Riot in Cell Block Number 9
"Riot in Cell Block #9" | ||||
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Single by The Robins | ||||
B-side | "Wrap It Up" | |||
Released | 1954 | |||
Genre | R&B | |||
Length | 3:02 | |||
Label | Spark | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller | |||
The Robins singles chronology | ||||
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"Riot in Cell Block #9" is a R&B song composed by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in 1954. The song was first recorded by The Robins the same year.[1] That recording was one of the first R&B hits to use sound effects and employed a Muddy Waters stop-time riff as the instrumental backing.[1]
Lyrics
The song's setting takes place at a correctional facility. A man is serving his prison sentence for armed robbery. At 4:00 AM on July 2, 1953, he wakes up to an alarming disturbance; a jail riot. It started in cell block #4 and continued through the prison hall from cell to cell. The jailhouse warden, armed with a tommy gun, threatens to execute all the prisoners if the riot does not stop soon, but one of them, Scarface Jones, retaliates by carrying dynamite. Forty-seven hours later, 3:00 AM on July 4, 1953, the prison security let loose tear gas on the inmates and they return to their cells.
Personnel
- Richard Berry, lead vocals
- Mike Stoller, piano
- Gil Bernal, saxophone
- Barney Kessel, guitar
- Ralph Hamilton, bass
- Jesse Sailes, drums[2]
Cover versions
The song has been covered by many cross-genre artists such as The Grateful Dead, Wanda Jackson, Vicki Young,[3] Johnny Winter, Dr. Feelgood,[4] The Blues Brothers, Wee Willie Harris, Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen, Johnny Cash, and Flat Duo Jets.
The Beach Boys reworked the song as "Student Demonstration Time" for the 1971 album Surf's Up. The Beach Boys originally covered the song for their 1965 album, Beach Boys' Party!, but it was never officially released until two versions appeared on the 2015 compilation Beach Boys' Party! Uncovered and Unplugged.
It was also translated and performed in French by Michel Pagliaro as "Émeute dans la Prison" (Riot in the Prison). In his version it was July 13, 1968, at 4:00 am and originated in cell block #3. It was later covered by Éric Lapointe.
See also
- Riot in Cell Block 11, a 1954 film
References
- ^ a b Robert Palmer (1982). Deep Blues. Penguin Books. p. 167. ISBN 978-0-14-006223-6.
- ^ The Coasters: The Complete Singles As & Bs 1954-62, Acrobat Licensing LTD., ADDCCD3180, 2016, UK
- ^ "Vicki Young (2)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ "Dr. Feelgood - Riot In Cell Block No. 9 / Don't Let Your Daddy Know". Discogs.com. 1975. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
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- There's a Party Goin' On (1961)
- Right or Wrong (1961)
- Wonderful Wanda (1962)
- Love Me Forever (1963)
- Two Sides of Wanda (1964)
- Blues in My Heart (1965)
- Wanda Jackson Sings Country Songs (1965)
- Wanda Jackson Salutes the Country Music Hall of Fame (1966)
- Reckless Love Affair (1967)
- You'll Always Have My Love (1967)
- Cream of the Crop (1968)
- The Many Moods of Wanda Jackson (1968)
- The Happy Side of Wanda (1969)
- Wanda Jackson Country! (1970)
- A Woman Lives for Love (1970)
- I've Gotta Sing (1971)
- Praise the Lord (1972)
- I Wouldn't Want You Any Other Way (1972)
- Country Gospel (1973)
- Country Keepsakes (1973)
- When It's Time to Fall in Love Again (1974)
- Now I Have Everything (1975)
- Make Me Like a Child Again (1976)
- Closer to Jesus (1977)
- Good Times (1980)
- Show Me the Way to Calvary (1981)
- Let's Have a Party (1982)
- My Kind of Gospel (1983)
- Rockabilly Fever (1984)
- Teach Me to Love (1984)
- Let's Have a Party in Prague (1987) (with Karel Zich)
- Classy Country (1988)
- Encore (1988)
- Don't Worry Be Happy (1989)
- Goin' on with My Jesus (1991)
- Rock & Roll-ra Hívlak! (with Dolly Roll) (1992)
- Generations (Of Gospel Music) (1993)
- Let's Have a Party (1995)
- The Queen of Rock' a 'Billy (1997)
- Heart Trouble (2003)
- I Remember Elvis (2006)
- The Party Ain't Over (2011)
- Unfinished Business (2012)
- Encore (2021)
- Rockin' with Wanda (1960)
- Made in Germany (1967)
- The Best of Wanda Jackson (1968)
- I'll Still Love You (1976)
- Wanda Jackson in Person (1969)
- Live in Scandinavia (1989)
- The Wanda Jackson Show: Live and Still Kickin' (2003)
- Wanda Live! at Third Man Records (2011)
- "Silver Threads and Golden Needles"
- "You Can't Have My Love"
- "I Gotta Know"
- "Fujiyama Mama"
- "Riot in Cell Block Number 9"
- "Hard Headed Woman"
- "Let's Have a Party"
- "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby"
- "Right or Wrong"
- "Funnel of Love"
- "In the Middle of a Heartache"
- "A Little Bitty Tear"
- "If I Cried Every Time You Hurt Me"
- "Santo Domingo"
- "The Box It Came In"
- "Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine"
- "If I Had a Hammer"
- "My Big Iron Skillet"
- "Two Separate Bar Stools
- "A Woman Lives for Love"
- "Fancy Satin Pillows"
- "Where Do I Put His Memory"
- "I'll Still Love You"
- "Don't Let the Good Times Fool You"
- "Good Rockin' Tonight"
- "You Know I'm No Good"
- "Thunder on the Mountain"
- "It Keeps Right On a-Hurtin'"
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