On the Inside (song)

"On the Inside" is the theme song for the Australian soap opera Prisoner (known as Prisoner: Cell Block H in some territories). It was written by Allan Caswell and performed by Lynne Hamilton.

"On the Inside"
Single by Lynne Hamilton
from the album 'On the Inside'
B-sideLove Theme from "Prisoner Cell Block H"
ReleasedMarch 1979
Recorded1978
GenrePop music
Length3:10
LabelA1
Songwriter(s)Allan Caswell
Lynne Hamilton singles chronology
"On the Inside"
(1979)		 "Sorry"
(1980)

Background and recording

Caswell recalls that his "publisher was having lunch with a guy from Grundy's one Friday and asked what they had coming up. They already had music for Prisoner, but the final decision was being made on the Monday and if we could get something to them by then they'd listen to it. I didn't get a chance to work on it until the Sunday afternoon. It was like buying a lottery ticket – either I write something and it might get accepted or I don't write something and not give myself a chance."[1] Caswell recorded the song on a portable cassette player "and gave it to his publisher who delivered it without listening to it. Within five days, I was in the studio with Lynne Hamilton. She got half way through the song and burst into tears. Anyone who believed in it like that was going to do a good version of it."[1]

An alternative version of this song was used in the credits of Episode 79,[2] and again in Episode 154. On this version, there is a small guitar intro and the orchestration is slightly different. This particular version is not available on the soundtrack and was only used during the credits at the end of the show on rare occasions. The song alternated with an orchestra-only version of this track during the first two seasons.

Charts

Weekly charts

The song was a hit in Australia in 1979 when the television show was launched, and reached number three on the UK Singles Chart in 1989 when the show attracted millions of viewers in its late night slot in ITV regions.[3][4]

Chart (1979–1981) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[5] 4
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[6] 5
Chart (1989) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 11
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[8] 3

Year-end charts
Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australian Kent Music Report [9] 23

Track listings

Australian 7" single (RCA Victor – 103316)

  • Side A "On the Inside" – 3:11
  • Side B "Love Theme From "Prisoner"" performed by William Mottling Orchestra – 2:23

Infringement

In 2009, writer Allan Caswell alleged that Alabama's song "Christmas in Dixie" was 'ripped off' from "On the Inside", but conceded that legal action was unlikely as both he and Alabama were signed to Sony.[10]

Cover versions

The song was rerecorded and released by singer Ella Hooper to coincide with Foxtel's Australian re-run of the series, which started in March 2011.[11]

Reggae singer Donna Marie has also recorded a version, with minor alterations to some lines.

It was also covered by The Living End, titled "Prisoner on the Inside".

Use in Wentworth revival

Although the song was not used as the theme for Wentworth, the 2013 reimagining of Prisoner, it was briefly heard in the pilot episode, being hummed by Jacs Holt (played by Kris McQuade), the show's main antagonist.

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References
  1. DOUGHTY J (8 October 1987). "Allan Caswell Loves His Country". Courier-Mail. Nationwide News Pty Limited.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlTZGWF_4H4
  3. Jon E. Lewis, Penny Stempel (1996). Cult TV: the essential critical guide. Pavilion Books. p. 222.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  4. New statesman society, Volume 2. Statesman & Nation Pub. Co. Ltd. 1989.
  5. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 132. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  6. "Charts.nz – Lynne Hamilton – On the Inside". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  7. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – On the Inside". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  9. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. p. 431. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. NOTE: Used for Australian Singles and Albums charting from 1970 until ARIA created their own charts in mid-1988.
  10. "Fed: US group 'ripped off' Prisoner theme tune: musician". AAP Newsfeed. Sydney. 8 May 2010.
  11. Alice Coster, Nicola Webber and Kate McMahon (4 March 2011). "Tattle". Herald Sun (Australia). p. 24.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
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