A revelation upon its release, this album is now a collection of standards: "Illegal Smile," "Hello in There," "Sam Stone," "Donald and Lydia," and, of course, "Angel from Montgomery." Prine's music, a mixture of folk, rock, and country, is deceptively simple, like his pointed lyrics, and his easy vocal style adds a humorous edge that makes otherwise funny jokes downright hilarious.

(by William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide)

Straight out the gate, Prine pegged a home run, an album that remains a classic, packed with so many great songs that it almost boggles the mind. At the time, the fashion among music critics was to tar all new singer-songwriters with comparison to the great Bob Dylan; Prine defied that comparison by being so goddamn country, and so solidly his own man, tossing off witty, soulful character sketches with a wink and a nod, and a charming gosh-heck lack of pretension that Dylan (and his many acolytes...) would have been hard-pressed to have managed. A lot of the songs of this first album -- "Hello In There", "Illegal Smile", "Sam Stone", "Angel From Montgomery" -- regularly appear on his best-of collections, but really you'd be short-changing yourself if you didn't get the original, whole album. It also includes "Paradise", which has long been on my list of perfectly-written songs. Also includes Prine's best buddy, the late Steve Goodman, as a harmony vocalist and acoustic guitarist. Highly recommended.

Prine's 1971 self-titled debut set the tone for the rest of his career. A critical smash and a commercial disappointment, the record contains many of his best known compositions. Proving himself capable of tackling folk balladry, country, and rock with ease, Prine seems to spring into being as a fully formed singer-songwriter at age 24. Lyrically diverse, Prine offers topical songs such as "Sam Stone," the tale of a drug addicted Vietnam vet, achingly sad songs, such as the oft-covered "Angel from Montgomery," and, of course, his trademark wit gets ample time in the spotlight. Produced by the legendary Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Hall and Oates), the record is understated, letting Prine's comfy voice drive things. When needed, the famous house band at American Recording Studios in Memphis kicks in tasteful backing.

(Ian Landau)

With a wicked tongue and a sharp eye, 'John Prine' introduced an unforgettable cast of characters on his 1971 debut, 'John Prine'. And who's John Prine? That guy with the "Illegal Smile" over there, the one "digesting the 'Reader's Digest' in the back of the dirty bookstore". Prine's deep, reedy voice takes some getting used to, but he manages to turn his croak into an affecting country twang at times.

(ROLLING STONE ALBUM GUIDE *****)