''The Prison - A Book with a Soundtrack'' (or simply ''The Prison'') is

Michael Nesmith Robert Michael Nesmith or Mike Nesmith, (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966� ...

's seventh solo album of his post-

Monkees The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was conc ...

career and his first to be released under his own record label,

Pacific Arts The Pacific Arts Corporation, Inc. is a company formed by Michael Nesmith circa 1974 to manage and develop media projects. History Pacific Arts Corporation, Inc. began as Pacific Arts Productions, Inc. when incorporated on October 18, 1974, as ...

. It includes a novella meant to be read while listening to the album as its "soundtrack". Nesmith recorded a companion novella/album entitled '' The Garden'', released in 1994. According to Nesmith's website (Videoranch), a third installment titled ''The Ocean'' has been released and completes the Infinitia trilogy ''The Prison'' and ''The Garden'' were re-released together on CD in 2004 by Video Ranch.

Critical reception

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

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."

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. However, according to Videoranch.com, on "Wednesday, August 16, 2017, Nez opened up a sealed box set f "The Prison"from 1974" and proceeded to digitally transfer sides one and two, taking it "off the record completely flat - straight wire. All that can be heard is what he created four decades ago." This digital transfer is currently available to download from Videoranch.com - as individual MP3 files ($1.99 each) or as one long continuous MP3 file ($9.99) at 320kbps.

Track listing

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

Personnel

* Michael Nesmith - vocals and guitars * David Kempton - Arp Odyssey *

Red Rhodes Orville J. Rhodes, better known as Red Rhodes or O. J. Rhodes (December 30, 1930 – August 20, 1995), was an American pedal steel guitarist. His mother taught him to play the Dobro at the age of five, but at the age of fifteen he switched to ...

- pedal steel guitar * Michael Cohen - keyboard * Chura - congas * Roland Rhythm 77 - drums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Prison, The Michael Nesmith albums Concept albums Book soundtracks 1974 soundtrack albums