Prison Bound

Prison Bound
Studio album by Social Distortion
Released	January 18, 1988
Recorded	1987 at Casbah Recording Studio in Fullerton, California
Genre	Punk rock[1] hardcore punk[2] cowpunk[3]
Length	41:05
Label	Restless[4]
Producer	Social Distortion Chaz Ramirez
Social Distortion chronology
Mommy's Little Monster (1983) Prison Bound (1988) Social Distortion (1990)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[5]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[6]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[7]

Prison Bound is the second studio album by Social Distortion, released in 1988.^[8][9] It was the first album with bass guitarist John Maurer and drummer Christopher Reece.^[8][10] It expands the punk rock sound of the band's first album, Mommy's Little Monster (1983), by adding influences from country music and blues rock.^[5]

Overview

Prison Bound took almost half a decade to materialize, with the initial attempt to record and release the follow-up to Mommy's Little Monster dating back to 1984.^[11] The album was shelved for a few years and it would not be re-recorded and completed until 1987, following frontman Mike Ness' recovery from drug addiction and Social Distortion's signing to then-independent Restless/Enigma Records.^[12][13] Unlike many of the band's albums, no singles were released for this album, but the title track "Prison Bound" received some heavy rotation from commercial radio stations (particularly KROQ-FM),^[14] and the song's success attracted attention from major labels, including Epic Records, to whom Social Distortion would sign in 1989.

The first track, "It's the Law", is a remake of "Justice for All", which appeared on the 1981 compilation album The Future Looks Bright (and later on the 1995 compilation album Mainliner: Wreckage from the Past). It also contains a cover version of "Backstreet Girl", originally recorded by the Rolling Stones. The album's title track references Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line".

Critical reception

Trouser Press wrote that "although Prison Bound lacks the all-out dynamics of Monster ... it’s still a maturely paced, knowing follow-up, and not just for punks."^[4] Nick Robinson, reviewer of British music newspaper Music Week, noted band's adulting in comparison with early recordings. He found there "upright bursts of aggression, frustration and depression tell a vivid tale of growing up and blues and country influences add depth to this blunt, honest and thrilling account".^[15]

Track listing

Personnel

• Mike Ness – lead vocal, lead guitar
• Dennis Danell – rhythm guitar
• John Maurer – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Christopher Reece – drums

References