Christmas in Prison

This 73-minute music CD by the superb inmate acoustic guitar duo, Jailhouse Guitar Willie, features instrumental arrangements of favorite seasonal songs of prison inmates and those who have shown compassion towards them, including Chuck Colson of Prison Fellowship Ministries, Pat Nolan of Justice Fellowship, James Gondles of American Correctional Association, U.S. Congressman John Conyers Jr., U.S. Congressman Danny Davis, DC Mayor Anthony A. and Virginia Williams, DC Councilwoman Kathy Patterson, Reverend Bruce Bavinger, Rabbi Dennis Beck-Berman, Nadine Strossen of the American Civil Liberties Union, Julie Stewart and Laura Sager of Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Marc Mauer of The Sentencing Project, Nkechi Taifa of Open Society Institute, Helen Thorne of Prisons Foundation, Lionell Thomas and Jose Dominguez of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Terri Bishop of Community for Creative Nonviolence, and Donald Page and Antoinette Bridges of Mitch Snyder Arts and Education Center. This CD was produced by Lisa Missenda, who does background singing on the final track, “Christmas in Prison.”

Songs on the CD

1. Blue Christmas [Hayes-Johnson] 1:48
2. March of the Wooden Soldiers [Jessel] 1:59
3. I’ll Be Home for Christmas [Kent-Gannon] 2:52
4. Joy to the World [Mason-Watts] 1:46
5. The Christmas Song [Torme-Wells] 2:33
6. Hark! the Herald Angels Sing [Mendelsshohn-Wesley] 2:48
7. O Christmas Tree [Traditional] 1:46
8. Waltz of the Flowers (from Nutcracker Suite) [Tchaikovsky] 2:15
9. O Holy Night [Adam-Dwight] 3:10
10. Silver Bells [Evans-Livingston] 2:46
11. Ave Maria [Schubert] 2:37
12.Feliz Navidad [Feliciano] 2:33 
13. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas [Martin-Blane] 2:37
14. Light One Candle [Yarrow] 2:28
15. Ave Maria [Charles Gounod] 2:08
16. My Favorite Things [Rogers-Hammerstein] 2:36
17. Panis Angelicus [Franck] 4:03
18. Kwanzaa Harambe (Pulling Together) [Willie] 1:50
19. The Skaters Waltz [Waldteufel] 3:06
20. Silent Night [Gruber-Mohr] 3:21
21. White Christmas [Berlin] 3:30
22. Chanukah, O Chanukah [Traditional] 2:19
23. The Little Drummer Boy [Davis-Onorati-Simone] 3:36
24. O Come, O Come Emmanuel [Traditional] 2:19
25. The Holly and the Ivy [Traditional] 2:29
26. The Dreidl [Traditional] 1:58
27. Christmas in Prison [Prine] 5:42

Total Album Time  73:00


About Jailhouse Guitar Willie and the Prisons Foundation


Jailhouse Guitar Willie is an acoustic guitar duo consisting of Dennis Sobin and Steve Andrew. Even though Dennis was released from prison in 2003, while Steve remains there, their music lives. Dennis has vowed to continue to play and record on his own, pending the release of his friend and partner Steve. In this Christmas in Prison CD, Dennis recorded both his part and Steve’s. He has several other recording projects in the works in which he will similarly record both duet parts. Dennis currently serves as spokesperson for the Prisons Foundation, which seeks to reduce the length of incarceration for prisoners, change laws that incarcerate victimless offenders (like his partner Steve who got 14 years) and promote the arts and education behind bars.

Christmas in Prison We would appreciate your contribution in any amount. Contributors of $12 will receive a Christmas in Prison CD in standard card packaging, and contributors of $15.00 will receive a Christmas in Prison CD in delux jewel case (see photos below). These prices include free mailing anywhere in the U.S. You may order as many as you wish and they will be sent with a note saying you are the sender. Christmas in Prison (standard unillustrated cardboard packaging) Christmas in Prison (delux jewel case) Check order You can listen to six sample songs from Christmas in Prison !!

Or you may order (printable order form) your copy by sending a check, money order or purchase order (purchase orders are acceptable from established organizations only) to: Prisons Foundation 1600 K Street NW, Suite 501 Washington, DC 20006