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In The Jailhouse Now
Composer: Traditional / Jimmie Rodgers

In The Jailhouse Now was performed by Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions in 1964.

In The Jailhouse Now is usually attributed to Jimmie Rodgers but his version of the song is an arrangement of an earlier song. Jailhouse Blues recorded by Whistler's Jug Band in 1924 is clearly a forerunner of the Rodgers song and itself is probably an arrangement of earlier vaudeville or minstrel show songs. Contemporary newspapers describe a duo called Marshall and Davis singing a song called He's In the Jail House Now in Philidelphia in 1919.

The song occurs on recordings with a number of titles including In The Jailhouse, In The Jailhouse Now, He's In The Jailhouse Now, I'm In The Jailhouse Now and She's In The Graveyard Now. The song lyrics often vary.

Jimmie Rodgers recorded the song in February 1928 and recorded a sequel, In The JailHouse Now, No. 2, two years later. The majority of post-1920's recordings of the song are based on the Jimmie Rodgers version.

The Webb Pierce recording of the song topped the Country charts in 1955.



Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions

info Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, 1998

Other recordings

no info Single (Jail House Blues / I'm A Jazz Baby), Whistler's Jug Band, 1924 (Gennett)
no info Single (She's In The Graveyard Now/She Won't Quit But She'll Slow Down), Earl McDonald's Original Louisville Jug Band, 1927 (Columbia)
no info Single (He's In The Jailhouse Now / Southern Rag), Blind Blake, 1927 (Paramount)
no info Single (He's In The Jailhouse / Southern Rag), Blind George Martin, 1927 (Broadway) (same tracks as as Blind Blake)
no info Single (He's In The Jailhouse Now / Old Dog Blue), Jim Jackson, 1928 (Vocalion)
no info Single (Ben Dew Berry's Final Run / In The Jailhouse Now No 1), Jimmie Rodgers, 1928
no info Single (Away Out On The Mountain / In The Jailhouse Now), Frankie Marvin, 1928
no info Single (Ben Dew Berry's Final Run / In The Jailhouse Now No 1), Frankie Marvin & His Guitar, 1928
no info Single (Oklahoma Blues / In The Jailhouse Now), Hobo Jack Turner, 1929
no info Single (Frankie and Johnny / In The Jailhouse Now), The Arkansas Woodchoppers, 1929
no info Single (In The Jailhouse Now / Frankie and Johnny), The West Virginia Rail Splitters, 1929
no info Single (I'm In The Jailhouse Now / Rich Man Poor Man), Boyd Senter & His Senterpedes, 1929
no info Single (Singing The Blues With My Old Guitar / In The Jailhouse Now), Bill Bruner, 1929
no info Single (He's In The Jailhouse Now / Round And Round), Memphis Sheiks (aka Memphis Jug Band), 1930 (Victor)
no info Single (Yodeling Hobo / He's In The Jailhouse Now), Gene Autry, 1930
no info Single (I Never See Maggie Alone / In The Jailhouse Now), Billy Mitchell, 1936
no info Single (In The Jailhouse Now / I Don't Believe It), Tommy Duncan, 1949
no info Single (In The Jailhouse Now / Last Waltz), Webb Pierce, 1951
no info Travelin' Blues, Jimmie Rodgers, 1952
no info Single (In The Jailhouse Now / I'm Gonna Fall Out Of Love With You), Webb Pierce, 1954
no info EP, Webb Pierce, 1955
no info Webb Pierce Singing With Instrumental Accompaniment, Webb Pierce, 1955
info Webb with a Beat!, Webb Pierce, 1960
info Sings Jimmie Rodgers Favorites, Obray Ramsey, 1961
info American Street Songs, Pink Anderson and Rev. Gary Davis, 1961
no info Sound of Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash, 1962
no info Single (In The Jailhouse Now / Little At A Time), Johnny Cash, 1962
no info Medicine Show Man, Vol. 2, Pink Anderson, 1962
info American Folk Ballads, Logan English, 1962
info Sings Woody Guthrie & Jimmie Rodgers, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, 1962
no info Short But Brilliant Life of Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmie Rodgers, 1963
info Songs of Mark Spoelstra with Twelve-String Guitar, Mark Spoelstra, 1963
no info Star of the Grand Ole Opry, Cowboy Copas, 1963
no info Prisoners Songs, Various Artists (Cowboy Copas), 1963
info The Webb Pierce Story, Webb Pierce, 1964
info Hits From The Country Hall Of Fame, Floyd Cramer, 1965
no info Another Story, Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadors, 1967
no info Single (In The Jailhouse Now / Yesterday's Winner Is A Loser Today), Ernest Tubb & The Texas Troubadors, 1967
info Jump for Joy, Jim Kweskin with Ted Butterman, Marty Gross and The Neo-Passé Jazz Band, 1967
info Greatest Hits, Webb Pierce, 1968
no info American Folk Ballads, Various Artists (Logan English), 196?
no info The World of Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash, 1970
no info This Is Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmie Rodgers, 1972
info The Jimmie Rodgers Story, Hank Snow, 1972
no info Five Feet High and Rising, Johnny Cash, 1974
no info Single (Back Street Affair / In The Jailhouse Now), Webb Pierce, 1974
info Memories, Doc Watson, 1975
no info Git-Fiddle Shuffle, Roy Bookbinder and Fats Kaplan, 1975
info Singer of Old Songs, Michael Cooney, 1975
no info The Tracker, The Sir Douglas Quintet, 1976
no info In Prison, In Person, Sonny James, 1977
no info Single (In The Jailhouse Now / Amazing Grace), Sonny James, 1977
no info Legendary Performer, Jimmie Rodgers, 1977
info Love Rustler, Delbert McClinton, 1977
no info Guy Clark, Guy Clark, 1978
no info Best Loved Favorites, Boxcar Willie, 1979
no info Small Change, Prism, 1981
no info In The Jailhouse Now, Willie Nelson/Webb Pierce, 1982
info King of the Dobro, Josh Graves, 1982
info Way Out on the Mountain: Jimmie Rodgers Songs, Bud Reed, 1982
no info Deep in the Bottom, John Jackson, 1983
no info Country Classics, Charley Pride, 1983
no info Who Drank My Beer?, Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan, 1983
info Carolina Medicine Show Hokum and Blues, Pink Anderson with Baby Tate, 1984
no info I Ain't Never, Webb Pierce, 1984
info Gospel, Blues and Street Songs, Pink Anderson and Rev. Gary Davis, 1987
no info Honky Tonkin', Delbert McClinton, 1987
no info Dad of the Dobro Man, Josh Graves, 1988
no info Country U.S.A.: 1962, Various Artists (Johnny Cash), 1988
no info Live at New River Ranch, Louvin Brothers, 1989
no info You and My Old Guitar, Jimmie Rodgers, 1989
no info Shades of the Past, Hot Rize, 1989
no info Best Loved Favorites, Boxcar Willie, 1989
no info 'Til the Cows Come Home/Cowboy Rhythm, Randy Erwin, 1989
no info American Originals, Sonny James, 1989
no info Salute to Country Classics, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1989
no info Ashes in My Whiskey, Ray & Glover, 1990
no info Shades of the Past, Red Knuckles and The Trailblazers, 1990
no info First Sessions, 1927-28, Jimmie Rodgers, 1990
info Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 3: 1930, Memphis Jug Band, 1990
no info Wondering Boy, 1951-1958, Webb Pierce, 1990
no info Country Music Hall of Fame, 101 Strings Orchestra, 1990
no info Country USA: 1955, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1990
no info Rockin' Rollin' Country Hits, Various Artists (Sonny James), 1990
info The Man in Black: 1959-1962, Johnny Cash, 1991
info Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 2: 1927-1928, Blind Blake, 1991
info Complete Recorded Works, Vol. 1: 1927-1928, Jim Jackson, 1992
info The Singing Brakeman (Box set), Jimmie Rodgers, 1992
no info Classic Country, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1992
no info 1950-55, Vol. 15, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1993
no info Simpatico, Suzy Bogguss, 1994
no info King of the Honky-Tonk: From the Origin, Webb Pierce, 1994
info Live Book, Don't Start Me Talkin, Roy Book Binder, 1994
no info The Unavailable Sides, 1950-51, Webb Pierce, 1994
info Sings Woody Guthrie And Jimmie Rodgers And Cowboy Songs, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, 1994
no info Live!, Leon Redbone, 1994
no info 20 Award Winning Country Superstars, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1994
no info Clifford Hayes & the Louisville Jug Bands, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Whistler's Jug Band), 1994
no info The Best Of, Blind Blake, 1995
info Hank Wilson's Back, Leon Russell, 1995 (CD bonus track)
no info Revolutions of Time, The Journey 1975-1993, Willie Nelson, 1995
no info The Singing Ranger, Vol. 4, Hank Snow, 1995
no info Craftsmen, Guy Clark, 1995
no info Kings of Country Music, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1995
no info Country Favorites, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1995
no info Only Country 1955-1959, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1995
no info Through the Years '50s, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1995
no info Country Hits of the 50's, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1995
no info Rare Jazz & Blues Piano, 1927-37, Various Artists (Billy Mitchell), 1995
info Gimme Shelter: The Best of Leon Russell, Leon Russell, 1996
no info Texas Moon, Tommy Duncan, 1996
no info 1923-1931, Red Nicholls, 1996
no info Boyd Senter, Boyd Senter, 1996
no info Trains on the Highway, Various Artists (Memphis Jug Band), 1996
no info Great Classic Blues Singers, Various Artists (Blind Blake), 1996
no info Master of Ragtime Guitar: The Essential Recordings, Blind Blake, 1996
no info Rockin' on the Radio, Sid King, 1996
no info Blues Singer 1929-1931, Gene Auty, 1996
no info Jazzologist Supreme, Boyd Senter, 1996
no info Essential Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmie Rodgers, 1997
info Songs of Jimmie Rodgers: A Tribute, Various Artists (Steve Earle), 1997
info The Very Best of Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmie Rodgers, 1998
info Memphis Jug Band, Vol. 3, Memphis Jug Band, 1998
info Ruckus Juice & Chitlins, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Earl McDonald's Original Louisville Jug Band), 1998
info From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music, Various Artists (Memphis Sheiks), 1998
no info Very Best of Country, Various Artists (Boxcar Willie), 1998
no info Male Country Classics, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1998
no info Ruckus Juice & Chitlins, Vol. 2: The Great Jug Bands, Various Artists (Memphis Jug Band), 1998
no info Live & Kickin', Leon Redbone, 1999
no info Country Blues & Ditties, John Jackson, 1999
no info Live from the Lonestar Cafe, Ernest Tubbs, 1999
no info 20 Greatest Movie Hits, Gene Autry, 1999
info Another Story, Ernest Tubb & His Texas Troubadors, 1999
no info I Like That Alligator Baby, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, 1999
no info Crazy Cajun Recordings, Sir Douglas Quintet, 1999
no info 16 Biggest Hits, Johnny Cash, 1999
no info Live New Years Eve 1979, Ernest Tubbs, 1999
no info Straight Outta Boone Country, Various Artists (Grievous Angels), 1999
no info Bouquet Of Country, Various Artists (Sir Douglas Quintet), 1999
no info Classic Country: Honky Tonkin' 1952-1957, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 1999
no info Wondering Boy: The King of 50's Country, Webb Pierce, 2000
no info Seven Decades, Hank Thompson, 2000
no info Sing the Hits of Webb Pierce, True Brothers, 2000
no info In the Jail House/Brand on My Heart, Willie Nelson, 2000
no info Country Superstars Biggest Hits: Johnny Cash/Willie Nelson/George Jones, 2000
info Genuine Rhythm & the Blues, Delbert McClinton, 2000
no info Best of the Sir Douglas Quintet, Sir Douglas Quintet, 2000
no info Singing Brakeman, Jimmie Rodgers, 2000
no info Prison Blues, Various Artists (Jim Jackson), 2000
info The Memphis Jug Band Story: 1927-1934, Memphis Jug Band, 2000
no info Honky Tonk Songs: 22 Country Hits, Webb Pierce, 2000
no info Country Music Hall of Fame: 1961, Jimmie Rodgers, 2000
no info 20th Anniversary: Live!, Tom Ball & Kenny Sultan, 2000
no info Wizard Oil, Paul Dandy, 2000
no info American Roots: 20 Vintage Recordings From The USA, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2000
no info As Good as It Gets: Hillbilly, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2000
no info Sun Records Country Legends, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2000
no info O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack, Various Artists (Soggy Bottom Boys), 2000
no info 20th Century Masters, The Millennium Collection, Webb Pierce, 2001
info The Essential Memphis Jug Band, Memphis Jug Band, 2001
info The Best Of, The Memphis Jug Band, 2001
no info Country Classics, Vol. 2, Suzy Bogguss, 2001
no info Jimmie Rodgers, Jimmie Rodgers, 2001
no info Brakeman's Blues, Jimmie Rodgers, 2001
info Jealous Kind/Plain from the Heart, Delbert McClinton, 2001
no info Southbound, Blind Blake, 2001
no info Blue Yodel: The Recorded Legacy, Jimmie Rodgers, 2001
no info 200 Years of Country Music/In Prison, In Person, Sonny James, 2001
no info Famous Country Music Makers, Webb Pierce, 2001
no info Early Yodelling Years, Gene Auty, 2001
no info Small Change/Beat Street, Prism, 2001
no info Country Blue Jeans, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2001
no info Amazing Country Party, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2001
no info Best of Sun Country: 50th Anniversary Edition, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2001
no info Empire Ultimate, Various Artists (Soggy Bottom Boys), 2001
info Recordings 1927-1933, Jimmie Rodgers, 2002
no info The Essential, Blind Blake, 2002
no info Standing on the Corner, Jimmie Rodgers, 2002
no info 20 Greatest Hits, Suzy Bogguss, 2002
no info The Complete Columbia & Monument Hits, Sonny James, 2002
no info Honky Tonk to Country Boogie: The Decca Recordings 1951-1959, Webb Pierce, 2002
no info Precious Seconds, Mose Scarlett, 2002
no info The Masters, Charley Pride, 2002
no info Bona Fide: Bluegrass & Mountain Music, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2002
no info I'm a Man of Constant Sorrow, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2002
no info #1 Country Legendary Hits, Vol. 1, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2002
no info Caught in the Webb: A Tribute to the Legendary Webb Pierce, Various Artists (Dale Watson), 2002
info American Roots: The Essential Album, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2002
info He's in the Jailhouse Now, Memphis Jug Band, 2003
no info All the Published Sides, Blind Blake, 2003
no info Honky-Tonk Hero, Webb Pierce, 2003
no info Greatest American Folk Songs: In the Tradition of Bluegrass, Blue Ridge Mountaineers, 2003
no info Home Recordings: Americana, Jim Croce, 2003
no info I Walk the Line, Johnny Cash, 2003
no info Century of the Blues: The Definitve Country Blues Collection, Various Artists (Memphis Jug Band), 2003
no info Country Roots, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2003
no info The Great Tomato Singer Songwriter Collection, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2003
no info I Am Sad and Weary: Jimmy Rodgers Revisited, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2003
no info Cow Hear This, Vol. 2, Various Artists (Dale Watson), 2003
info Texas Outlaws, Various Artists (Dale Watson), 2003
no info Groovie Boogie Woogie Boy: A Proper Introduction to, Webb Pierce, 2004
info When the Sun Goes Down, Vol. 10: East Virginia Blues, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2004
info Under the Influence: Bob Geldof, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2004
info Oh Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, Various Artists (Ralph Smith), 2004
info Memphis Jug Band / Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers (Box set), 2005
info The Legend, Johnny Cash, 2005
no info The Legend, Johnny Cash, 2005
no info King of Honky Tonk, Webb Pierce, 2005
no info All American Country, Jimmie Rodgers, 2005
no info Hard West, The Border Band, 2005
no info 15 Classic Blues Songs From the 1920's, Vol. 1, Various Artists, 2005
no info Maverick Country: The Definitive Real Country Collection, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2005
no info Penitentiary Blues: Songs to Do Hard Time By, Various Artists (Jim Jackson), 2005
no info Classic Country: Kings of Country, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2005
no info Ultimate 16: Country Legends, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2005
no info In a Texas Honky Tonk, Various Artists (Hank Thompson), 2005
info Good for What Ails You, Various Artists (Memphis Sheiks), 2005
info The Singing Brakeman, Jimmie Rodgers, 2006
no info Country Music Legends, Jimmie Rodgers, 2006
info The Journey: Recordings 1965-2006, Ralph McTell, 2006
info Red Rocking Chair, Breakin' Nu Ground, 2006
no info What's in a Name, Grass Backwards, 2006
no info Complete 4 Star/Pacemaker Recordings, Webb Pierce, 2006
no info Country Music Legends, Webb Pierce, 2006
no info Tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, Billy Walker, 2006
no info Seriously Unserious, The Seriously Unserious Trio, 2006
no info All American Country, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2006
no info Johnny Cash: Roots & Branches, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2006
no info Pre-War Country, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2006
no info Country Hit Parade: Outlaw Prison: Most Wanted Hits, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2006
no info Greatest Country Hits of 1955, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2006
no info The Legendary Sounds of Sun Studios, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2006
info Johnny Cash: Roots & Branches, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2006
no info More and More: The Wondering Boy, Webb Pierce, 2007
no info Street Singer, Born 1875, Cowboy Roy Brown, 2007
no info Real Country, Mike Anderson, 2007
no info Banged Up: American Jailhouse Songs 1920's to 1950's, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2007
no info Pioneers of Country, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2007
no info Country No. 1 Hits, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2007
no info 20 Great Country Classics, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2007
no info Country Number Ones 25 Chart-Toppers, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2007
no info 20 Redneck Country Hits, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2007
no info 18 Greatest: Outlaw Country, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2007
no info The Wild Side of Country, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2007
info HighTone Records Anthology: Rockin From The Roots, Various Artists (Hank Thompson), 2007
info A Richer Tradition: Country Blues and String Band Music 1923-1942, Various Artists (Whistler & His Jug Band), 2007
no info The Great Songs of Webb Pierce, Webb Pierce, 2008
no info High Geared Daddy, Webb Pierce, 2008
no info One Hell of a Ride, Willie Nelson, 2008
no info The Platinum Collection, Guy Clark, 2008
no info Spaghetti Western, Sfuzzi East/West, 2008
no info Lean Me Up Against the Jukebox When I Die, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2008
no info Rawhide Country Greats, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2008
info Let Me Be Your Side Track: The Influence of Jimmy Rogers, Various Artists (4 versions), 2008
info The Roots of the Grateful Dead, Various Artists (Jimmie Rodgers), 2008
no info Complete Singles 1964-1966, The Sir Douglas Quintet, 2009
no info Eddy King Sings Jimmie Rodgers Great Hits, Eddy King, 2009
no info Country's Greatest Stars Live Vol. 1, Various Artists (Ernet Tubb), 2009
no info Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Hillbilly Music: 1955, Various Artists (Webb Pierce), 2009
info Live In Kansas 1986, Hot Rize / Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers, 2010
info Live In Watsonville, Doc & Dawg, 2014

 
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