Various - Destination Jail Volume 2 [CD]

BEAR FAMILY (CODE 7)

£10.69

Cat. no: BCD17709
Format: CD
Barcode: 4000127177094
Release Date: 23 Feb 2024
Genre: Rock 'N' Roll

With 'Destination Jail, Volume 2', Bear Family Records offers another
intriguing collection of blues and rhythm & blues obscurities and classics
from the '40s to the '60s about life behind bars

It deals with the various elements of the US justice system: prison = county farm,
chain gang; jail and penitentiary.

Among the better- known highlights are Jailhouse Rock by Frankie Lymon, the
heartbreaking Please Mr. Jailer by Wynona Carr, the Prisoner's Song by Fats
Domino - in this case a classic from the Anglo-Celtic tradition - and the tongue-in-cheek Good Morning Judge by Wynonie Harris.

An exciting introduction to an important topic of Afro-American roots music, with
liner notes by Roland Heinrich Rumtreiber and originals remastered with fnesse.

Incarceration is a frequent theme in American roots music, especially in blues
and rhythm & blues. African American life in the New World started in chains and
endured slavery and segregation. Despite signifcant changes initiated during the
second half of the 20thcentury, equality has not yet reached all strata of society.

The percentage of African Americans sentenced to time in prison is considerably
higher than that of other demographic groups. Frequent analysis also reveals
statistics that African Americans most likely receive longer prison sentences than
white Americans.

This is a sensitive topic, and one might wonder how this compilation of African
American popular music from the 40s to 60s fts into the lighter and novelty-laden
'Destination' Series. See and listen for yourself.

In contrast to old-time and early country music, where the theme continued the
Anglo-Celtic tradition of the murder ballad, jail, in the African American tradition,
is no metaphor for self- refection and transformation. Incarceration does not
serve as a mirror of one's self; it is the mirror image of a sickening society.

This compilation offers various styles. It also presents multiple viewpoints - from
gallows humour, the laughing-to-keep-from-crying approach, the cry for help, and
the promise of redemption.

Tracks: Sonny Knight - But Ofcer / Wynonie Harris - Good Morning Judge / Frankie Lymon - Jailhouse Rock / Smiley Lewis - Jailbird / Danny Cobb - Hey, Mr. Warden / Lonesome Sundown - My Home Is A Prison / Eddie Boyd - I'm A Prisoner / Ottilie Patterson - Jailhouse Blues / Roosevelt Sykes - Jailbait / Billy Boy Arnold - Prisoner's Plea / El Pauling and Royal Abbit - Jail Bird / Josh White - Ball And Chain Blues / T-Bone Walker - Prison Blues / Wynona Carr - Please Mr. Jailer / Andre Williams - Jail Bait / The Robins - Riot In Cell Block No. 9 / Joe Jones - The Prisoner's Song / Sonny Knight - Jail Bird / Willie Nix - Prison Bound Blues / Magic Sam - 21 Days In Jail / Theola Kilgore - The Sound Of My Man / Fats Domino - Prisoner's Song / The Prisonaires - A Prisoner's Prayer / The Larks - When I Leave These Prison Walls