The Prison: A Book with a Soundtrack

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 - A Book With A Soundtrack
Soundtrack album by
Michael Nesmith
Released1974
GenreRock/Country
Length49:10
LabelPacific Arts
ProducerMichael Nesmith
Michael Nesmith chronology
Pretty Much Your Standard Ranch Stash
(1973)		 The Prison - A Book With A Soundtrack
(1974)		 From a Radio Engine to the Photon Wing
(1977)

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. However, according to Videoranch.com, on "Wednesday, August 16, 2017, Nez opened up a sealed box set [of "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. [4]

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
  • Red Rhodes - pedal steel guitar
  • Michael Cohen - keyboard
  • Chura - congas
  • Roland Rhythm 77 - drums
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References
  1. Videoranch website FAQs.
  2. Robert Christgau mention of The Prison.
  3. Allmusic review
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