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Allentown Jail
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Wikipedia article
"'Allentown Jail'" is a folk-style song, written by Irving Gordon.
Background
it tells the story of a man who is caught stealing a diamond for his girlfriend and ends up in the Allentown jail.
Recordings
*In 1951, Jo Stafford recorded this song. It was released as a single on Columbia Records.
*In 1960, Kathy Linden recorded it as her first single on Monument Records.
*The Kingston Trio recorded a version in 1962, as the song became popular in the folk scene. The trio had plans of releasing it as a single, but the single never came to fruition. Their version has since been released on various CD compilations of their works.
*In 1963, a more harmonic arrangement was performed by The Lettermen and released as a single. This version incurred some success, but only to a minor degree.
Other recordings
*Other artists who recorded this song include The Seekers, The Springfields, Billy Strange and British singers Lita Roza and Karen Young. There is also a French adaptation of the song, "Les prisons du roy", by Edith Piaf, which was later covered by Marianne Faithfull.
References
Category:1951 songs
Category:1960 singles
Category:1963 singles
Category:Songs written by Irving Gordon
Category:The Lettermen songs
Category:Jo Stafford songs
Category:Kathy Linden songs
Category:Capitol Records singles
Category:Monument Records singles
Category:Culture of Allentown, Pennsylvania
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