In this episode, Billy continues his visit with his sister-in-law, Fiona Whelan Prine. Here, Billy and Fiona talk about Fiona's community work, the future of "Oh Boy Records", John's songwriting, politics, social inequity, growing up in Ireland, COVID-19 and White Castle hamburgers. You do not want to miss this!

In this, the first of two episodes, Billy visits with his sister-in-law, Fiona Whelan Prine. In this can’t-miss episode, Billy and Fiona share heartwarming stories about the Prine family, the evolution of John’s label, “Oh Boy Records”, the writing of John’s signature song “Paradise”, being on the road with John, and a wonderful story about how John and Fiona met and courted each other.

In this, the second of two episodes, Billy continues his conversation with old friend Jim Shea about his career in music photography. They talk about Jim’s crazy adventures at Woodstock in 1969, Jim’s video production company, the video for Alan Jackson’s “Midnight in Montgomery,” (which won a CMA Award for Video of the Year), his twenty years working with Brad Paisley, shooting Steve Goodman album covers, and his work with Billy’s brother, John Prine.

More about Jim Shea:

Award winning director and photographer, Jim Shea travels the world with his camera capturing images and providing content for the advertising and entertainment industries.

Born in Manhattan, Shea’s training ground was New York’s Madison Avenue where he began his commercial career as an advertising photographer. Work soon prompted his move to Los Angeles where he began shooting celebrities for the entertainment industry, creating album covers for such noted artists as Linda Ronstadt, Aerosmith and the Eagles and lensing editorial assignments for a variety of publications such as Rolling Stone and Interview magazines.

His directing career began when Shea was recruited by record labels to film music videos for artists such as James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell and Barbara Streisand. After opening a production company, Planet Pictures, his work evolved to include directing commercials, TV films and creating title sequences for motion pictures.

As the Executive Producer and President of Planet, Shea’s role in the film-making process expanded to writing and producing music films and documentaries. In addition to creating music videos and commercials, Planet produced many long form films and documentaries such as Olivia Newton John’s “Live at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra”, Amy Grant’s “Building The House Of Love”, Dan Fogelberg’s “Greetings From the West”, Jimmy Buffett’s “Live From Margaritaville” and “Rhythm, Country and Blues”, a documentary featuring filmed duets with such artists as Al Green and Lyle Lovett, B.B. King and George Jones.

His work has earned many awards including those from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Billy talks with old friend Jim Shea about his career in music photography. They talk about Jim’s work with John Prine, Steve Goodman, The Eagles, James Taylor, Andrew Gold, Fleetwood Mac, Pablo Cruise, Jackson Browne, and Jim winning the Grammy Award for Album Cover of the Year for Linda Ronstadt’s “Simple Dreams” album. Billy and Jim also discuss how the music business changed in the 1970s, which led to the formation of Steve Goodman’s Red Pajama Records and John Prine’s Oh Boy Records. And, for good measure there’s a story about Bob Dylan. The music clips are from The Mercy Brothers “Strange Adventure” album. This is part one of Billy’s conversation with Jim Shea. Part two will be in a future episode of the Prine Time Podcast.

More about Jim Shea:

Award winning director and photographer, Jim Shea travels the world with his camera capturing images and providing content for the advertising and entertainment industries.

Born in Manhattan, Shea’s training ground was New York’s Madison Avenue where he began his commercial career as an advertising photographer. Work soon prompted his move to Los Angeles where be began shooting celebrities for the entertainment industry, creating album covers for such noted artists as Linda Ronstadt, Aerosmith and the Eagles and lensing editorial assignments for a variety of publications such as Rolling Stone and Interview magazines.

His directing career began when Shea was recruited by record labels to film music videos for artists such as James Taylor, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell and Barbara Streisand. After opening a production company, Planet Pictures, his work evolved to include directing commercials, TV films and creating title sequences for motion pictures.

As the Executive Producer and President of Planet, Shea’s role in the film-making process expanded to writing and producing music films and documentaries. In addition to creating music videos and commercials, Planet produced many long form films and documentaries such as Olivia Newton John’s “Live at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra”, Amy Grant’s “Building The House Of Love”, Dan Fogelberg’s “Greetings From the West”, Jimmy Buffett’s “Live From Margaritaville” and “Rhythm, Country and Blues”, a documentary featuring filmed duets with such artists as Al Green and Lyle Lovett, B.B. King and George Jones.

His work has earned many awards including those from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

Billy visits with Amy Kurland, the original owner of the storied Bluebird Café in Nashville, Tennessee and one of Billy’s first employers when he moved to Nashville in 1982. Billy was one of the original bartenders at the Bluebird. Amy and Billy talk about the Bluebird Café’s humble beginnings to it becoming the mecca for aspiring songwriters and established songwriters trying out new songs. They discuss Garth Brooks, Kathy Mattea, Don Schlitz, Mike Henderson and others. Featured music is the title track to Billy Prine's "A Place I Used to Know" recently released on Memphis International Records. Also featured is “Tennessee Blues” from co-host Michael Dinallo’s Crooked Road Songs album.

A short episode with a few of our favorite moments in Episodes 1-4 plus from the first mini-episode, Between the Cracks. This bonus episode features the song “Paradise,” written by John Prine and on Billy Prine's recent album "A Place I Used to Know." Jerry Phillips, Roger Cook, Keith Sykes, along with Billy & Michael bring their unique storytelling - ones that wind their ways through the landscape and soundscape of American Music. Roger Cook performs "I Just Want to Dance with You" one of the songs he wrote with the late, great John Prine, That song was a number one hit for country music superstar George Strait and also won the award for Line Dance Song of the Year.

Billy talks with the legendary singer/songwriter Keith Sykes about hearing John Prine for the first time, hitchhiking to the Newport Folk Festival, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, and writing songs with John Prine. Featured music is Billy Prine’s “If You Don’t Want My Love” – written by John Prine and Phil Spector - from his upcoming album (Fall 2020) that features Keith Sykes on harmony vocals, and Keith’s version of Charlie Rich’s “Everything I Do Is Wrong” from the album Feel Like Going Home: The Songs of Charlie Rich. Michael Dinallo produced both tracks.

Billy and Michael discuss Billy’s new EP “A Place I Used to Know”, which is being released on the Memphis International Records label on Friday, July 10th. Billy relates learning about the blues in Chicago and meeting Dizzy Gillespie and Muddy Waters. This bonus episode begins and ends with a taste of the music from “A Place I Used to Know”. So, sit back for the next ten minutes and soak in the music and the stories.

“This record is dedicated to my late brother John Prine, 1946-2020. All the best to The Best, Love you, Brother.” -Billy Prine, Nashville, 2020

“Aided by a remarkable crew of compadres, Billy Prine sings and shines from the inside out. Billy claims the young man old man blues, but, unlike many things in the world, he keeps getting better.” -Peter Cooper (author and songwriter), Nashville

Billy Prine’s “A Place I Used to Know “is his first album release since 2013. It features two songs written by his legendary, late brother John Prine. Originally from Chicago and now living in Nashville, Billy’s new EP is chock full of his unique brand of American music – mixing blues, folk, and country into a stew of soulfulness. On the triumph that “A Place I Used to Know” is, Billy has this to say, “This is it – the record I’ve wanted to make for years. Hell yeah, we got a hot one here!”

Billy Prine – vocals, acoustic and electric guitar

Michael Dinallo – electric and acoustic guitar

Dave Jacques – electric and acoustic bass

Tom Hambridge – drums

Tim Carter – harmony vocals, mandolin, banjo, and harmonica

Jim Gambino – Wurlitzer and B3

Keith Sykes – harmony vocals

Juliet Simmons Dinallo – harmony vocals

Amber Casares – harmony vocals

Produced by Michael Dinallo

Recorded and mixed by Tim Carter at The Treehouse, Ridgetop, Tennessee

Full band basic tracks recorded by Sean Sullivan at The Butcher Shoppe in Nashville, Tennessee

Wurlitzer and B3 recorded by Sean McLaughlin at 37’ Productions in Rockland, Massachusetts

Mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering in Charlotte, North Carolina

Executive Producer: Douglas Hudson

Executive Producer: Jonathan E. Mitchell

Photography: Jim Shea

Many thanks to some of the people that made this EP possible: My wonderful lady Lisa Finkel, Sean Sullivan, Tim Carter, Douglas Hudson, Johnny Phillips, Jonathan E. Mitchell, and most of all Michael Dinallo. Thanks for all the work on this Mr.Southside!

Young Man Old Man Blues

(William Prine / Crooked Road Songs, BMI)

The Place I Used to Know

(Michael Dinallo & William Prine / Crooked Road Songs, BMI)

Paradise

(John Prine / WB Music Corp. OBO Walden Music, ASCAP)

I Mean I’m Mean

(Vic McAlpin & Glenn Douglas / Trails End Music Co.)

If You Don’t Want My Love

(John Prine & Phil Spector / WB Music Corp. OBO Walden Music, ASCAP & Mother Bertha Music Inc., BMI)

Misery Train

(Michael Dinallo / Crooked Road Songs, BMI)

Billy talks with legendary songwriter and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Roger Cook about writing such songs as “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony),” “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress,” “I Just Want to Dance With You” which was written with John Prine, and was a number one hit for George Strait, and Roger’s move from Bristol, England to Nashville. The featured music is Roger playing “I Just want to Dance with You” on his ukulele and Billy Prine performing “Trail of Tears” – written by Roger Cook & Allen Reynolds – live at Dee’s Country Cocktail lounge in Madison, Tennessee.

Photograph of Roger Cook taken by Nate Dow in Nashville, Tennessee.

Billy talks with Jerry Phillips, son of the late Sam Phillips. They discuss Jerry and his brother Knox producing John Prine’s "Pink Cadillac" album, Sam with Elvis, Howlin’ Wolf, Charlie Rich, etc., Jerry’s recording philosophy, and an all female radio station from the mid 50s. Featured music is “Misery Train” by Billy Prine from his upcoming EP "A Place I Used to Know" and Will Kimbrough’s version of Charlie Rich’s “Sittin’ and Thinkin’” from the album "Feel Like Going Home: The Songs of Charlie Rich." Michael Dinallo produced both tracks.

Credits:

Billy Prine – host

Michael Dinallo – co-host, producer, field recording, and editing

Douglas Hudson – co-producer

Tim Carter – studio recording, mixing, and mastering

Jonathan E. Mitchell - executive producer

Jerry Phillips’ conversation with Billy Prine was recorded at Big River Broadcasting in Florence, Alabama in January 2020.

The conversation between Billy Prine and Michael Dinallo was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee in February 2020.

Michael Dinallo produced Billy’s Prine’s version of “Misery Train.” The basic tracks were recorded by Sean Sullivan at The Butcher Shoppe Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The overdubs were recorded by Tim Carter at The Treehouse in Ridgetop, Tennessee. It features Billy Prine on lead vocal, Michael Dinallo on electric & acoustic guitar, Tim Carter on harmonica & banjo, Dave Jacques on bass, and Tom Hambridge on drums. Tim Carter mixed the track at The Treehouse in Ridgetop, Tennessee. It will appear on Billy Prine’s new EP due fall 2020.

Will Kimbrough’s version of “Sittin’ and Thinkin’” is from the album Feel Like Going Home: The Songs of Charlie Rich, which was produced by Michael Dinallo and released by Memphis International Records in 2016. “Sittin’ and Thinkin’” appears in this podcast courtesy of Johnny Phillips, Jeff Phillips, and Memphis International Records.

Prine Time – Memphis, Part One: Jerry Phillips was mastered by Tim Carter at The Treehouse in Ridgetop, Tennessee in February 2020.