Common Sense (John Prine album)
Encyclopedia
Common Sense is the fourth album by American
folk
singer and songwriter John Prine
, released in 1975.
wrote "Prine customarily strives for coherence, but this time he has purposely (and painfully) abjured it. He seems to regret this at one point--during a more or less cogent lament for a dead friend — but the decision was obviously unavoidable. It results in the most genuinely miserable album I've heard in years."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
singer and songwriter John Prine
John Prine
John Prine is an American country/folk singer-songwriter. He has been active as a recording artist and live performer since the early 1970s.-Biography:...
, released in 1975.
Reception
Writing for Allmusic, critic Jim Smith wrote of the album "Unfortunately, the cloying production overpowers the lyrics and relegates them to an almost cursory notion, and it doesn't help that Prine hasn't come up with much new material of note. His wit is still sharp, but it no longer shines; consequently, Common Sense has the unfortunate distinction of being the worst of Prine's Atlantic albums." Music critic Robert ChristgauRobert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
wrote "Prine customarily strives for coherence, but this time he has purposely (and painfully) abjured it. He seems to regret this at one point--during a more or less cogent lament for a dead friend — but the decision was obviously unavoidable. It results in the most genuinely miserable album I've heard in years."
Track listing
- "Middleman" – 2:29
- "Common Sense" – 3:07
- "Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard" – 3:17
- "Wedding Day in Funeralville" – 2:25
- "Way Down" – 2:21
- "My Own Best Friend" – 3:11
- "Forbidden Jimmy" – 2:52
- "Saddle in the Rain" – 3:30
- "That Close to You" – 2:45
- "He Was in Heaven Before He Died" – 2:12
- "You Never Can TellYou Never Can Tell (song)"You Never Can Tell" also occasionally referred to as "C'est La Vie" is a rock and roll song by Chuck Berry. It was composed while he was in prison for intent to commit a sex crime. The song was originally released in 1964 on the album St...
" (Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) – 3:17
Personnel
- John Prine – vocals, guitar
- James K. Brown – piano, keyboards
- Peter Bunetta – drums, background vocals
- Paul Cannon – guitar
- Tommy Cathey – bass
- Mailto Correa – percussion, conga
- Jackson BrowneJackson BrowneJackson Browne is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 17 million albums in the United States alone....
– background vocals - Al Bunetta – background vocals
- Pat Coulter – background vocals
- Dan Cronin – background vocals
- Steve CropperSteve CropperSteve Cropper , also known as Steve "The Colonel" Cropper, is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T...
– guitar - Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass
- Steve GoodmanSteve GoodmanSteve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
– guitar, background vocals - Leo LeBlanc – guitar, steel guitar
- Alan Hand – piano, keyboards, background vocals
- Larry MuhoberacLarry MuhoberacLarry Muhoberac is an American musician, producer and composer who at various times has also been known as Larry Owens and Larry Gordon....
– piano - Steve Spear – bass
- Rick VitoRick VitoRick Vito is a guitarist and singer. He was part of the band Fleetwood Mac between 1987 and 1991.Vito and Billy Burnette took over as guitarists after Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac....
– guitar, slide guitar - Greg Jackson – background vocals
- Brooks Hunnicutt – background vocals
- Glenn FreyGlenn FreyGlenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
– background vocals - Herb PedersenHerb PedersenHerb Pedersen is an American musician, guitarist, banjo player, and singer-songwriter who has played a variety of musical styles over the past forty years including country, bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, folk, folk rock, country rock, and has worked with numerous musicians in many different...
– background vocals - Gwen Edwards – background vocals
- J.D. Souther – background vocals
- Bonnie RaittBonnie RaittBonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
– vocals, harmony vocals, gut string guitar - Jim Rothermel – vocals, wind
- Jim HornJim HornJim Horn is an American saxophonist and woodwind player. He was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for five years, playing sax and flute on the road, and in the recording studio...
– horn - Lewis Collins – horn
- Jack Hale – horn
- Wayne Jackson – horn
- Jackie Kelso – horn
- Andrew Love – horn
- Chuck FindleyChuck FindleyChuck Findley is an American session musician. Most widely-known as a trumpet player, he also plays other brass instruments such as flugelhorn and trombone...
– horn - James Mitchell – horn
- Dave Prine – guitar
Production notes
- Steve Cropper – producer
- Ron Capone – engineer, remixing
- Richard Rosebrough – engineer
- Barry Rudolph – engineer
- Stephen Innocenzi – mastering
- Paula Scher – design
- Bob Defrin – art direction
- Carl Marsh – strings, string arrangements
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Billboard Pop Albums | 66 |