View source for Riot in Cell Block Number 9

{{More citations needed|date=January 2019}}
{{Correct title|Riot in Cell Block #9|reason=#}}
{{Infobox song
| name       = Riot in Cell Block #9
| cover      =
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[The Robins]]
| album      =
| B-side     = Wrap It Up
| released   = [[1954 in music|1954]]
| format     =
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
| length     = {{Duration|m=3|s=02}}
| label      = [[Spark Records|Spark]]
| writer     = [[Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller]]
| producer   =
| prev_title = Key to My Heart
| prev_year  = 1954
| next_title = Loop De Loop Mambo
| next_year  = 1954
}}

"'''Riot in Cell Block #9'''" is a [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] song composed by [[Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller]] in 1954. The song was first recorded by [[The Robins]] the same year.<ref name="Palmer">{{cite book|title=Deep Blues|author=Robert Palmer|year=1982 |author-link=Robert Palmer (American writer)|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|page=[https://archive.org/details/deepblues00palm/page/167 167]|isbn=978-0-14-006223-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/deepblues00palm/page/167}}</ref> That recording was one of the first R&B hits to use sound effects and employed a [[Muddy Waters]] [[stop-time]] riff as the instrumental backing.<ref name="Palmer"/>

==Lyrics==
The song's setting takes place at a correctional facility. A man is serving his prison sentence for armed robbery. At 4:00 AM on July 2, 1953, he wakes up to an alarming disturbance; a jail riot. It started in cell block #4 and continued through the prison hall from cell to cell. The jailhouse warden, armed with a [[tommy gun]], threatens to [[Capital punishment|execute]] all the prisoners if the riot does not stop soon, but one of them, Scarface Jones, retaliates by carrying dynamite. Forty-seven hours later, 3:00 AM on July 4, 1953, the prison security let loose tear gas on the inmates and they return to their cells.

==Personnel==
* [[Richard Berry (musician)|Richard Berry]], lead vocals
* [[Mike Stoller]], piano
* [[Gil Bernal]], saxophone
* [[Barney Kessel]], guitar
* [[Ralph Hamilton]], bass
* [[Jesse Sailes]], drums<ref>''The Coasters: The Complete Singles As & Bs 1954-62'', Acrobat Licensing LTD., ADDCCD3180, 2016, UK</ref>

==Cover versions==
The song has been covered by many cross-genre artists such as [[The Grateful Dead]], [[Wanda Jackson]], [[Vicki Young (musician)|Vicki Young]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1295663-Vicki-Young-2|title=Vicki Young (2)|access-date=2 May 2022|website=Discogs.com}}</ref> [[Johnny Winter]], [[Dr. Feelgood (band)|Dr. Feelgood]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4873683-Dr-Feelgood-Riot-In-Cell-Block-No-9-Dont-Let-Your-Daddy-Know|title=Dr. Feelgood - Riot In Cell Block No. 9 / Don't Let Your Daddy Know|access-date=2 May 2022|website=Discogs.com|year=1975 }}</ref> [[The Blues Brothers]], [[Wee Willie Harris]], [[Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen]], [[Johnny Cash]], and [[Flat Duo Jets]].

[[The Beach Boys]] reworked the song as "[[Student Demonstration Time]]" for the 1971 album ''[[Surf's Up (album)|Surf's Up]]''. The Beach Boys originally covered the song for their 1965 album, ''[[Beach Boys' Party!]]'', but it was never officially released until two versions appeared on the 2015 compilation ''[[Beach Boys' Party! Uncovered and Unplugged]]''.

It was also translated and performed in French by [[Michel Pagliaro]] as "Émeute dans la Prison" (Riot in the Prison). In his version it was July 13, 1968, at 4:00 am and originated in cell block #3. It was later covered by [[Éric Lapointe (singer)|Éric Lapointe]].

==See also==
* ''[[Riot in Cell Block 11]],'' a 1954 film

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Wanda Jackson}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riot in Cell Block Number 9}}
[[Category:1954 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller]]
[[Category:Wanda Jackson songs]]
[[Category:Rhythm and blues songs]]
[[Category:Songs about prison]]
[[Category:The Blues Brothers songs]]

{{1950s-R&B-song-stub}}