Jazz, blues and nostalgia; Behind bars.
Johnny Cash’s prison repertoire (in de Folsom State Prison), followed by a classic from Wim T. Schippers with burglar Gerrit Dekzeil.
Then; ‘the yodelling millionaire’ Jimmie Rodgers (‘I’m in the jailhouse now’), Ella Fitzgerald about her fear of a cowboy (‘Don’t fence me in’), vocal group The Larks (‘When I leave these prison walls’) and Willy Alberti with the amazing song ‘De Dievenwagen’.
Several jazz musicians have seen the insides of a cell themselves; Lester Young, who recorded an account of the experience in the ‘D.B. Blues’, pianist Tadd Dameron (‘the Schubert of jazz’) arranged from the ‘Narco’ for Blue Mitchell. Other experts include Chet Baker, Art Pepper and the adventurous trumpeter Jack Purvis.
Jo Stafford sings about a loved one behind bars, Lil Green would probably never have had a career as a blues vocalist without prison. Prisoners from Tennessee State Prison made ‘Just walking in the rain’, which became a hit for Johnny Ray, jailbird Leadbelly pierced ‘Goodnight Irene’ together, performed by The Weavers.
Lastly, Johnny Hartman (‘Ain’t misbehavin’), Woody Guthrie (‘Dead or alive’), Edith Piaf with Les Compagnons de la Chanson and Guy Mitchell (’99 years’).
