Hear Margo Price and John Prine Duet on ‘Unwed Fathers’

John Prine’s label Oh Boy Records, which he founded with Dan Einstein and the late Al Bunetta, has a history of showing support for good causes. One event in recent memory is the benefit tribute show for Jessi Zazu the label organized in 2017. 

Prine wasn’t able to be at the show himself, but he’s an integral part of another project: A few friends you’ll recognize stopped by Prine's home, and he cut a couple of vintage tunes with them to be released as a vinyl single. Proceeds will benefit the American Civil Liberties Union, the civil rights organization that’s involved in legal challenges to Donald Trump’s border wall proposal, restrictions on Medicare access for transgender patients, the recent anti-abortion legislation in Alabama and more. 

On the A-side of the release is “Unwed Fathers,” a poignant look at teenage pregnancy, sung as a duet with Margo Price. Price’s husband and bandmate Jeremy Ivey and Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids also play on the track. The B-side features Prine and Jason Isbell on “People Puttin’ People Down,” a cut that considers what drives some folks’ cruelty. Prine originally recorded both songs for his 1984 LP Aimless Love, his first release on Oh Boy.

Stream “Unwed Fathers” and preorder the single via the Bandcamp embed below. At least $8 of the $10 price is slated to be donated to the ACLU. You’ll get the digital tracks immediately, and the physical copies (limited to 2000 copies) are expected to ship out on Aug. 26.