John Prine – Diamonds in the Rough (180 Gr)

John Prine – DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH (180 GR) is one of the more quietly affecting records in the American country-folk canon, and this limited 180 gram reissue from Rhino gives it the weight it deserves. Released in 1972 as Prine’s second studio album, it arrived just a year after his self-titled debut had introduced him as a writer with an uncommon gift for finding tenderness and dry humor in ordinary American lives. The follow-up didn’t flinch from that territory, and in some ways it pushed further in, leaning into a rawer, more informal sound that suited the material well.

What Makes John Prine – DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH (180 GR) Worth Your Attention

By 1972, Prine had already earned serious attention from critics and fellow songwriters who recognized something rare in his writing. Where a lot of country-folk at the time leaned on polish, this album had a lived-in quality, closer to a front porch than a studio. Tracks like “Souvenirs” and “Sour Grapes” show the range he was working across: quiet nostalgia on one side, a sharper, more sardonic edge on the other. The full tracklist here includes thirteen songs, among them “The Great Compromise,” “Clocks and Spoons,” and the title track, which closes the record. It’s a substantial listen, and the sequencing rewards attention across both sides.

Pressing and Format Details

This is a Rhino reissue pressed on 180 gram vinyl, catalog number R 7240. The 180 gram weight makes a practical difference in how the record sits on the platter and how it handles over repeated plays. Rhino has a consistent track record with their reissue program, and this falls in line with their approach to giving catalog titles a proper physical format rather than a throwaway pressing. If you’ve been working through Prine’s catalog on vinyl and have been holding out for a clean, well-weighted copy of this particular album, this is the one to reach for.

Who This Record Is For

Collectors focused on American singer-songwriters of the early 1970s will know how central Prine is to that period, and Diamonds in the Rough is a record that often gets treated as a footnote to his debut when it really stands on its own terms. The limited nature of this pressing means it won’t be around indefinitely. For anyone building a serious country-folk section, or anyone who simply wants a quality vinyl copy of a 1972 album that has held up better than most, this reissue makes a strong case for itself without needing much help.

Tracklist

1. EVERYBODY
2. THE TORCH SINGER
3. SOUVENIRS
4. THE LATE JOHN GARFIELD BLUES
5. SOUR GRAPES
6. BILLY THE BUM
7. THE FRYING PAN
8. YES I GUESS THEY OUGHTA NAME A DRIN
9. TAKE THE STAR OUT OF THE WINDOW
10. THE GREAT COMPROMISE
11. CLOCKS AND SPOONS
12. ROCKY MOUNTAIN TIME
13. DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH