Prime Prine is a compilation album by American

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 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 1976.

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, critic William Ruhlman wrote of the album "Atlantic Records' compilation of John Prine's first four albums was good for its time..., but was later superseded by Rhino's Great Days anthology." Music critic Robert Christgau

Robert 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 "Good songs, useless album."

Track listing

All songs by John Prine unless otherwise noted.

1. "Sam Stone
   Sam Stone (song)
   "Sam Stone" is a song written by John Prine about a drug-addicted veteran with a Purple Heart and his death by overdose.The most familiar refrain in the song is "There's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes"...
   
   " – 4:14
2. "Saddle in the Rain" – 3:30
3. "Please Don't Bury Me" – 2:47
4. "The Great Compromise" – 4:57
5. "Grandpa Was a Carpenter" – 2:11
6. "Donald and Lydia" – 4:27
7. "Illegal Smile" – 3:10
8. "Sweet Revenge" – 2:58
9. "Dear Abby" – 4:10
10. "Souvenirs" – 3:32
11. "Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard" – 3:16
12. "Hello in There" – 4:29

Chart positions

Year	Chart	Position
1977	Billboard Pop Albums	196