RockLists.com
John Prine
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Artist · chart history · #92 in indie & aaa artist polls

John Prine

Solo artist Maywood United States

John Prine is an artist from Maywood. John Prine has 131 chart appearances on 44 radio countdowns from 12 stations on RockLists, spanning 2001–2026. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Paradise”, which appears on 13 lists with a best position of #16. The station that charted John Prine most often is WYEP (Pittsburgh, PA), with 37 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 2018.

131appearances
44countdowns
32songs charted
12stations
0#1 finishes
2001–2026years

John Prine was a mailman from Maywood, Illinois, when he started writing songs. He picked up the guitar at 14, studied at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music, did an Army stint in West Germany, and came home to sing at a student hang-out called the Fifth Peg. A glowing review from Roger Ebert got him noticed, and Steve Goodman made sure Kris Kristofferson heard him, which landed Prine a spot as Kristofferson's opening act.

His self-titled 1971 debut on Atlantic is one of those records that sounds fully formed from the first strum: plain-spoken country-folk with a sly wit and a big heart, from the lopsided grin of "Illegal Smile" to the hushed ache of "Hello in There", "Sam Stone" and "Angel from Montgomery". Diamonds in the Rough and Sweet Revenge followed. He could make you laugh and break your heart inside a single verse, and his songs cut through with satire and social commentary without ever preaching.

Later he co-founded his own label, Oh Boy Records, in 1981, won Grammys for Best Contemporary Folk Album, and kept writing through two bouts with cancer. His last album, The Tree of Forgiveness, in 2018, was his highest-charting ever. He died on April 7, 2020, from complications of COVID-19, having received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award earlier that year.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

Songs by John Prine on radio countdowns

#SongStrengthListsBest#1sPeak year
1 Paradise
784		 13 #16 – –
2 I Remember Everything
678		 10 #10 – 2020
3 Angel from Montgomery
623		 9 #37 – –
4 In Spite of Ourselves
518		 10 #85 – –
5 Summer's End
511		 7 #9 – 2018
6 Hello In There
497		 10 #98 – –
7 Lake Marie
495		 10 #236 – –
8 Sam Stone
477		 8 #151 – –
9 When I Get to Heaven
398		 7 #62 – 2018
10 Illegal Smile
299		 9 #282 – –
11 Knocking On Your Screen Door
286		 4 #9 – 2018
12 Ain't Hurtin' Nobody
208		 5 #165 – –
13 That's The Way The World Goes Round
107		 3 #421 – –
14 Spanish Pipedream
104		 4 #628 – –
15 Clay Pigeons
88		 1 #103 – –
16 Summer Ends
84		 1 #169 – –
17 Lonesome Friends Of Science
83		 1 #179 – –
18 Dear Abby
72		 1 #1256 – –
19 Souvenirs
68		 2 #633 – –
20 Pretty Good
53		 1 #935 – –
21 Glory of True Love
52		 2 #466 – –
22 Fish and Whistle
46		 1 #563 – –
23 All the Best
40		 1 #539 – –
24 The Bottomless Lake
39		 1 #516 – –
25 Donald and Lydia
36		 1 #1283 – –
26 Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore
25		 1 #1510 – –
27 It's a Big Ol Goofy World
20		 1 #399 – –
28 Please Don't Bury Me
16		 1 #1700 – –
29 Quit Hollerin At Me
11		 1 #444 – –
30 Rocky Mountain Time
8		 1 #840 – –
31 Screen Door
7		 1 #856 – –
32 Humidity Built The Snowman
2		 1 #880 – –

Albums with charting songs

Where each song was first released, from MusicBrainz.

Year-end chart timeline

Combined year-end countdown points per year. Taller bars mean more songs placing higher across more stations.

18 20

Every countdown appearance

Year#SongCountdown
2026 165 Ain't Hurtin' Nobody KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026 192 Paradise WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time
2026 351 Lake Marie WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time
2026 396 Hello In There WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time
2026 511 Sam Stone WYEP Greatest Songs of All Time
2026 561 Angel from Montgomery KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026 628 Spanish Pipedream KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026 632 Illegal Smile KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026 694 In Spite of Ourselves KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026 856 Screen Door KXT 917 Song Countdown
2026 192 Summer's End The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound
2026 288 When I Get to Heaven The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound
2026 483 I Remember Everything The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs You Discovered on The Colorado Sound
2025 282 I Remember Everything 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the 21st Century
2025 90 In Spite of Ourselves WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2025 371 Lake Marie WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2025 399 It's a Big Ol Goofy World WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2025 444 Quit Hollerin At Me WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '90s
2025 388 Summer's End WYEP Best Songs of the 21st Century (So Far)
2025 421 That's The Way The World Goes Round The Colorado Sound Top 800 Mood Booster Songs
2025 462 I Remember Everything WYEP Best Songs of the 21st Century (So Far)
2025 470 In Spite of Ourselves The Colorado Sound Top 800 Mood Booster Songs
2025 481 Knocking On Your Screen Door WYEP Best Songs of the 21st Century (So Far)
2024 108 I Remember Everything The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs of the 21st Century
2024 169 Summer Ends The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs of the 21st Century
2024 390 In Spite of Ourselves WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2024 497 Lake Marie WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2024 563 Fish and Whistle WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years
2024 600 When I Get to Heaven The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs of the 21st Century
2024 103 Clay Pigeons The Colorado Sound Top 850 Cover Songs
2024 158 Summer's End WXPN The 885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (2024)
2024 173 When I Get to Heaven WXPN The 885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (2024)
2024 264 I Remember Everything WXPN The 885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century (2024)
2024 641 Illegal Smile The Best Opening Tracks of All Time
2023 109 Paradise WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023
2023 135 Hello In There WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023
2023 151 Sam Stone WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023
2023 210 Sam Stone 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time
2023 401 In Spite of Ourselves WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023
2023 589 Illegal Smile WYEP Countdown to Fall 2023
2023 307 In Spite of Ourselves The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 426 Lake Marie The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 516 The Bottomless Lake The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s
2023 539 All the Best The Current's 893 Essential Songs of the '90s
2023 16 Paradise The Colorado Sound Top 800 Songs About Places
2023 37 Angel from Montgomery The Colorado Sound Top 800 Songs About Places
2023 236 Lake Marie The Colorado Sound Top 800 Songs About Places
2023 428 When I Get to Heaven The Colorado Sound Top 800 Songs About Places
2022 23 I Remember Everything The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 81 When I Get to Heaven The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 179 Lonesome Friends Of Science The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 319 Knocking On Your Screen Door The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 423 Lake Marie The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 633 Souvenirs The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 637 That's The Way The World Goes Round The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 703 Paradise The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 732 Angel from Montgomery The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 792 Hello In There The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Colorado Sound Songs of All Time
2022 847 In Spite of Ourselves WYEP Countdown to Fall 2022
2022 868 Spanish Pipedream WYEP Countdown to Fall 2022
2022 1366 Glory of True Love WYEP Countdown to Fall 2022
2022 85 In Spite of Ourselves The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022 170 Sam Stone 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '70s
2022 499 Angel from Montgomery 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '70s
2022 546 Ain't Hurtin' Nobody The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2022 827 Illegal Smile 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '70s
2022 880 Humidity Built The Snowman The Colorado Sound Top 900 Songs of the '90s
2021 145 Paradise WYEP 2021 Labor Day Countdown
2021 157 In Spite of Ourselves WYEP 2021 Labor Day Countdown
2020 10 I Remember Everything Lightning 100 Top 200 Songs of 2020
2020 11 I Remember Everything WFUV Top 90 Songs of 2020
2020 63 I Remember Everything WTMD Top 89 Songs of 2020
2020 98 Hello In There WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 363 Sam Stone WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 383 Paradise WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1030 Lake Marie WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1076 I Remember Everything WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1283 In Spite of Ourselves WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1408 When I Get to Heaven WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1451 Souvenirs WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1471 Spanish Pipedream WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1510 Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1536 Illegal Smile WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1626 That's The Way The World Goes Round WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2020 1700 Please Don't Bury Me WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time
2019 282 Illegal Smile WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2019 282 Illegal Smile WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2019 365 Paradise WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2019 365 Paradise WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2019 484 Lake Marie WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2019 484 Lake Marie WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2019 1005 Ain't Hurtin' Nobody WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019
2019 1005 Ain't Hurtin' Nobody WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019
2018 9 Summer's End WFUV Top 90 Songs of 2018
2018 9 Knocking On Your Screen Door Lightning 100 Top 200 Songs of 2018
2018 12 Knocking On Your Screen Door 90.9 The Bridge Top 90 Songs of 2018
2018 24 Summer's End Lightning 100 Top 200 Songs of 2018
2018 25 Summer's End 90.9 The Bridge Top 90 Songs of 2018
2018 51 Summer's End WEXT Top 97 of 2018
2018 62 When I Get to Heaven WFUV Top 90 Songs of 2018
2018 776 Paradise The Current's 893 Essential Songs
2018 863 Hello In There The Current's 893 Essential Songs
2016 728 Sam Stone WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2016 776 Paradise WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2016 897 Hello In There WYEP 913 Countdown 2016
2014 231 Angel from Montgomery WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014)
2012 383 Sam Stone WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown
2010 213 Ain't Hurtin' Nobody WXPN 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs (2010)
2009 136 Paradise WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009 479 Sam Stone WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009 840 Rocky Mountain Time WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009 862 Lake Marie WYEP 913 Essential Songs
2009 466 Glory of True Love WYEP 913 Songs That Matter from the Last Decade
2009 42 Angel from Montgomery WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009)
2009 520 Paradise WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009)
2009 595 Hello In There WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009)
2007 133 Angel from Montgomery WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time
2007 508 Hello In There WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time
2007 850 Illegal Smile WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time
2006 95 Artist ranking WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Artists (2006)
2004 176 Angel from Montgomery WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004)
2004 464 Hello In There WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2004)
2001 90 Paradise WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 171 Hello In There WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 441 Angel from Montgomery WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 935 Pretty Good WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 1256 Dear Abby WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 1283 Donald and Lydia WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 1303 Dear Abby WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 1660 Illegal Smile WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time
2001 1860 Spanish Pipedream WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time

Comments

Log in or create a free account to join the conversation about John Prine.

Be kind and stay on topic. Guidelines

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.