Many of the musicians featured on BANGED UP were born on the wrong side of the tracks, poverty and other social factors forcing them to use their instruments as a weapon against the harsh realities of everyday life, or at the very least reflect what was all about them.

The places that they played often attracted trouble, whether that be in the local Bar Room, Speak Easy, or Honky Tonk, crime, drinking and loose women where never far away. Times were hard - you could be locked up just for being black on the charge of vagrancy! Many famous musicians have spent time in prison and some even recorded there, such as Leadbelly and Johnny Cash.

Pleas Mr Jailer, won't you let my man go free....................well, no, but at least he can write a damn fine song about his time in the slammer..........

TRACK LISTING:

1) The Robins – Riot in Cell Block No 9 1954
2) Willie Nix - Prison Bound Blues 1953
3) Lonesome Pine Fiddlers – Twenty One Years 1952
4) Jimmie Rogers – In The Jailhouse Now 1928
5) Big Maceo – County Jail 1941
6) Bill Cox - Long Chain Charlie Blues 1934
7) Bukka White – Parchman Farm Blues 1940
8) Delmore Brothers – Lonesome Jailhouse Blues 1933
9) Bessie Smith - Send Me To The ‘Lectric Chair’ 1927
10) Bunny Berigan – Prisoner’s Song 1937
11) Richard Berry – The Big Break 1954
12) Jimmie Davis - Penitentiary Bound 1930
13) Leroy Carr – Christmas in Jail, ain’t that a Pain 1929
14) Oaklahoma Tornadoes – La Prison Circa 1940
15) Gene Autry – Dallas County Jail Blues 1931
16) Red Allen – Patrol Wagon Blues 1930
17) Blue Sky Boys – Prisoner’s Dream 1938
18) Merline Johnson – Crime Doesn’t Pay 1937
19) Alex – Prison Blues Circa 1940
20) Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues 1955