Common Sense, released in 1975, is John Prine's fourth album. It was co-produced by Prine and Arif Mardin, and recorded in New York and Muscle Shoals, Alabama, incorporating a more Southern sound with soul influences. The album received mixed reviews, with critics noting a more commercial direction.
The sound is more electric with string and brass arrangements, moving away from the acoustic folk of his early work. Songs like 'Common Sense', 'Come Back to Us Barbara Lewis Hare Krishna Beauregard', and 'The Bottomless Lake' show his evolution, though some fans preferred his earlier style.
Although not one of his most acclaimed albums, 'Common Sense' represents a bold experiment in Prine's career. Over time, it has been reclaimed by some critics as an underrated work that reflects his search for new musical horizons.