This is an excerpt from the print edition of Dirty Linen magazine #100 (June/July 2002). the magazine is available on newsstands and by subscription.

Video Reviews

John Prine
Live From Sessions
at West 54th
Oh Boy OBR-500 (2001), DVD

You know that when "Sessions at West 54th" is filmed, there's stuff left on the cutting-room floor; here you can capture the prime Prine you didn't get when his segment of "Sessions" was aired in 2000. Selecting "Interview" takes you to a 23-minute, seemingly unedited chat between Prine and a visibly nervous John Hiatt, the host of "Sessions." The interview deals with Prine's early years (including the revelation that his first three songs were "Sam Stone," "Hello In There," and "Paradise" — an incredible three-for-three of masterpieces), his reputation as a new Dylan, his creation of Oh Boy Records, his bout with cancer, and his then-new duet album In Spite of Ourselves. "Bios" offers lengthy written bios of the performers, including guest Iris DeMent. Then there's the main event: 65 minutes of peerlessly executed music featuring 13 of Prine's finest songs — including "Far From Me," "Lake Marie," and "Blow Up Your TV" —performed with guitar and bass backing and featuring DeMent on five songs. The sound is mixed for both Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound and PCM stereo, and the video features the same tasteful, intimate editing and high quality that viewers of the series have admired. It is hoped that the "Sessions" archives will yield much more DVD material like this for the other artists who have appeared on the series.
— Pamela Murray Winters (Arlington, VA)