B-side "Two Brothers" Format 7" single Writer(s) Irving Gordon | Released 1963 Label Capitol | |
"Heartache Oh Heartache"
(1963) "Allentown Jail"
(1963) | ||
"Allentown Jail" is a folk-style song. Written by Irving Gordon, it tells the story of a man who is caught stealing a diamond for his girlfriend and ends up in the Allentown jail.
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 song became popular in the folk scene. The Kingston Trio recorded a version in 1962 with 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 artists who recorded this song include The Seekers, The Springfields (folk group of which Dusty Springfield was a member), 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.