When it comes to live albums recorded in unusual institutions one tends to think of Johnny Cash’s two prison albums: Live at San Quentin and Live at Folsom Prison, or perhaps the Cramps legendary live video from the Napa State Mental Hospital. To this short roster I implore you to add Sonny George Live at the Tennessee Prison for Women recorded in 2001. Recalling the occasion Sonny says ‘That was wild – Boz said it’s the most mental thing he’s ever done.’ The ‘Boz’ to whom Sonny refers is, of course Boz Boorer of the Polecats and Morrissey fame who along with his wife Lyn, on double bass, Jeff ‘Bubba’ Mead on steel and baritone guitars, Nick Kane of the Mavericks on guitar, and Barry Barnes on drums provide the magnificent backing band to Mr Sonny George, who is perhaps best known for his work with Nashville rockabilly band the Planet Rockers.

A voice of female authority begins proceedings, ‘I’d like to introduce Mr. Sonny George and his band.’

The fabulous bass baritone of Sonny replies ‘Hello ladies’ and then we’re off on an epic journey of county-tinged rockabilly. ‘Big, Big Man’, gets things off to a terrific start, with Jeff ‘Bubba’ Mead’s steel guitar making a superb contribution. There is a nice false ending to it too.

Sonny mischievously announces: ‘We’re here to put the dick back in dixie or the cunt back in country whichever comes first.’

‘Who’s Been Playing My Guitar’ featuring wonderful baritone guitar from Jeff and a superb guitar solo from Boz is next.

‘Tennessee Woman’ begins with a very delicate guitar riff and a nice shuffle, with excellent steel guitar followed by a further three superb guitar solos, as well as some delightful interplay between the guitars and steel. It’s perhaps my favourite track on an album full of crackerjacks. 

‘Big Iron’ in which Sonny announces ‘my picture’s hanging in the truck driver’s hall of fame’ follows. There is a fantastic groove throughout and the steel and guitar solos are brilliant.

Sonny then says that they’re ‘going to slow it down now cos you’re getting too excited out there.’

‘Lovestar’ Is a tense stroller with a tremendously atmospheric guitar solo.

‘Look-A-Here’ begins with sublime steel guitar. The pace is quickened slightly, but it’s another cool shuffle with excellent backing vocals, the extraordinary bass baritone of Sonny, Jeff deploys the baritone guitar in masterful fashion and there is a wonderful country ending.

‘Dirty Dog’ is driven along by Lyn Boorer’s superb bass slapping, the song also features three quite delightful guitar solos.

‘Dixie Doll’ continues in exactly the same fashion. The audience response is phenomenal

‘On a Train’ is given a wonderful treatment from the band and it elicits chants of ‘Sonny, Sonny, Sonny.’

Next is the sublime ‘Hillbilly Wolfman’ with super steel played by Jeff, this is a song that just grooves with top-drawer guitar solos. The women oblige when Sonny enquires ‘do you wanna here me howl’

‘Pick Up the Hammer’ begins very much in a Johhny Cash fashion, the first guitar solo even incorporates the first part of The Folsom Prison Blues’ solo.

‘Love Jam/I Love Women’ is, again, driven along by the superb double bass playing of Lyn Boorer. ‘I love women up and down, back to front, and round and round’ declares Sonny. There is some wonderful baritone guitar on the track. When the track finishes Sonny announces, ‘We’ll see you next time, y’all be good.’

The record concludes with the encore: Jailhouse Rock. Jeff recalls ‘we nearly caused a prison riot.  We finished our set and could hear them all shouting while we were backstage so, of course, we went back out to do an encore.  What we didn’t realise was that they had already started moving the inmates back to their cells and when we started up again, everyone turned round and tried to get back into the hall.  We got a bit of a telling off from the guards, to put it mildly!’ 

In the pantheon of live albums, this is right up there with the very best. Unavailable since its original release almost a quarter of a century ago it would be criminal not to snap up a copy of this remastered gem on vinyl.

Reviewed by Nick Kemp