Parchman Prison Prayer — Another Mississippi Sunday Morning (Glitterbeat Records, 2025)
Another Mississippi Sunday Morning is the sequel to the acclaimed 2023 album Some Mississippi Sunday Morning. It offers an enthralling and unfiltered view into the lives of incarcerated men at the Parchman Farm maximum security prison in Mississippi, in the southern United States of America. Grammy-winning producer Ian Brennan, known for his work with world music acts Tinariwen and Ustad Saami, returned to record this new collection of raw, heartfelt gospel performances during the prison’s Sunday religious service. The album, recorded live and entirely in single takes, captures voices that society often disregards, presenting them in their most accessible form.
Twelve men, aged 23 to 74, participated in this four-hour session, which is twice the time allotted for the previous album. Six men were new to the project, and three are serving life sentences. Unlike the first recording, no guards or chaplains were present, creating an unmediated environment where deeply personal stories were expressed through song. Many participants came prepared with original material, reflecting their growing creative confidence since the first album.
Each track is filled with individuality, spanning African American genres such as gospel and blues, and even stripped-back hip hop.
One of the highlights of the album is the song “Open the Floodgates of Heaven (Let It Rain)”. It was recorded during a sudden storm. This haunting track presents J. Hemphill’s evocative vocals. Serving a life sentence since his early twenties, Hemphill transforms the song into something deeply moving that contrasts sharply with his reality.
Another notable track is “Parchman Prison Blues,” the album’s opening track and first single. This is a gripping improvised, wordless collaboration among six men that conveys collective pain and yearning.
For those who like rap, “MC Hammer” is a hip hop performance led by J. Robinson (34) and beatboxer L. Stevenson (31). Robinson’s spiritual and personal imagery culminates in the line “The Holy Spirit dancing like MC Hammer.” The minimalist production, without the electronic beats and sampling, presents raw rhythm and storytelling.
All proceeds from the album benefit Parchman’s chaplain services, continuing the mission to support and uplift the prison community. By bringing these voices to a global audience, Another Mississippi Sunday Morning not only preserves their stories but also puts the emphasis on the redemptive power of music.
Track-listing:
- Parchman Prison Blues
- Open the Floodgates of Heaven
- Grace Will Lead Me On
- MC Hammer
- Po’ Child
- Take Me To the King
- Living Testimony
- I Shall Not Want
- I Won’t Complain
- God Is Keeping Me
- Talking About My Jesus
- Stand For You
- Jesus Will Never Say No
Buy Another Mississippi Sunday Morning.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.