John Prine (1971)

Before Americana even had an official marketing tag, John Prine wrote its foundational hymnbook on his Chicago mail route. Armed with just an acoustic guitar and an unassuming Midwestern cadence, Prine sketched portraits of ordinary folk that cut straight to the bone. From the devastating loneliness of aged pensioners in 'Hello in There' to the shattered war veteran in 'Sam Stone', these songs balance wry, generous humour with unbearable sorrow. It proves that the simplest melodies often carry the greatest emotional weight.