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Prison Bound
Studio album by Social Distortion
Released	January 18, 1988
Recorded	1987 at Casbah Recording Studio in Fullerton, California
Genre	Punk rock hardcore punk cowpunk
Length	41:05
Label	Restless
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
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

Prison Bound is the second studio album by Social Distortion, released in 1988. It was the first album with bass guitarist John Maurer and drummer Christopher Reece. 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.

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. 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. 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), 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." 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".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mike Ness, except where noted

Personnel

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

References

1. ^ "Prison Bound - Social Distortion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
2. Cole, Matthew (17 January 2011). "Review: Social Distortion, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
3. Sachet, Andrew (July 29, 2020). "15 '80s punk albums that shaped the '90s/'00s pop punk boom". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
4. ^ "Social Distortion". Trouser Press. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
5. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. MUZE. p. 588.
6. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 1045.
7. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 652.
8. ^ "Social Distortion | Biography & History". AllMusic.
9. "POP MUSIC REVIEW : Social Distortion Appears Headed Straight for Championship Season". Los Angeles Times. January 15, 1988.
10. Thompson, Dave (January 17, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306076 – via Google Books.
11. http://metallipromo.com/social.html
12. "Mike Ness Reflects on Social Distortion's Legacy". Loudwire. 21 February 2014.
13. "The story of his life: Social Distortion's Mike Ness looks back". 11 September 2015.
14. "KROQ Top 106.7 of 1988".
15. Robinson, Nick (4 February 1989). "Review: Social Distortion – Prison Bound" (PDF). Music Week. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 22. ISSN 0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021 – via American Radio History.

• Social Distortion albums
• 1988 albums
• Time Bomb Recordings albums
• Prison music