John Prine John Prine Live 2LP (Vinyl)

John Prine Live was taped mostly during a three-day stint at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California. It was released in 1988 on Oh Boy Records, Prine's own independent label. As he explained to David Fricke in 1993, Oh Boy needed product: "We didn't have another artist to put out. The idea was to have me and my guitar, telling stories and doing songs - and buying me some time until I could get into the studio again."

The album's version of "Angel From Montgomery" was recorded at an all-star memorial concert for Steve Goodman (who died of leukemia in 1984) held in Chicago in January 1985 and released later that year as Tribute To Steve Goodman. Prine is joined by Bonnie Raitt (who recorded "Angel From Montgomery" on her 1974 Streetlights album) and guitarist David Bromberg. The version of "Souvenirs" is taken from a 1970s performance by Prine and Goodman from the TV show Austin City Limits.

With years of experience playing club dates, John Prine has evolved into a very entertaining live performer, and this album presents him at his intimate best, telling funny stories and performing his most impressive material in unadorned arrangements.