According to Eddie Huffman's book John Prine: In Spite of Himself, the singer was “perfectly content with the record he cut in Memphis.

But Cropper was moving into the rock ‘n’ roll big leagues as a producer, working on Rod Stewart's next record around the same time.

"Saddle In The Rain" is one of only two songs from Common Sense to appear on the 1976 Atlantic greatest hits compilation Prime Prine (the other being "Barbara Lewis").

I consider it a challenge, though, to paint myself into a corner and then get out.”[1] The musical arrangements were more complex than they had been in the past, with Prine biographer Eddie Huffman noting that "Common Sense" used the common I-IV-V chord progression, though Prine "mixed it up with extra chords, as usual, stretching the music to fit the lyrics," while "Saddle in the Rain" "kept his sidemen on their toes, seeming to modulate between D and E minor," and "That Close to You" shifted from A to D in the bridge like a middle-period Beatles song.

His wit is still sharp, but it no longer shines; consequently, Common Sense has the unfortunate distinction of being the worst of Prine's Atlantic albums.

"[2] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau was more enthusiastic: "Prine customarily strives for coherence, but this time he has purposely (and painfully) abjured it.

"[3] The chilly critical response shook Prine and marked the end of his relationship with Atlantic Records, with the singer admitting to David Fricke in 1993: "After Common Sense it seemed like all there was to write about was what was going on on the road.