better, or Worse — ranked #1212
    For Better, or Worse
    A 2016 sequel to his duets album, pairing him with Kacey Musgraves, Alison Krauss and more.
    418pts
  13. Diamonds in the Rough — ranked #1313
    Diamonds in the Rough
    The 1972 follow-up, a sparse, bluegrass-leaning record cut quickly with a small band.
    0pts
  14. Common Sense — ranked #1414
    Common Sense
    The 1975 Steve Cropper-produced record and his best-charting album of the 1970s.
    0pts
  15. In Spite of Ourselves — ranked #1515
    In Spite of Ourselves
    A 1999 album of country duets with Iris DeMent, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and others.
    0pts
  16. The Tree of Forgiveness — ranked #1616
    The Tree of Forgiveness
    His 2018 final album and highest-charting record, closing on "When I Get to Heaven".
    0pts
folk19music945country37John Prine1

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