For Better, or Worse

Female singers duet with a grizzled songwriting great on this winning set from the 70-year-old Prine. His voice is scarred, but that only makes the bruised tenderness in each country and bluegrass tune more real. Nothing beats the sublime simplicity of “My Happiness,” sung with Fiona Whelan, Prine’s Irish-born wife of 20 years.

For Better, Or Worse

(Oh Boy)

An almanack of historical pleasures from the country songbook. CD review by Jasper Rees