VA- Parchman Prison Prayer - Some Mississippi Sunday Morning LP

Haunting in situ recordings from Parchman Farm maximum security prison in Mississippi (USA). Producer Ian Brennan (Tinariwen, Ustad Saami, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Zomba Prison Project) recorded the prison's Sunday gospel service and the results are unforgettable. The raw performances range from solo a capella to a floor-shaking electric band. The repertoire includes both traditional and newly penned spirituals. "Some Mississippi Sunday Morning" is an unfiltered and deeply resonant journey into a musical world rarely seen or heard. Most songs are covers of Gospel standards, but delivered so imbued with subtext that they were transformed almost unrecognizably from the source material. One of the beauties of the experience was that it was a successful integration of white and black inmates, whose services are often held separately due to racial tensions.

Tracks:

1. Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord / L. Stevenson (age: 29)

2. I Give Myself Away, So You Can Use Me / singer/pianist chose to remain anonymous

3. Break Every Chain / M. Kyles (age: 52)

4. Jesus, Every Day Your Name is the Same / Parchman Prison Choir featuring C.S. Deloch

(age: 73)

5. Step into the Water / N. Peterson (age: 63)

6. Solve My Need / M. Palmer (age: 60)

7. Falling in Love with Jesus Was the Best Thing I’ve Ever Done / A. Warren (age: 28)

8. You Did Not Leave Me, You Bless Me Still / J. Sherman (age: 63)

9. If I Couldn’t Say One Word, I’ll Just Wave My Hand / Parchman Prison Choir featuring L.

Brown (age: 36)

10. I Gotta Run / L. Stevenson (age: 29)

11. Hosanna / L. Brown (age: 36)

12. Locked Down, Mama Prays for Me / Robinson (age: 33) with A. Warren (age: 28)

13. It’s in My Heart / M. Kyles (age: 52)

14. I’m Still Here / D. Thomas (age: 30)

15. Lay My Burden Down / Parchman Prison Choir featuring C.S. Deloch (age: 73) & M. Palmer

(age: 60)