Allentown Jail

Infobox Single
Name = Allentown Jail


Artist = The Lettermen
from Album =
B-side = "Two Brothers"
Released = 1963
Format = 7" single
Recorded =
Genre =
Length =
Label = Capitol
Writer = Irving Gordon
Producer =
Certification =
Last single = "Heartache Oh Heartache"
(1963)
This single = "Allentown Jail"
(1963)
Next single = "Where or When"
(1963)"Allentown Jail" is a folk 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.

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 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.