The Prisoners (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1980 in Rochester, Kent, England |
| Headquarters | Rochester, Kent , England, United Kingdom |
| Products | Garage rock music |
The Prisoners are a garage rock group from Britain, established in 1980 in Rochester, Kent, England. Their sound, heavily influenced by 1960s garage rock, positioned them as a significant force within London's underground scenes of the early 1980s, particularly the "psychedelic revival" and "mod revival," and they played a pivotal role in the Medway scene.
History
The band comprised Graham Day on vocals and guitar, James Taylor handling the Vox Continental and Hammond organ, Allan Crockford on bass, and Johnny Symons on drums. Despite common misconceptions attributing their name to the 1960s TV show The Prisoner, it was actually derived from The Vapors' debut single. Their music fused infectious retro-inspired melodies with punk-influenced guitar work, distinctive vocal delivery, and the then-uncommon Vox Continental organ sound. As members of the 'Medway Delta,' they often toured alongside Thee Milkshakes, notably appearing together on Channel 4's The Tube dressed in Star Trek costumes. Although they were embraced by the Mod revival movement, The Prisoners did not consider themselves a mod band but remain recognized as one of the standout groups from that era. While commercial success eluded them during their initial run, their influence extended to the Madchester scene, impacting bands such as The Charlatans.
Their first album, A Taste of Pink (1982), primarily featured songs written by Graham Day. After independently releasing several records and spending a year with Big Beat Records, they launched their final album, In From The Cold (1986), through Stiff Records' "Countdown" label under Eddie Piller’s management. Facing commercial difficulties, the band dissolved in 1986 but reunited for live performances and issued a one-off single in 1997.
Bassist Allan Crockford produced "Strawberries are Growing in My Garden (and It's Wintertime)" for fellow Medway group The Dentists. He also collaborated with James Taylor as part of the James Taylor Quartet. Meanwhile, Graham Day has continued performing with various beat-oriented acts like the Solar Flares and MBEs alongside prominent musicians such as Billy Childish and Wolf Howard.
Post break-up activities
After disbanding, members pursued diverse musical ventures. In 1986, James Taylor and Allan Crockford formed the jazz-funk ensemble James Taylor Quartet, although Crockford eventually left. Graham Day and Allan Crockford later created The Solarflares, producing four albums before disbanding in 2004; this project carried forward The Prisoners’ musical style with drummer Wolf Howard and Mr Parsley on organ. Other related groups include Planet, The Buff Medways, The Prime Movers, Thee Mighty Caesars, The Stabilisers, and The Galileo 7. Graham Day also led Graham Day & the Gaolers, releasing Soundtrack to the Daily Grind (2007) and Triple Distilled (2008) under Damaged Goods.
In 2014, Ace Records reissued A Taste of Pink, sparking renewed interest in their body of work.
Studio albums
- A Taste of Pink! [Own-Up – 1982]
- The Wisermiserdemelza [Big Beat – 1983]
- The Last Fourfathers [Own-Up – 1985]
- In From the Cold [Countdown – 1986]
- Morning Star [Own-Up - 2024]
Compilation albums
- The Revenge of The Prisoners [Pink Dust – 1984] (U.S. compilation release)
- Rare and Unissued [Hangman – 1988]
- Hurricane: The Best of The Prisoners [Big Beat – 2004]
Live albums
- Thee Milkshakes vs. The Prisoners [Media Burn Records – 1984]
Featured tracks: Melanie, Reaching My Head, Hurricane, American Jingle, 96 Tears, A Taste of Pink, Love My Lies
- The Last Night at the MIC [Empire Records – 1985]
Included songs: Coming Home, Revenge of the Cybermen, There's A Time, Runaway, Little Shadows, Sitting on My Sofa, Don't Call My Name
Extended plays
- Electric Fit [Big Beat – 1984]
Songs featured: Melanie, What I Want, The Last Thing on Your Mind, Revenge of the Cybermen
- There's A Time – 10 Inch Single [Munster Records – 1999] (Spanish edition)
Tracklist: There's a Time, Revenge of the Cybermen, I'm Looking For You, 96 Tears
Singles
- "Hurricane"/"Tomorrow She Said" [Big Beat – 1983]
- "There's A Time"/"Revenge of the Cybermen" [Sky Dog – 1983] (French edition)
- "Whenever I'm Gone"/"Promised Land" [Countdown – 1986]
- "Whenever I'm Gone"/"Promised Land"/"Gravedigger" (12-inch single) [Countdown – 1986]
- "Shine on Me"/"Judgement Song" [Deceptive – 1997]
- "Shine on Me"/"Judgement Song"/"Small" (CD single) [Deceptive – 1997]
Compilation EPs
- Four on 4 [Big Beat – 1984]
Features "Reaching My Head," along with tracks by Thee Milkshakes, The Sing-Rays, and Tall Boys.