Midnight Special, Shine a Light on Me: Prison Music from Angola, Louisiana & Beyond
In this special program, we visit Angola, the notorious plantation-turned-penitentiary, to hear stories and songs from within the prison’s walls. We talk with saxophonist Charles Neville about serving time at the “Farm” during the Jim Crow era, playing with fellow inmates in the Nic Nacs, and the role of music in integrating prison life. We hear previously unreleased Harry Oster field recordings of Mardi Gras Indian chants and bebop jazz from Angola in the late-50s. And we go on-site for interviews and performances with contemporary Angola musicians. Plus, we explore the popular tradition of prison music from singing inmates like Leadbelly and Merle Haggard to live performances from Johnny Cash at San Quentin and B.B. King at Cook County Jail.
HOUR ONE
Open Bed: Berta Big Louisiana (Rodney Mason), Rev. Rogers, & Roosevelt Charles Prison Worksongs, Arhoolie
Chain Gang Sam Cooke Greatest Hits, RCA
Parchman Farm Mose Allison The Collection, Floating World
Prison Blues Finally Got the Best of Me The Nic Nacs Unreleased recording by Harry Oster at Angola Prison,
SEGMENT: Charles Neville Part I
Instrumental: Midnight Special Tiny Grimes Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974, Atlantic
Midnight Special Leadbelly Bourgeois Blues, Smithsonian Folkways
CLIP: Ben Harbert on Leadbelly
Where Did You Sleep Last Night Final Mission Band of Dixon Correctional Institute American Routes recording at Angola Prison,
Midnight Special Johnny Rivers Totally Live at the Whiskey a Go-Go, Capitol
Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison, Columbia
San Quentin Johnny Cash Johnny Cash at San Quentin, Columbia
Instrumental: unreleased song The Nic Nacs Unreleased recording by Harry Oster at Angola Prison,
CLIP: Leotha Brown from Follow Me Down Documentary
Unreleased song The Nic Nacs Unreleased recording by Harry Oster at Angola Prison,
CLIP: Larry Wilkerson
CLIP: John Henry Taylor from Follow Me Down Documentary
CLIP: "There's 12 Gates to Heaven" from Follow Me Down Documentary
Twelve Gates to the City John Cephas and Phil Wiggins Cool Down , Alligator
Long Black Veil Gillian Welch and David Rawlings unreleased,
Green Green Grass of Home Jerry Lee Lewis Country Songs for City Folks, Smash
CLIP: AJ Freeman with the Gospel Ghost Riders
On My Way Home The Main Prison Gospel Band on stage at Angola Prison American Routes recording at Angola Prison,
Closing Bed: Midnight Special Jimmy Smith Midnight Special, Capitol
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: Tu-Way Pocky Way Harry Oster Recording with the Prisoners Unreleased recording by Harry Oster at Angola Prison,
Hey Pocky-Way Charles Neville with the Jazz Men American Routes recording at Angola Prison,
Introductions B.B. King B.B. King Live in Cook County Jail, ABC
How Blue Can You Get B.B. King B.B. King Live in Cook County Jail, ABC
Intro from "They're Tearin' the Labor Camp Down" Merle Haggard Vintage Collections, Capitol
Fugitive Merle Haggard I'm a Lonesome Fugitive, Capitol
Sing Me Back Home Merle Haggard Sing Me Back Home, Capitol
The Prisoner's Song Warren Storm Warren Storm, Excello Records
Instrumental: Moanin' Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Art Blakey is Jazz, Music Club
CLIP: Angola Bound Angola inmates a capella Unreleased recording by Harry Oster at Angola Prison,
CLIP: Angola Bound Aaron Neville The Very Best of Aaron Neville, A&M
CLIP: "There's no more Angola Bound" from Follow Me Down Documentary
SEGMENT: Charles Neville Part II
Instrumental: Alligator Bogaloo Lou Donaldson The Blue Note Years: Vol. 3- Organ and Soul, Blue Note
CLIP: Christie Nelson from Follow Me Down Documentary
Pardon Denied Again Robert Pete Williams I'm Blue As A Man Can Be, Arhoolie
CLIP: Reverend Sydney DeLoach
CLIP: Charles Neville
CLIP: Ben Harbert
CLIP: "Nowhere Bound" Alford Rose from Follow Me Down Documentary
I'm Going Home Ervin Webb with Prisoners Alan Lomax, Southern Journey: 61 Highway Mississippi , Rounder
I Shall Be Released Nina Simone Here Comes the Sun & Other Great Hits, Arista
Closing Bed: Parchman Blues Tangle Eye Alan Lomax's Southern Journey Remixed, Zoe