Todd Snider: 12 Essential Songs

In his own shambolic way, Todd Snider was a master songwriter — a follower of John Prine and Jerry Jeff Walker who specialized in sharp, often hilarious, story-songs about all manner of down-and-out characters, himself very much included. Over more than 30 years, Snider wrote about everything from the Kingsmen to pitcher Dock Ellis’ acid-aided no-hitter, always with empathy, self-awareness, and a winning stoner drawl. (Some of his best moments were not even songs — see the long, rambling, funny-as-hell monologues he’d tell onstage.) Here are 12 highlights.