I Can See You - by Paddy Summerfield c. 1986

Monday, November 24, 2025

John Prine: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert March 2018

Again someone posted a clip of Summers End from this mini set from John Prine at Bob Boilen’s Tiny Desk Concert over at the redoubtable NPR  . . . . I was going to start the day with a frivolous funny Snoopy series but on hearing Jimmy Cliff had died I was in no mood to. So I will sign off the day with another favourite pioneer we miss sorely . . . . . . night all stay safe and cuddle up if you can thew loves are running. . . . . . 

So here is the full set

March 12, 2018 | Bob Boilen -- "An American treasure came to the Tiny Desk and even premiered a new song. John Prine is a truly legendary songwriter. For more than 45 years the 71-year-old artist has written some of the most powerful lyrics in the American music canon, including "Sam Stone," "Angel From Montgomery," "Hello In There" and countless others. John Prine's new songs are equally powerful and he opens this Tiny Desk concert with "Caravan of Fools," a track he wrote with Pat McLaughlin and Dan Auerbach. Prine adds a disclaimer to the song saying, "any likeness to the current administration is purely accidental." That song, and his second tune, the sweet tearjerker "Summer's End," are from John Prine's first album of new songs in 13 years, The Tree of Forgiveness, produced by Dave Cobb. It was recorded with his longtime band in Nashville's legendary RCA Studio A. Guests include Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires. There's even a songwriter's co-credit with Phil Spector. For this Tiny Desk Concert John Prine also reaches back to his great "kiss-off" song from 1991 called "All the Best," and then plays "Souvenirs," a song intended for his debut full-length but released the following year on his 1972 album Diamonds in the Rough. It's just one of the many sentimental ballads Prine has gifted us. Over the years, his voice has become gruffer and deeper, due in part to his battle with squamous cell cancer on the right side of his neck, all of which makes this song about memories slipping by feel all the more powerful and sad." "Broken hearts and dirty windows Make life difficult to see That's why last night and this mornin' Always look the same to me I hate reading old love letters For they always bring me tears I can't forgive the way they rob me Of my sweetheart's souvenirs"

Set List:

"Caravan of Fools"

"Summer's End” (John Prine, Pat McCoughlan)

"All the Best"

"Souvenirs"


MUSICIANS

John Prine, Jason Wilber, David Jacques, Kenneth Blevins

 CREDITS  

Producers: Bob Boilen, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Maia Stern, Alyse Young; Production Assistant: Salvatore Maicki; Photo: Christina Ascani/NPR.

Aw heck we miss him

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