Album Review: Parchman Prison Prayer - Another Mississippi Sunday Morning


Parchman Prison Prayer: Some Mississippi Sunday Morning (2023) offered a powerful glimpse into the rich gospel traditions of Mississippi, recorded live at the infamous Parchman Prison. Produced by Grammy-winner Ian Brennan, the album showcased raw, emotive performances, from intimate a cappella solos to vibrant full-band arrangements. The voices of incarcerated talents such as L. Stevenson, M. Kyles, and the Parchman Prison Choir led by C.S. Deloch gave the collection its soul-stirring impact.

Building on that foundation, Brennan returned to Parchman in early 2024 to produce Parchman Prison Prayer: Another Mississippi Sunday Morning, a second chapter in this remarkable series. The new album features 12 incarcerated men, aged 23 to 74, including three serving life sentences and six participants who were not part of the first recording.

The sessions, conducted without the presence of guards or chaplains, were recorded live in single takes with no overdubs. The result is a deeply intimate collection of gospel, blues, and even hip hop-inspired performances that resonate with raw emotion and authenticity. While some may argue the sequel closely mirrors its predecessor, these impassioned interpretations of traditional gospel tunes lose none of their impact.

Each song carries a sense of profound intent, as the performers draw from lived experiences to bring the music to life. The spiritual weight of their voices transcends religious boundaries, offering a universal message of resilience and redemption.

Parchman Prison Prayer: Another Mississippi Sunday Morning is the continuation of a story worth hearing—one where music becomes a beacon of hope in the darkest of places.