Album
The Prison
1977 · Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Rare pressing on Gatefold
The Prison is a Country album by Michael Nesmith, originally released in 1977. On Gatefold: 11 pressings tracked.
About
The ever-ambitious Michael Nesmith made a giant leap away from the kind of country-rock records he'd been making for the first half of the '70s with <i>The Prison</i>, which was originally packaged with a short story he wrote as a companion piece. Musically, Nesmith here takes things well beyond the rootsy twang of his earlier albums, embracing a more harmonically complex approach that comes across as a kind of cosmic, balladic version of progressive rock. There are no frenzied, fret-burning riffs or tricky time changes, but the synthesizer-bedecked spaciness of the arrangements is undeniably a kind of art-rock variant. The scope of the lyrics is equally expansive; while Nesmith's previous solo releases didn't shy away from impressionistic imagery, <i>The Prison</i> is a full-blown concept album tied into core philosophical issues of human identity and the emotional/psychological prisons that people construct for themselves. It's heady stuff, but Nesmith's natural melodic gifts give the whole thing a very organic flow. And you don't need the prose to enjoy the music.
via Apple Music
The Clerk says
The Clerk knows this whole record — the pressing quirks, the credits, the take.
Tracklist
- 1Opening Theme - Life, the Unsuspecting Captive3:31
- 2Dance Between the Raindrops6:38
- 3Elusive Ragings5:11
- 4Waking Mystery7:50
- 5Hear Me Calling?4:31
- 6Marie's Theme11:16
- 7Closing Theme (Lampost)9:24
Sound DNA
- Country
- Americana & Roots
- warm
- wistful
- pastoral
Notes from the original pressing. Later editions may differ.
Subtitled "A Book With A Soundtrack" on the front, but the spine reads only "The Prison".
This version comes with an English/French 64-page LP-sized book.
The version with the English-only 52-page booklet is here: The Prison (US 1974) (opens in a new tab)
Printed inner sleeve with credits.
Recorded September 15-20, 1974, Los Angeles, California
Cat.# PAC-101 on labels and box spine.
Embossed front box.
Side A playing time 23:07
Side B playing time 25:19
Credits
The people behind it.
Performers
- ChuraCONGAS
- David KemptonKEYBOARDS SYNTHESIZER
- Michael NesmithVOCALS, GUITAR
- Mike CohenKEYBOARDS
- Red RhodesSTEEL GUITAR
- Roland Drum MachinesDRUMS
- Don WhaleyBACKING VOCALS VOCALS
- The Aanami ChoirBACKING VOCALS VOCALS
Rare pressing on Gatefold · 11 pressings tracked on Gatefold
Start your shelf.
Track your pressings of The Prison, get the Clerk's take, and see what the record is worth — free.
Start your shelf →Free forever. Works with 10 records or 10,000.