Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, and other artists contribute to the benefit album Better Than Jail, in support of criminal justice reform in the USA.
By Marco Aarden
Bonnie Raitt is one of many artists contributing to the benefit album Better Than Jail, aimed at raising awareness and support for improving the criminal justice system.
The album, set to release on October 4th, features covers of iconic prison songs. Other contributing artists include Steve Earle, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Lukas Nelson, Raul Malo, Margo Price, Old Crow Medicine Show, Taj Mahal, and The War and Treaty.
The first single from the album, Earle’s cover of The Crickets’ classic “I Fought the Law”, is now available on digital platforms.
“I didn’t get my first electric guitar until I was 26,” Earle shares. “This was the first song I wanted to play. Covering it now for a cause so close to my heart is a gift.”
Proceeds from the album will benefit two organizations: Equal Justice USA and Free Hearts.
“Musicians have been singing about the shortcomings of our justice system long before the U.S. became the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world,” shares Brian Hunt, producer of Better Than Jail and president of Believe Entertainment Group. “These iconic artists are breathing new life into well-known songs and supporting organizations tackling this issue head-on. We need to do more to improve our criminal justice system, and this album harnesses the transformative power of music to amplify the call for change.”
