Paradise (John Prine song)
Encyclopedia
"Paradise" is a song written by John Prine
for his father, and recorded for his 1971 debut album, John Prine
. Prine also re-recorded the song for his 1986 album, German Afternoons
. The song is about the impact of coal mining
both while in activity and what happens to the area around the Green River
in Kentucky once the coal mining ends. The song references a now-defunct town called Paradise
in Muhlenberg County
, Kentucky
.
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:...
for his father, and recorded for his 1971 debut album, John Prine
John Prine (album)
John Prine was the first album by American country/folk singer-songwriter John Prine, issued by Atlantic Records in 1971. In 2003, the album was ranked number 458 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.-Reception:...
. Prine also re-recorded the song for his 1986 album, German Afternoons
German Afternoons
German Afternoons is the ninth album by American folk singer and songwriter John Prine, released in 1986. It features the progressive bluegrass band, New Grass Revival.-Reception:...
. The song is about the impact of coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
both while in activity and what happens to the area around the Green River
Green River (Kentucky)
The Green River is a tributary of the Ohio River that rises in Lincoln County in south-central Kentucky. Tributaries of the Green River include the Barren River, the Nolin River, the Pond River and the Rough River...
in Kentucky once the coal mining ends. The song references a now-defunct town called Paradise
Paradise, Kentucky
Paradise was a small town in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, United States. The town was located 10.5 miles east-north-east of Greenville and was formerly called Stom's Landing . It was once a trading post along the Green River, but it no longer exists...
in Muhlenberg County
Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
Muhlenberg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 31,499. The county is named for Peter Muhlenberg. Its county seat is Greenville....
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
.
Cover versions
- Jackie DeShannonJackie DeShannonJackie DeShannon is an American singer-songwriter with a string of hit song credits from the 1960s onwards. She was one of the first female singer-songwriters of the rock 'n' roll period.- Life and early career :...
recorded her version of "Paradise" for her 1972 album, Jackie, on Atlantic Records. - John DenverJohn DenverHenry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
released a cover of "Paradise" on his 1972 album, Rocky Mountain HighRocky Mountain High (album)Rocky Mountain High is the sixth album released by American singer-songwriter John Denver in September 1972. It was his first Top 10 album, propelled by the single "Rocky Mountain High".-Side 1:# "Rocky Mountain High" - 4:37...
. - Tom T. HallTom T. HallThomas "Tom T." Hall is an American country music singer-songwriter. He has written 11 #1 hit songs, with 26 more that reached the Top 10, including the pop crossover hit "I Love", which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100...
recorded his version of Paradise for his album, The Magnificent Music Machine. - The Everly BrothersThe Everly BrothersThe Everly Brothers are country-influenced rock and roll performers, known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singing...
recorded a version for their 1973 album Pass the Chicken & ListenPass the Chicken & ListenPass the Chicken & Listen is a country rock album by The Everly Brothers, released in 1972. It was the last studio recording the brothers made for over 10 years.It was re-released on CD by One Way Records in 1997.-Side one:...
. - The Country GentlemenThe Country GentlemenThe Country Gentlemen were a bluegrass band that originated during the 1950s in the area of Washington, DC, United States, and recorded and toured with various members until the death in 2004 of Charlie Waller, one of the group's founders who in its later years served as the group's "focal point...
recorded a version for their 1973 album. - Lynn AndersonLynn AndersonLynn Rene Anderson is an American country music singer and equestrian known for a string of hits throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, most notably her Grammy Award-winning, worldwide mega-hit, " Rose Garden." Helped by her regular exposure on national television, Anderson was one of the most...
recorded her version of "Paradise" for her 1976 album, All the King's HorsesAll the King's Horses (Lynn Anderson album)All the King's Horses is the name of a studio album by Country singer, Lynn Anderson, released in 1976.By this time it was evident that Anderson's popularity was beginning to fade. Only one single reached Country's Top 20 chart, and one other reached the Top 40. The third and final one did not...
. The song was also released as a single that year to the Country charts, and peaked at No. 26. - A cover recorded by Johnny CashJohnny CashJohn R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
was used in the soundtrack of the 1981 TV movie The Pride of Jesse Hallam, which starred Cash in the title role. This version was later released on the compilation album Personal FilePersonal FilePersonal File is an album by the late American music icon Johnny Cash. The two CD set was released on May 23, 2006 on the Legacy label. Personal File contains 49 unreleased tracks on 2 CDs recorded between 1973 and 1982...
. - "Paradise" was the end credit song for the film Fire Down Below.
- Jimmy BuffettJimmy BuffettJames William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
has played "Paradise" twice in concert, in 2002 at Riverbend Music CenterRiverbend Music CenterRiverbend Music Center is an outdoor amphitheater, with a capacity of 20,500, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, along the banks of the Ohio River. Riverbend was built for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, to allow them to play in an outdoor venue during the summer months. Famed architect...
in Cincinnati and again in 2008 at Riverbend. The 2008 Riverbend recording appears on Buffett's 2010 CD EncoresEncores (Jimmy Buffett album)encores is a live album by American popular music singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. 22 songs compiled from Buffett's intimate second encores, that he ends his concerts with, are featured on the album. All songs are taken from the 2008/2009 tours...
. - Pat GreenPat GreenPatrick Craven "Pat" Green is an American Texas Country artist. Active since 1995, he has recorded a total of ten studio albums, including several independent works, three for Republic Records and two for BNA...
& Cory MorrowCory MorrowCory Morrow is a Texas Country singer/songwriter who has gained popularity throughout the Southwest. Morrow started playing guitar at Memorial High School in Houston. He continued to develop as a musician while attending Texas Tech University, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity...
covered "Paradise" on their album Songs We Wish We'd Written, which was released in 2001. - Dwight YoakamDwight YoakamDwight David Yoakam is an American singer-songwriter, actor and film director, most famous for his pioneering country music...
recorded the song on his 2004 compilation albumCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Dwight's Used RecordsDwight's Used Records-Chart performance:...
. This rendition is divided into two tracks. The first track has a slower tempo, while the second track has a faster tempo. - Hayseed DixieHayseed DixieHayseed Dixie is an American band which began in the autumn of 2000 with the release of their first album, A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC. The band performs a mixture of cover versions of hard rock songs and original compositions in a style that is a unique fusion of bluegrass and rock music and are...
often include the song in their live setlist and vocalist John Wheeler (AKA Barley Scotch) has referred to it on several occasions as his favorite song ever recorded. - John FogertyJohn FogertyJohn Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
recorded a version as the lead off track for his 2009 album The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides AgainThe Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again- Tracks not included :There were 15 songs recorded from a long list of songs that Fogerty, Burnett and Waronker put together. Fogerty did not release the specific titles, but a Merle Haggard song was revealed to be among the three unreleased tunes.- Production :...
. - Wil Maring & Shady Mix -live at the Saline Creek Pioneer Village Bluegrass Festival in Harrisburg, IL in 2004. Recorded by Southern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois University is a state university system based in Carbondale, Illinois, in the Southern Illinois region of the state, with multiple campuses...
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