“I am an old woman named after my mother”—this wasn’t the kind of opening line you heard very often from a male vocalist in the 1970s or any other period in pop music. Taking the perspective of another gender was rare enough, but choosing to do so through the eyes of a character who was also past their prime and embittered took the guts and imagination of one of the great songwriters of his era.
That man was John Prine, and the song was ‘Angel From Montgomery’, a country-folk classic from Prine’s self-titled debut album in 1971. He was just 24 years old when he recorded it and still reliant on his day job as a postal worker in Chicago, but Prine’s heartfelt portrayal of a frustrated woman in a dead-end marriage made a lasting impression on a new audience.
Within a few years of its release, several artists, including Carly Simon and John Denver, had already covered’ Angel From Montgomery’. The song found its ideal pairing, however, in 1974, when Bonnie Raitt recorded her fourth studio album, Streetlights.
“As a young feminist,” Raitt later told Uncut, “The idea that this young man [Prine] could inhabit the world of a middle-aged woman in a thankless marriage really resonated with me.”
Raitt, like Prine, was just 24 when she first sang ‘Angel From Montgomery’, but her voice always carried a maturity and world-weariness well beyond its years. Though the song’s opening line identifies the speaker as an “old woman,” Prine explained that this was more of a commentary on how the woman—someone more likely in her 40s or 50s—had come to see herself.
“I had this really vivid picture of this woman standing over the dishwater with soap in her hands and just walking away from it all,” Prine said, as quoted in the book More Songwriters On Songwriting. “I just kept that whole idea image in mind when I was writing the song, and I just let it pour out of that character’s heart.”
There’s flies in the kitchen, I can hear ’em there buzzing And I ain’t done nothing since I woke up today How the hell can a person go to work in the morning And come home in the evening and have nothing to say?
As decades passed, ‘Angel’ remained a regular part of the performing repertoire for both Prine and Raitt. And even though Raitt enjoyed an unlikely breakthrough into mainstream pop stardom in the late ‘80s, she had also grown into the age of the character in the song, making it all the more meaningful to perform for her now expanding fan base.
“‘Angel From Montgomery’ has probably meant more to me and my fans than any song I’ve ever done,” Raitt said before inducting Prine into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019. “It’s a masterpiece. And I’ve dedicated it to you, as you have to me, and to so many women working to try and get lives that have more choices than the woman in that song. As we get older, the grey areas are what come to the fore, and that’s what you write about, the complexities, in such a beautiful, simple way.”
John Prine died less than a year after that induction ceremony in April of 2020, one of the early victims of the Covid pandemic. He was 73.
Andrew Clayman is an ageing music writer, amateur shortstop, and semi-pro historian who left his sweet home Chicago to chase the dream in Leeds. Quite conceivably the only person to have interviewed Henry Rollins and Zooey Deschanel on the same day (not together), his other interests include birdwatching, car boot sales, and asking people if they’ve ever listened to the band Close Lobsters.
NPR turns 50 this year, and we’re marking it by looking back on some other things that happened in 1971. It was that year that songwriter John Prine released his debut album. Prine died in 2020.
For its 50th anniversary, join us in an online listening party for John Prine‘s self-titled debut. NPR Music’s Ann Powers will be joined by John’s wife Fiona Prine, their son Jody Whelan, legendary singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt and producer Jim Rooney in a live conversation about this monumental album.
The event has taken place on the anniversary of the album’s release, Sept. 23, at 2 p.m. ET.
The story of John Prine’s debut album is like something out of a movie: a postal service worker makes his way up the Chicago folk scene, gets noticed by Kris Kristofferson after John had finished his set. John got up on stage, played another set just for Kris and a few other people, and Kris Kristofferson was blown away. And that led to a record deal and Prine’s magnificent recording debut.
“Good songwriters are on the rise, but John Prine is differently good,” went the original Rolling Stone review. These were not just story-songs, but deceptively simple excavations of character. The likes of Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt and the Everly Brothers covered “Sam Stone,” “Paradise” and “Angel from Montgomery,” but moreover revered Prine’s quiet sense of timing, humor and empathy.
“John Prine captured people in those moments of supposing when life gets really small and almost impossible, but then another thought occurs,” Ann Powers wrote in her 2020 remembrance. “A laugh, or a dignified response, or even a sense of blessing.”
POWERS: I think the thing about John Prine – and you can totally hear it throughout this record – is that he has so much humor, and he hooks you in with that and also with his storytelling skills. And then he just gently reaches in and pulls out your heart.
John Prine’s debut album basically made him a legend among singer-songwriters. And one of the people listening was Bonnie Raitt. And she soon recorded “Angel From Montgomery,” and it became a hit.
BONNIE RAITT: It’s a timeless masterpiece. For John to have captured that other generation’s despair, the hopelessness of – how the hell can a person go to work in the morning and come home and have nothing to say? – you know, it’s the reason I didn’t want to get married.
POWERS: And that’s the crazy thing about John Prine’s 1971 debut. It is just one classic after another, not just “Angel From Montgomery,” but “Sam Stone,” “Hello In There,” “Paradise.” And today, 50 years later, it’s – remains a beloved classic that continues to inspire and influence so many of us.
So please join us in the chat to ask questions, or just to shout out your love and thoughts. Let’s listen together!
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The last recorded song by John Prine. Written by Prine and his longtime collaborator Pat McLaughlin.
Oh Boy Records Store
The home of Oh Boy Records and our artists: John Prine, Dan Reeder, Kelsey Waldon, Tré Burt, Arlo McKinley, and Emily Scott Robinson. From music to merchandise, purchase directly from the label here!
John Prine
Explore releases from John Prine at Discogs. Shop for Vinyl, CDs and more from John Prine at the Discogs Marketplace.
Bonnie Raitt shares her reaction to hearing John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery” for the first time and how she instantly knew she would perform it.
Bonnie Raitt on Angel From Montgomery, RIP John Prine - with Mark Goodman & Alan Light from Debatable on SiriusXM Volume 4-14-2020
tip: most convenient way to listen while browsing along is to use the popup button of the player.
For as long as music has been shared, it has also been debated. Alan Light, veteran music writer and co-host of VOLUME’s new program, Debatable, certainly thinks so.
“I don’t think you can put two music fans in a room and come up with a universally agreed upon anything,” he says, gesturing toward Mark Goodman, his Debatable co-host and fellow music industry vet, who nodded in agreement.
They are standing in a radio studio turned photo studio, about one month out from the launch of SiriusXM’s latest channel, VOLUME, the first-ever talk radio station dedicated to music.
Alan Light and Mark Goodman hosts of Debatable
Light is relaxed in front of the camera, rhythmically shifting his weight from left to right as if to music. Considering his accomplishments in the music industry – writer for Rolling Stone, founding music editor and editor-in-chief of Vibe Magazine, editor-in-chief of Spin Magazine, contributor to the New Yorker, author of an oral history of the Beastie Boys and a biography of Prince – it’s no surprise that he might have a tune or two in the back of his mind.
Goodman, who had been finishing up his other duties for the day at SiriusXM as a longtime host on channels like 80s on 8, Classic Rewind and The Spectrum, confidently makes his way next to Light onto the set. He, too, grew up in the music industry, serving as one of the first MTV VJs, then a VH-1 host and media personality. Despite his own accomplishments, he clearly reveres Light’s position as a journalist in the industry.
“I want to learn a lot from this guy, who knows so much about music,” Goodman said, pointing to Light. “I’ve read his books, I’ve been reading his articles for years. He’s a fascinating guy.
“But,” he continues, “I don’t always agree with everything he says.”
Disagreement isn’t necessarily a bad thing for these two. In fact, it might be ideal as they’re set to launch a new show that’s all about debating the musical merits of songs, albums and bands.
Don’t worry, it won’t be two talking heads going it at it for three hours every day (although the Talking Heads are certainly fair game). The two will be joined by celebrity guests along with listeners, who will also have a chance to weigh in.
Goodman puts it succinctly: “This show is going to be me and Alan Light and artists and influencers and fans talking about probably the most important thing in my life: music.”
Yes, that means music of all genres. Anything is up for debate on Debatable.
“The music industry is in a state of flux and it affects all of us. There’s a lot to talk about,” Goodman explains. “The way people are getting music these days is completely different than it was even five years ago and continues to evolve.”
Despite their often different takes on music and the people who make it, Light and Goodman see their show as promoting a common goal, not just an opportunity to rant and rave about the industry.
“Any kind of criticism done right is about advancing a conversation,” Light says. “It’s about helping people find another way to think about somebody’s work, whether that’s [through] the artist himself or the audience listening. They can agree or disagree in the end with whether they like it or not. Our job should be to elevate the conversation.”
Debatable airs on VOUME (Ch. 106) weekdays from 4 pm to 7 pm ET.
Bandana Blues is and will always be a labor of love. Please help Spinner deal with the costs of hosting & bandwidth. Visit www.bandanablues.com and hit the tipjar. Any amount is much appreciated, no matter how small. Thank you.
Bonnie has contributed a new recording of "Prison Bound Blues" written by Leroy Carr to a project called Better Than Jail, an extraordinary new album benefiting Free Hearts and Equal Justice USA. Better Than Jail is available everywhere today and features covers of iconic prison songs from Steve Earle, Taj Mahal,Margo Price, The War and Treaty and many more. The album seeks to raise awareness and support for the urgent need to reduce the harm of the criminal justice system. https://found.ee/BetterThanJail.
I'm so proud to have joined in with so many illustrious artists in creating this very special album in support of rural prison reform. Overlooked for far too long, this issue cuts across all cultural and political divides and deserves all our focused attention to finally bring about some swift and meaningful action. Better Than Jail is one of the most inspired and heartfelt albums I've been blessed to be a part of and I hope it sets a fire in hearts far and wide to join in our efforts." ~ Bonnie Raitt
Released on: 2024-10-04 Executive Producer: Brian Hunt Producer: Kenny Greenberg Producer: Wally Wilson Producer: Bonnie Raitt Recording Engineer: Jason Lehning at Sound Emporium Mastering Engineer: Alex McCollough at True East Mastering Production Assistant: Shannon Finnegan Mixer: Justin Niebank at Hounds Ear Music Publisher: Universal Music Corp. Composer, Lyricist: Leroy Carr ℗ Believe Entertainment Group and Wyatt Road Records
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The Fabulous Thunderbirds - Nothing in Rambling Ft. Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo' & Mick Fleetwood
In celebration of the band’s 50th Anniversary, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have just released Struck Down, their first studio album in eight years on Stony Plain Records. The ten-track album includes a wonderful cover of Memphis Minnie’s “Nothing in Rambling,” featuring longtime friends, T-Birds founding member Kim Wilson, along with Bonnie, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal and Mick Fleetwood. — BRHQ
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Little Feat - Long Distance Call
“I’ve always loved Little Feat and this new incarnation of the band is bringing some serious heat, cred and new blood to their enduring legacy. Every Feat fan loves us some Sam. I’m so glad he’s now gotten a chance to step out front and center and put his spin on these wonderful blues songs. I loved singing "Long Distance Call" with him, always one of my favorites, and Scott slayed on slide. Know you’ll enjoy hanging out with us at Sam’s Place!" -- Bonnie Raitt
“Long Distance Call” was written by blues legend, Muddy Waters. It has Sam Clayton and Bonnie Raitt on vocals, Scott Sharrard on Dobro, Fred Tackett on acoustic guitar, Tony Leone on drums, and Michael “The Bull” LoBue on harmonica. The album also features Bill Payne on piano and Kenny Gradney on bass.
Little Feat have composed an album that’s their love letter to the blues entitled, ‘Sam’s Place.’ “Long Distance Call” plus many other blues classics are on this album. You can stream and order ‘Sam’s Place’ here: https://orcd.co/samsplace
Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine, Vol. 2, the anticipated new John Prine tribute record from Oh Boy Records, is out today. Stream/purchase HERE.
Created as a celebration of Prine’s life and career, the album features new renditions of some of Prine’s most beloved songs performed by Brandi Carlile (“I Remember Everything”), Tyler Childers (“Yes I Guess They Oughta Name A Drink After You”), Iris DeMent (“One Red Rose”), Emmylou Harris (“Hello In There”), Jason Isbell (“Souvenirs”), Valerie June (“Summer’s End”), Margo Price (“Sweet Revenge”), Bonnie Raitt (“Angel From Montgomery”), Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (“Pretty Good”), Amanda Shires (“Saddle in the Rain”), Sturgill Simpson(“Paradise”) and John Paul White (“Sam Stone”). Proceeds from the album will benefit twelve different non-profit organizations, one selected by each of the featured artists.
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Bonnie Raitt - Write Me a Few of Your Lines/Kokomo Blues
60 years anniversary celebration of Arhoolie
December 10, 2020
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Arhoolie Foundation celebrates it's 60th anniversary (1960-2020) with an online broadcast.
Bonnie Raitt - Shadow of Doubt
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
October 3, 2020
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass celebrates it's 20th anniversary with an online broadcast titled “Let The Music Play On”.
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Bonnie Raitt & Boz Scaggs - You Don't Know Like I Know
Farm Aid 2020 On the Road
Sam & Dave classic written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter.
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Sheryl Crow & Bonnie Raitt - Everything Is Broken
[Eric Clapton’s Crossroads 2019]
Eric Clapton, one of the world’s pre-eminent blues/rock guitarists, once again summoned an all-star team of six-string heroes for his fifth Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2019. Held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, the two-day concert event raised funds for the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, the chemical dependency treatment and education facility that Clapton founded in 1998.
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'A Tribute To Mose Allison'
Celebrates The Music Of An Exciting Jazz Master
Raitt contributed to a new album, If You're Going To The City: A Tribute To Mose Allison, which celebrates the late singer and pianist, who famously blended the rough-edged blues of the Mississippi Delta with the 1950s jazz of New York City.
NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to Bonnie Raitt about her friendship with the Mose Allison. They're also joined by Amy Allison — his daughter, who executive produced the album — about selecting an unexpected list of artists to contribute songs to the album.
Recorded on tour June 3, 2017 - Centennial Hall, London - Ontario Canada
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