John Prine - Sweet Revenge

Prine's third album is louder and more jaded than his first efforts, a set of rowdy country-rockers that tear along at a reckless speed. Sympathy takes a back seat to cynicism here, and while that strips the record of some depth, Prine's irreverence is consistently thrilling, making this one of his best. It's not as uniformly brilliant as the debut, but it did steer his music in a new direction -- where that record is often hallmarked for its rich sensitivity, Sweet Revenge established cynicism as Prine's dominant voice once and for all. Although he could still crank out a great ballad when he felt like it, from now on his records largely followed a more conventional rock & roll muse, a choice that eventually gained him more mainstream attention. "Please Don't Bury Me," "Christmas in Prison," "Blue Umbrella," and "A Good Time" are a few of the jewels on this one. ~ Jim Smith, All Music Guide

Name Credits Arif Mardin Horn Arrangements, Producer Bill Slater Percussion, Bass Bob Liftin Engineer Bobby Wood Keyboards Bobby Woods Piano Brad Davis Engineer Cissy Houston Vocals (Background), Vocals Dave Prine Banjo, Vocals, Dobro, Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Fiddle David Briggs Piano, Keyboards, Organ Deidre Tuck Vocals (Background) Deirdre Tuck Corley Vocals, Vocals (Background) Doyle Grisham Guitar (Steel) Frank Hubach Engineer Grady Martin Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Vocals, Dobro Hugh McDonald Bass, Percussion Ira Friedlander Design Jerry Shook Harmonica Jimmy Douglass Engineer John Prine Vocals, Guitar Johnny Christopher Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic) Judy Clay Vocals (Background), Guitar (Steel) Kenny Ascher Keyboards, Piano (Electric) Kenny Malone Tambourine, Drums Leo LeBlanc Guitar, Guitar (Steel) Mike Leech Bass, Bass (Upright) Ralph MacDonald Percussion Raun MacKinnon Vocals, Gut String Guitar, Vocal Harmony Reggie Young Guitar (Electric), Guitar Steve Burgh Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Guitar Steve Goodman Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Gut String Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals Steve Ham Engineer Steve Mosley Drums Wendi Lombardi Photography