Recorded in three sessions in April 1969 at A&R Studios in New York, The Prisoner is Herbie Hancock's eighth album as a leader and the last he recorded for Blue Note before moving to Warner Bros. The album features a large ensemble including musicians such as Joe Henderson on tenor sax, Johnny Coles on trumpet, Garnett Brown on trombone, and Hubert Laws on flute, among others.
The album is a concept album dedicated to the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights activists, reflecting the social and political climate of the late 1960s. The music combines modal jazz, funk, and elements of classical music, with compositions like 'The Prisoner' and 'Firewater' showcasing Hancock's growing sophistication as a composer and arranger.
Although not an immediate commercial success, The Prisoner is considered a bridge between Hancock's acoustic period on Blue Note and his later foray into jazz fusion with the Mwandishi group. The album cover, designed by Bob Cato, features a photograph of a prison alluding to the theme of racial injustice.