A Star, A Jewel And A Hoax - *unreleased* John Prine cover

About this song: Little is known about this song, but apparently in August of 1970, two years before the release of John Prine's first album, WFMT radio in Chicago made some recordings of John playing in the studio, and performing live at "The Fifth Peg." John Prine was 23 years old at the time.

Described as "The oldest surviving John Prine recording" this treasure consists of two CDs worth of material- 12 studio recordings and 7 tracks recorded live at The Fifth Peg.

This song, "A Star, A Jewel And A Hoax" is one of the studio recordings, and remains unreleased to this day.

He's a star
But he didn't get as far
As those who idolized his ways and means
To prepare themselves to be better human beings
Well they understood more than he had meant to say
In his day
But that's okay.

She's a jewel
But her tactics are so cruel
And her past affairs smell cheap like the perfume in her hair
She lives another life, but not her own
On an imaginary throne
In the sky
She's afraid to die.

Great thoughts don't come
To those who try too hard
To imaginate what's going on in the mind's back yard
So I'll leave lest you think that I'm a hoax
Like these other folks
In my song.
Goodbye, so-long.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John
• Prine
• acoustic
• guitar
• cover
• star
• jewel
• hoax
• Fifth
• Peg
• WFMT
• Chicago
• archives
• unreleased

[dannooozy]

where did you find this ,ian??how can i get a copy?

[jordanthecat]

@dannooozy Do a Google search using these search terms: resurrectingtheotterscheese John Prine and you will find links to two rapidshare files, one of which is 1970 studio stuff including this song. The other file is John performing live at The Fifth Peg.

[bulbheadmyass]

Wow, never heard this, you sings it beautifully.

[jordanthecat]

@bulbheadmyass The original version is, of course, much better...

[Ottawarocket]

This is an amazing John Prine song Ian ..I have never heard this, Thanks for sharing it with us my friend ..Hey How are things going in the Shwah

Rob

[jordanthecat]

@Ottawarocket Thanks for dropping by, Rob- and you must also drop by the Shwah one day, and help me decide (over a few beers) if I'm an Oshawite or an Oshawanian, or perhaps something in between.

This song is a bit of a mystery, and I wish I knew more about it than I do: who are the "star" and the "jewel" he's singing about? We may never know.

[identitytraveler]

great job Ian - i've never heard this i have to admit! cool, cool song

i especially love the line, "great thoughts don't come to those who try to hard, to imaginate what's going on in the minds back yard"

send me over the lyrics would ya amigo?

[coolanddark]

WoW!! You unearthed a GEM!! I got to find those John Prine studio sessions!

[dodsie]

I have the 5th peg recordings.its amazing stuff.

[sackboy539]

you are amazing -3

[Labrabob]

So, is it possible to obtaiing this collection (from when JP was 23?) that you know of?

[Labrabob]

Thank you for being such a John Prine enthusiast and sharing all of this. Your work is greatly appreciated. Great music!

[ArnoldwilliamDow]

Never heard this one before. Nice job sir.

[guitmartiman]

Wow, that's a gem! Can't imagine why it was never released!

[carlaude]

hi ian nice one again ,yet another great post ,its a new one on me this prine song .keep posting them carl ps: the gibson sounds great plugged in by the way .