John Prine, an internationally acclaimed and revered singer-songwriter who died April 7 at the age of 73 from complications of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), was the top artist and had both the top two albums (The Tree of Forgiveness and John Prine), as well as seven of the month’s top 10 songs, on folk radio during April 2020. So say charts compiled by Folk Alliance International based on radio playlists submitted to FOLKDJ-L, an electronic discussion group for DJs and others interested in folk-based music on the radio.

John Prine (official photo)

John Prine (official photo)

A songwriter’s songwriter who toured and plied his craft for nearly 50 years, Prine was known for his well-crafted, observant, often humorous story songs featuring indelible characters and vivid imagery. In addition to recording his songs on his own albums — 15 of which made the Billboard 200 chart — many of them have been performed and recorded by a number of other artists. He won Grammy Awards for his albums The Missing Years (1991) and Fair and Square (2005). The Recording Academy honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, while he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame last year and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. He also was named Artist of the Year by the Americana Music Association in 2017 and received PEN New England’s Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence Award in 2016.

The Tree of Forgiveness (2018), April’s most-played album, was named Album of the Year in the 2019 Americana Honors & Awards presented by the Americana Music Association, reached #5 on the Billboard 200 charts, and was the most-played album on folk radio during 2018. It was Prine’s first (and last) collection of new material since Fair and Square.

Prine’s 1991 self-titled debut was the month’s second-most-played album. It features such classic songs as “Sam Stone” “Hello In There,” and “Paradise,” which also were the first three songs Prine ever performed live on stage. “Hello In There” and “Paradise” were the second- and third- most-played songs in April, while “When I Get to Heaven” from The Tree of Forgiveness took the top spot.

(Here’s a link to view a video of John Prine performing “Hello In There,” one of his signature songs, during Live from Sessions at West 54th: https://youtube.com/watch?v=OVhA01J0Zsg)

While a 23-year-old mailman in 1970, Prine sang his songs every Thursday night for a couple of months at The Fifth Peg, a Chicago folk Club. Then-young journalist Roger Ebert stopped in for a set one night and wrote a glowing review for the Chicago Sun Times that essentially launched Prine’s career, according to his official bio. Credit Kris Kristofferson as well. He and Prine became good friends and toured extensively together over the years. Kristofferson introduced Prine to New York folk fans in 1971 by inviting him on stage during his own gig at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village.

The April 2020 Top Albums, Songs and Artists charts are based on 11,392 airplays reported on 495 playlists submitted by 99 different DJs. The number of reported spins is shown below in parentheses.

Folk Alliance International (https://folk.org) is a nonprofit organization that aims to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation and promotion.

The monthly top albums and songs charts are posted on AcousticMusicScene.com, with permission.

Top Albums of April 2020

John Prine - The Tree of Forgiveness1. The Tree of Forgiveness by John Prine (68)
2. John Prine by John Prine (58)
3. 25 Trips by Sierra Hull (56)
4. Headlight by Della Mae (54)
5. 2020 by Eliza Gilkyson (52)
6. Character by Rachael Sage (48)
6. Live! At the Seagull Shop Restaurant by Jud Caswell (48)
8. The Path of Stones by John Doyle (43)
9. Big Road by David Bromberg Band (39)
10. Bad for You by The Steeldrivers (38)
11. The Family Songbook by The Haden Triplets (33)
11. Work My Claim by Brooks Williams (33)
13. Alicia Viani by Alicia Viani (32)
13. Home by Billy Strings (32)
15. Waterfalls by Thomas Aaron Garlow (31)
16. Song Like a Seed by Sara Thomsen (30)
17. For Better or Worse by John Prine (27)
17. The Missing Years by John Prine (27)
19. Fair and Square by John Prine (26)
20. Someday Soon Somehow by Scott Fab (25)
21. The Loud Album by Carla Ulbrich (24)
21. Good Good Man by Vance Gilbert (24)
23. Covid Humor Songs by Carla Ulbrich (23)
23. Souvenirs by John Prine (23)
25. Logan Ledger by Logan Ledger (22)
26. Fine, Thank You! by Deborah Holland (21)
26. Bruised Orange by John Prine (21)
26. A Long Way Back: The Songs of Glimmer by Kim Richey (21)
26. Mondegreens by Rachel Garlin (21)
30. The Moon Is an Ashtray by Miss Tess (19)
30. In Spite of Ourselves by John Prine (19)
30. Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn by Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn (19)
30. Making Life Sweet by The Early Risers (19)
30. Lp5 by John Moreland (19)
35. Sweet Revenge by John Prine (18)
35. Brother Sister by Watkins Family Hour (18)
37. Collection 2008-2018 by Jim Patton and Sherry Brokus (17)
37. John Prine Live by John Prine (17)
37. Call the Captain by Western Centuries (17)
37. Hang Me Out to Dry by Trip McCool (17)
37. Waltz for Abilene by Cindy Cashdollar (17)
42. Lucky Girl by Claudia Nygaard (16)
42. Hello Stranger by Eliza Meyer (16)
42. Blindsided by Mark Erelli (16)
45. Great Days: The John Prine Anthology by John Prine (15)
45. Wildwood by Katie Dahl (15)
45. Chasing the Sun by Bobtown (15)
45. Assiniboine and the Red by The Small Glories (15)
45. Straight to Marrow by Clint Alphin (15)
50. Spider Tales by Jake Blount (13)
50. Treat a Stranger Right by Frank and Allie Lee (13)
50. Refuge by Sultans of String (13)
50. Treasures in My Chest by Andrew McKnight (13)
50. Bright Lights, Long Drives, First Words by Nora Jane Struthers (13)
50. And Laurie Lewis by Laurie Lewis (13)
50. Darrell Scott Sings the Blues of Hank Williams by Darrell Scott (13)
50. Circadian by Letitia Vansant (13)
50. Bitter Ballads and Cynical Prayers by Chris Moyse (13)
59. Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings by John Prine (12)
59. Solo by Gordon Lightfoot (12)
59. Slow Steady Heart by Claudia Schmidt (12)
59. Days of Decision: A Tribute to Phil Ochs by Martyn Joseph (12)
59. Going to the Well by Linda McRae (12)
59. Caught From the Rye by Tre Burt (12)
59. Already Gone by Chris Titchner (12)
59. Heart Land Again by Tim Grimm (12)
67. Visions by Alice Howe (11)
67. I Have Known Women, 2020 by Saro Lynch-Thomason and Sam Gleaves (11)
67. Different Hymnals by Joel Mabus (11)
67. Legacy by Michael Johnathon (11)
67. Love and Fire by Annette Wasilik (11)
67. Apples in the Fall by Anna Lynch (11)
67. How We Want to Love by Lisa Bastoni (11)
67. No Time for Love Songs by The Mastersons (11)
67. Bad Wife by Grant Peeples (11)
67. Stony Run by Ken and Brad Kolodner (11)
67. The Panhandlers by The Panhandlers (11)
67. Bird in a Cage by Patty Larkin (11)
67. German Afternoons by John Prine (11)
67. The Far Si by Matt Watroba (11)
67. Even the Sparrow by Kelly Hunt (11)

Top Songs of April 2020

1. “When I Get to Heaven” by John Prine (31)
2. “Hello in There” by John Prine (22)
3. “Paradise” by John Prine (18)
4. “Illegal Smile” by John Prine (13)
4. “Angel From Montgomery” by John Prine (13)
4. “In Spite of Ourselves” by John Prine (13)
4. “Fish and Whistle” by John Prine (13)
4. “All the Best” by Erik Balkey (13)
9. “From a Distance” by Valerie Smith (12)
10. “The Gift of an Ordinary Day” by John and Sheila Ludgate (11)
10. “Bravery’s on Fire” by Rachael Sage (11)
12. “Ohio” by Rachael Sage (10)
12. “Spanish Pipedream” by John Prine (10)
12. “Waterfalls” by Thomas Aaron Garlow (10)
12. “Blue Sky Days” by Rachael Sage (10)
12. “That’s the Way the World Goes Round” by John Prine (10)
17. “Sam Stone” by John Prine (9)
17. “The Path of Stones” by John Doyle (9)
17. “Headlight” by Della Mae (9)
17. “Poison” by Sierra Hull (9)
17. “The Midnight Special” by Lead Belly (9)
17. “It’s a Big Old Goofy World” by John Prine (9)
17. “Father Time” by Sierra Hull (9)
17. “Middle of the Woods” by Sierra Hull (9)
17. “Waiting for You” by Della Mae (9)
17. “Beautiful World of Mine” by Eliza Gilkyson (9)
17. “1920” by Saro Lynch-Thomason and Sam Gleaves (9)

Top Artists of April 2020

1. John Prine (418)
2. Eliza Gilkyson (62)
3. Sierra Hull (57)
4. Della Mae (54)
5. Jud Caswell (49)
6. Rachael Sage (48)
6. Carla Ulbrich (48)
8. John McCutcheon (45)
8. Pete Seeger (45)
10. John Doyle (44)
10. The Steeldrivers (44)
12. David Bromberg Band (43)
13. Bob Dylan (35)
14. The Haden Triplets (34)
15. Billy Strings (33)
15. Brooks Williams (33)
15. Joel Mabus (33)
18. Sara Thomsen (32)
18. Alicia Viani (32)
20. Thomas Aaron Garlow (31)
21. Tim Grimm (28)
22. Steve Goodman (27)
22. Vance Gilbert (27)
24. Mark Erelli (26)
24. Various (26)
26. Scott Fab (25)
27. Gordon Lightfoot (24)
27. Tom Paxton (24)
27. Valerie Smith (24)
30. Martyn Joseph (23)
30. Deborah Holland (23)
30. Wu Fei and Abigail Washburn (23)
30. Michael Johnathon (23)
34. Matt Watroba (22)
34. Logan Ledger (22)
34. Stan Rogers (22)
34. Laurie Lewis (22)
38. Joe Jencks (21)
38. Rachel Garlin (21)
38. Western Centuries (21)
38. Watkins Family Hour (21)
38. Kim Richey (21)
38. Mara Levine (21)