description John Prine - Fair & Square Overview
Fair & Square is the 2005 album by singer-songwriter John Prine, released on his own Oh Boy Records label. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, marking Prine's second Grammy win following his 1991 collection The Missing Years. Featuring songs including 'Some Humans Ain't Human,' a critique of human cruelty, and 'Taking a Walk,' the album showcases Prine's characteristically observational songwriting style with elements of humor and compassion. The record was produced by Prine along with Gary Nicholson and Al Bunetta.
help John Prine - Fair & Square FAQ
Which Grammy did 'Fair & Square' win, and at which ceremony?
'Fair & Square' won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards held in February 2006, covering the 2005 eligibility year. It was Prine's second Grammy, following 'The Missing Years' (1991) winning in the same category in 1992.
Was 'Fair & Square' released on a major label or on Prine's own label?
It was released on Oh Boy Records, the independent label Prine co-founded with his manager Al Bunetta in 1981 after he left Atlantic Records. Prine stayed on Oh Boy for the rest of his career, and 'Fair & Square' was recorded primarily at Nashville's Creative Recording Studio.
What is 'Some Humans Ain't Human' about, and who is it aimed at?
The song is a plainspoken anti-war and anti-cruelty ballad written in the run-up to the Iraq War, aimed broadly at warmongers and powerful figures who lack empathy. It closes 'Fair & Square' and became one of Prine's most quoted late-career songs, often interpreted as addressed to George W. Bush without naming him.
Did 'Fair & Square' feature any notable guest musicians?
Yes — Alison Krauss, Dan Tyminski, and Jerry Douglas of Union Station appear on the record, alongside longtime Prine collaborators like Phil Parlapiano. Krauss's harmony vocals are particularly prominent on several tracks.
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