j45nick Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I'm forever trolling the internet looking for Gibsons in unusual settings. There are outlaws, and then there are OUTLAWS. The Prisonaires were a prisoner-created musical group signed by Sun in the early 1950's. Their most familiar composition would be "Just Walkin' in the Rain". The group consisted of several killers, a rapist, and a thief. And one very nice Gibson archtop. I can't identify the fretboard inlays, but it is a big-bodied L-variant, maybe an L-7. Someone here will know. Gives a new meaning to the term "musical outlaw". My link You can clearly hear that archtop in the original recording: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Looks like a '35/36ish L-7 to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I'm leaning L-4. Makes me wonder what some of my old bandmates are up to-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I'm surprised they weren't barred from playing outside the prison. Their music must have a tough cell. Pardon me, I like their music! His pen could sure write some good sentences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I'm leaning L-4. OK, why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Because of the small, straight, inlaid Gibson script , fleur-de-lis (partly under the strap), and varied fret markers (I wish I could see the 5th it would be the 3 leaf clover looking thing w/pointed leaves). They went to f-holes '35:www.archtop.com/ac_35L4_1011.html I used to have one a long time ago. Way before I could appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I'm surprised they weren't barred from playing outside the prison. Their music must have a tough cell. Pardon me, I like their music! His pen could sure write some good sentences. I love it. This group deserves a trial. They problably started singing the moment they were arrested. Hard time stealing tunes? They can kill it or rape it, either one. Stole the show with a dead crowd. When was the last time you caught a good band? They're definitely in it for life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 I give Sam Phillips a huge amount of credit for signing guys like this, even if it didn't pan out very well for them over the long haul. It's unimaginable that any mainstream label would even have considered it, or probably have even considered signing Elvis at that stage in his career, come to think of it. What an imagination Phillips had! I haven't been to the Sun studios in Memphis, but a trip there is on my bucket list. They have a pretty good website, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Me too Buddy, on the Sunn Studios tour! I bet the guitarists was only playin 'bar ' chords...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Me too Buddy, on the Sunn Studios tour! I bet the guitarists was only playin 'bar ' chords...... Were they playing the scales of justice??? I can hardly wait for their new release! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Were they playing the scales of justice??? I can hardly wait for their new release! Don't expect them to be able to break out into the scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Me too Buddy, on the Sunn Studios tour! I bet the guitarists was only playin 'bar ' chords...... They are playing within the confines of the law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You know, they didn't have a lock on success!!! They probably wanted to escape from the trappings of fame.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 You know, they didn't have a lock on success!!! They probably wanted to escape from the trappings of fame.... Thet were booked before the band was formed, though. They all had records from the start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Thet were booked before the band was formed, though. They all had records from the start. Yep.....LONG PLAYING records! I wonder how they guarded their revenues? I wonder if any of their music was condemned? I wonder if their music was confined to R&B? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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