Album Review of
Best Of: Blues from Cell Block D (At the Oregon State Penitentiary)

Written by Robert Silverstein
January 11, 2020 - 12:00am EST
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Here’s a real, odd and genuine blues album for you. Doing time in jail, guitarist and singer-songwriter recorded Blues From Cell Block D: The Best Of S.A. Harris at the Oregon State Penitentiary and the album was released in 2019. One of the first lifer inmates (to my knowledge) to release an album while serving time in prison, the 12-track CD was made on a small digital track recorder with Harris writing and recording all the guitars, bass and drums himself. Several musicians assisted him in the making of the album, yet it’s pretty much his baby. Guitar heroes Peter Green and Billy Gibbons are both cited in Harris’ credits. Green’s guitar influence can be felt as well on the instrumental tracks here while Harris’ sad, sobering tale is recounted in the album liner notes. An effective album that truly gives a new meaning to the blues, Blues From Cell Block D: The Best Of S.A. Harris is a wake up call from the big house.