Better Than Jail, a new benefit album that contains a 12-track lineup of iconic prison song covers, was released today, Friday, Oct. 4. Bringing together a coveted assemblage of Americana, blues, and country artists, the tracklists shuffles classics from Merle Haggard “Sing Me Back Home,” “I Made the Prison Band”) Bob Dylan (“Hurricane,” “I Shall Be Released”), Lead Belly (“Midnight Special”), Bukka White (“Parchman Farm Blues), and more; intergenerational historical alignment from songwriters and modern-day performers that showcase the ongoing need to enact prison reform and reconsider the effectiveness of the correctional system.
Contributing to the set, and aligning under the mission to raise awareness and support the imminent need to combat criminal justice reform, are Cedric Burnside, Hayes Carll & Allison Moorer, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Lukas Nelson, Margo Price, Old Crow Medicine Show, Raul Malo, Silverada, Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, and The War and Treaty. Better Than Jail celebrates the rich musical legacy of choice pulls while supporting systematic change steeped in the mission: we can, and must, do better. Striking the LP’s charitable slant, proceeds will go toward Equal Justice USA and Free Hearts, a pair of organizations taking part in boot-on-the-ground work to generate thoughtful and effective change.
In picking up the conversation that has percolated lyrically for decades, Price uses her pipes to retell Dylan’s story of Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, the wrongly accused boxer who faced racism leading to a false trial and triple murder conviction in 1967, “Here comes the story of the Hurricane/ The man the authorities came to blame/ For somethin’ that he never done/ Put in a prison cell, but one time he coulda been/ The champion of the world.” Raitt gives Leroy Carr’s “Prison Bound Blues” similar treatment, bringing listeners back to the lyrics: “When I had my trial baby, you could not be found/ When I had my trial baby, woooo, you could not be found/ So it’s too latе now, mistreating mama, I’m prison bound.”
I’m so proud to have joined in with so many illustrious artists in creating this very special album in support of rural prison reform. Overlooked for far too long, this issue cuts across all cultural and political divides and deserves all our focused attention to finally bring about some swift and meaningful action. Better Than Jail is one of the most inspired and heartfelt albums I’ve been blessed to be a part of and I hope it sets a fire in hearts far and wide to join in our efforts.”
~ Bonnie Raitt
Elsewhere on the compilation, Old Crow Medicine Show delivers Jimmie Rodgers’ “In the Jailhouse Now.” Commenting on the band’s involvement, Ketch Secor offered, “We are proud and truly humbled by the scope and magnitude of this project. Everyday life looks a whole lot different for the men and women behind bars, and, with our inclusion in Better Than Jail we seek to ally ourselves with those organizations shining a light in prisons across the country.” He continued, “The quintessential track “In the Jailhouse Now’ is one of Country music’s most popular songs about the big house. During the global pandemic, prison activists – primarily wives, moms, and children of the incarcerated – gathered on the steps of our state capitol to demand a safer environment for inmates in Tennessee. We kept these family members in our hearts as we recorded this song.”
Scroll down to stream the LP now, and consider donating to Equal Justice USA and Free Hearts.
Better Than Jail Tracklist:
- The War and Treaty – “County Jail Blues” (Originally by Big Marco)
- Steve Earle – “I Fought the Law” (Originally by The Crickets)
- Bonnie Raitt – “Prison Bound Blues” (Originally by Leroy Carr)
- Old Crow Medicine Show – “In the Jailhouse Now” (Originally by Jimmie Rodgers)
- Hayes Carll & Allison Morer – “Sing Me Back Home” (Originally by Merle Haggard)
- Margo Price – “Hurricane” (Originally by Bob Dylan)
- Raul Malo – “Stripes” (Originally by Johnny Cash)
- Lukas Nelson – “I Shall Be Released” (Originally by Bob Dylan)
- Silverada – “I Made the Prison Band” (Originally by Merle Haggard)
- Taj Mahal – “Midnight Special” (Originally by Led Belly)
- Jason Isbell & Amanda Shires – “The Color of the Cloudy Day”
- Cedric Burnside – “Parchman Farm Blues” (Originally by Bukka White)
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