The Prisoners

Hailing from Kent's Medway Valley in the UK, the band blended mod sensibilities with a 1960s revival aesthetic. Its founding lineup consisted of chief songwriter Graham Day on guitar and vocals, Allan Crockford on bass, James Taylor on Hammond organ, and Johnny Symons on drums; the group surfaced in 1982 via the raw, energetic debut A Taste Of Pink, issued on its own Own Up imprint. A subsequent deal with Big Beat, the Ace Records offshoot, produced 1983's The Wisermiserdemelza, a more relaxed and reflective set that spanned vigorous 1960s-styled rock on the single “Hurricane” and gentler ballads. The 1984 EP Electric Fit arrived next, highlighted by the standout track “Melanie.” Television exposure on The Tube alongside fellow Big Beat acts led to the compilation EP Four On Four: Trash On The Tube, which included the Prisoners' powerful contribution “Reaching My Head.”

Dissatisfied with the production of their second album, the group reverted to Own Up for 1985's The Last Fourfathers, whose rougher edges yielded a more developed collection. This effort earned a contract with Stiff Records/Countdown, yet tensions with the label surfaced immediately. Though In From The Cold proved strong, its poppier and more polished tone diverged from the band's vision; preceded by the re-recorded “Whenever I’m Gone” from The Last Fourfathers, the album received scant promotion, prompting the members to disband soon after.

Two live albums recorded jointly with the Milkshakes appeared, along with a full album of unreleased material. James Taylor later established the James Taylor Quartet, initially echoing Booker T. Jones before shifting toward rare-groove leanings. Allan Crockford spent time in that project, then rejoined Graham Day—fresh from a stint in Thee Mighty Caesars, the Milkshakes offshoot—to form the Prime Movers. The Prisoners' approach left a clear mark on several early-1990s Manchester acts, among them the Charlatans and the Inspiral Carpets, both of which employed the Hammond organ to drive their quasi-psychedelic pop. A short-lived reunion in 1997 produced one new single.