First heard John when "Sour Grapes" got a bit of airplay in '73 or so. Wasn't very impressed. Then, when I started getting serious about playing guitar a couple of years later it seemed everyone I jammed with played a handful of Prine songs and they started to grow on me. I learned several of the songs from his first two albums from friends before I ever actually heard the albums themselves. Then I bought the albums and learned most of the rest of them. Learned a few more songs from later albums, but not almost every song like with those first two.   

I also have never seen John live. He's played around here a few times, but I've always had to be someplace else when he's been in town. So it goes. John's never seen me play either.