The Prison: A Book with a Soundtrack

The Prison - A Book With A Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by Michael Nesmith
Released 1974
Genre Rock/Country
Length 49:10
Label Pacific Arts
Producer Michael Nesmith
Michael Nesmith chronology
Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash
(1973)Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash1973		 The Prison - A Book With A Soundtrack
(1974)		 From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing
(1977)From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing1977

The Prison - A Book With A Soundtrack (or simply The Prison) is Michael Nesmith's seventh solo album of his post-Monkees career and his first to be released under his own record label, Pacific Arts. It includes a novella meant to be read while listening to the album as its "soundtrack". In 1994 Nesmith recorded a companion novella/album entitled The Garden. According to Nesmith's website (Videoranch), a third installment titled The Ocean has been released and completes the Infinitia trilogy[1]

The Prison and The Garden were re-released together on CD in 2004 by Video Ranch.

Critical reception

Allmusic called The Prison "a brilliant multimedia concept marrying the personal and inner visual experience of Michael "Papa Nez" Nesmith's novella with the aural medium of an equally original soundtrack." Robert Christgau called it a "ghastly boxed audio-allegory-with-book."[2]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]

Remixes

"The Prison" was dramatically remixed by Michael Nesmith for CD release on "Rio Records" in 1990, and again in 2007 on "Edsel Records". Some changes on both remixes include the removal or addition of drum machines, extra reverb on vocals (in the case of the 2007 remix, a new or alternate lead vocal track in places), and many other changes.
Although the iTunes download of "The Prison" is credited in the iTunes store as the 1990 remix, it is actually the 2007 remix. As of September 2013, the original mix that appeared on vinyl has not been officially released on CD.

Track listing

All songs by Michael Nesmith.

  1. "Opening Theme (Life, the Unsuspecting Captive)" – 3:31
  2. "Dance Between the Raindrops" – 6:47
  3. "Elusive Ragings" – 5:11
  4. "Waking Mystery" – 7:36
  5. "Hear Me Calling?" – 4:51
  6. "Marie's Theme" – 11:51
  7. "Closing Theme (Lampost)" – 9:23

Personnel

  • Michael Nesmith - vocals and guitars
  • David Kempton - Arp Odyssey
  • O.J. "Red" Rhodes - pedal steel guitar
  • Michael Cohen - keyboard
  • Chura - congas
  • Roland Rhythm 77 - drums

References

  1. ↑ Videoranch website FAQs.
  2. ↑ Robert Christgau mention of The Prison.
  3. ↑ Allmusic review
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