Produced by Arif Mardin, who had previously collaborated with the likes of Aretha Franklin and King Curtis, Prine found his new studio surroundings intimidating.

Initially, the musicians at American, accustomed to playing heavily rhythmic material and funky grooves, were thrown by Prine and his songs.

"[citation needed] In the Great Days anthology liner notes Prine claims that he composed "Hello In There" as a tribute to senior citizens, saying he "always had an affinity for old people.

According to Prine biographer Eddie Huffman, "Spanish Pipedream" is "a hilarious Age of Aquarius anthem, the hippie commune ideal summed up in less than four minutes.

Prine believes he was likely drawn to Montgomery as the song's setting by virtue of being a fan of Hank Williams, who had ties to that city.

For the sleeve to his 1988 release John Prine Live, the singer wrote that the tragic "Six O'Clock News" was about a neighborhood kid "who was always in trouble and chose me as a friend.

"Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore" is an anti-war song which attacks phony patriotism, especially in the context of exhibitionistic chauvinism.

that "Far From Me" is his favorite song that he has written, with the John Prine Shrine website quoting the singer explaining that the line a broken bottle looks just like a diamond ring "is in reference to my childhood.

"[citation needed] The album cover of John Prine features the singer sitting on a bale of straw.

"[10] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau wrote: "You suspect at first that these standard riffs and reliable rhythms are designed to support the lyrics rather than accompany them.

"[8] Writing for Allmusic, critic William Ruhlman says of the album: "A revelation upon its release, this album is now a collection of standards...Prine's music, a mixture of folk, rock, and country, is deceptively simple, like his pointed lyrics, and his easy vocal style adds a humorous edge that makes otherwise funny jokes downright hilarious.

In the original album's liner notes, Kris Kristofferson marveled, ""Twenty-four years old and writes like he's two-hundred and twenty.

All that stuff about 'Sam Stone,' the soldier junkie daddy, and 'Donald and Lydia,' where people make love from ten miles away.

Everything his fans would come to love about him – drama, humor, memorable characters, great stories, a badass outsider stance offset by a reverence for tradition – could be found, fully developed, in its forty-four minutes and seven seconds.

"[11] Prine himself states in the Great Days anthology, "It's not an easy album for me to listen to, because I can hear in my voice how uncomfortable I felt at the time.

"Paradise" is one of the singer's most covered tunes, having been recorded by Johnny Cash, John Fogerty, the Everly Brothers and Lynn Anderson, among many others.

Prine's friend and fellow songwriter Steve Goodman recorded "Donald & Lydia" on his 1971 self-titled LP.