Description
July 28, 2021 - John Prine's Grammy Award-winning album, Fair & Square, will be available on vinyl for the first time in over sixteen years on October 1st with three special double LPs: Standard black, Opaque green and a special limited amount of "Irish Edition" - Green and Orange vinyl with a matte jacket featuring embossed lettering.
Originally released in 2005, Fair & Square won Best Contemporary Folk Album at the 48th Grammy Awards and achieved the fastest rise to number one in the history of Americana radio.
The record marked a series of milestones for Prine, as it was his first album in nine years following 1995's, Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings, as well as his first release after getting married to his wife and current president of Oh Boy Records, Fiona Whelan Prine. Released to widespread acclaim, Rolling Stone declared the album, "an excellent set of songs full of rootsy warmth and unpretentious wit," while The Washington Post praised, "this low-key masterpiece arrives not just as a reminder of Prine's cleverness and mischievous wit but also as a confirmation of his deeply human values.
These are values rooted in the enduring mystery and majesty of everyday, ordinary lives."
Further celebrating Prine's legendary life and career, The Prine Family will host "You Got Gold: Celebrating the Life & Songs of John Prine" October 3-10 - a series of special concerts and events across various venues in Nashville. The weeklong celebration will include sold-out tribute concerts at The Ryman Auditorium (October 6 & 7), CMA Theater at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (October 8) and the Basement East (October 9) and will culminate on October 10 - what would have been John's 75th birthday.
Each of these shows will include a unique surprise line-up of friends performing and celebrating the legendary singer, songwriter and performer's inimitable life and songs. Additional events will be announced.
All proceeds from the week will benefit the newly created 501c3, The Hello In There Foundation. The Prine family established the foundation to honor John's memory. The work of the foundation will be inspired and guided by John's simple song title, "Hello In There" and will aim to identify and collaborate with individuals and communities where people are marginalized, discriminated against or, for any reason, are otherwise forgotten.
The foundation is pleased to share this year's grant recipients are Nashville based non-profits Room In The Inn and Thistle Farms.
Additionally, on October 8, Oh Boy Records
will release a new tribute record, Broken
Hearts and Dirty Windows: Songs of John
Prine, Vol. 2 (pre-order here). Each month
ahead of the release, Oh Boy will unveil a
new artist and song that is featured on the
record, including the first two installments:
"Paradise" performed by Sturgill Simpson
and "I Remember Everything" performed by
Brandi Carlile.