At Folsom Prison

One of my favs and I've listened to this so many times, I'm not even a big country fan but love this, even playing in a prison the whole band just sounds so good and the track selection just works as a cohesive piece, after hearing this album it got me into checking out some of his later albums when he worked with Rick Rubin which I also like

mommmmmm! johnny cash is performing in a prison again!

Anyone who doesn't give this a 5 is wrong.

A great storyteller through a rich dark voice. It's nice to have the imperfections and see the human element throughout his performance at Folsom. 5/5

“ SUEY!” In January of 1968 The Man In Black along with June Carter, Carl and Luther Perkins, The Statler Brothers, and others, gave the inmates at Folsom Prison one of the best live performances the world has seen. Johnny Cash, “You sure was a hammer-swinger!”

I actually loved how soulful this album was. Light hearted but heart felt. And it was so easy to hear the sincerity in Johnny Cash’s resounding voice.

Nice to see Johnny having a laugh

fun vibe not my style

I cant say anything that hasnt already been said a billion time really, its good. Love how important the audience was during the live album. Its makes for a more unique experience. I usualy dont like country but this is a 4/5

Classic

A great live album from Johnny Cash. He wrote songs for these guys. He knew what songs would resonate with them. Folsom Prison Blues is a classic. His interaction with the crowd just classic. He knew how to play to play to the crowd. This would be his comeback and an important moment in his career.

A solid live release from Jonny Cash, but I much prefer the San Quenten release because of its more chaotic and dramatic atmosphere. If you had to listen to one, you'd listen to the other.

Cash was at his commercial lowest when Columbia agreed to record a concert inside a California prison, a last shot at relevance that became one of the defining moments in American music. The audience is the other performer here. Convicted felons hearing songs about murder, trains, and hard luck respond with a recognition no concert hall could replicate, and when the room erupts at “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die,” something genuinely electric is happening on tape. “Folsom Prison Blues” opens with that guitar figure and never looks back. “Jackson” with June Carter Cash is the warmth in the middle of the darkness. “25 Minutes to Go” shows his gift for inhabiting a character completely, gallows humor and all. “Cocaine Blues” closes the set with the crowd losing their minds. Cash wasn’t a virtuoso, and that is the point. He could write a hell of a song and he knew how to make people feel something as well as anyone who ever stood at a microphone. Tough but tender, the real deal. At San Quentin earned a five here, and the two are companion pieces. Folsom is the one that saved his career and started the whole conversation. Not even a debate. The only regret is never seeing him live.

Didn't really match me im not a big fan of his genre and 60s music, but i don't mind it as like a background music for quality time

I love all the banter and audience interaction, you can really feel the energy in the room. The music is very good, with some great individual songs, but the interruptions and live energy are what really make it a special album.

This was really great. I’m a sucker for these live albums, they’ve got such an awesome sound to them. Johnny cash’s voice is very soothing.

Good country vibes as expected from Johnny cash. Very enjoyable if in the correct mood.

Maybe the only live album that I think needs to be included in this list. Probably the best there is. Truly a classic

Not the best live recording but given the locale, the production qualities is why I knocked it down a star

great

A wonderful album that showcases Cash’s humor and lyricism. His interactions with the crowd of prisoners helps tie together the songs into a cohesive mood.

Driving along on a cold but sunny afternoon, under not one but TWO rainbows, listening to Johnny Cash making a crowd of inmates laugh with Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart, I was briefly so happy I started crying. Send help because there might be something wrong with me! 25 Minutes to Go is probably my favourite on here – the second best (but #1 funniest) execution song after the Bad Seeds' The Mercy Seat, which Cash would later cover. Pearl Jam have a version of 25 Minutes that's worth checking out, too, on their wonderful acoustic album Live at Benaroya Hall.

Well I'm surprised. After the last abysmal Johnny Cash album heard from this list (now correctly removed from the book anyway) I fully expected to hate this one. As it's also a live recording which always sit second best to studio albums for me I thought I might just about be able to offer 1 star for this. If I say that I was jealous of the inmates being at this one then that may illustrate how wrong I was! I really enjoyed it. A lot of fun and even comical tracks like Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart as well as the more poignant Give My Love to Rose. Heard this straight through twice and will definitely be coming back to it again. Would just like to know what the memento was he was given at the end of the gig though?

J Cash loves being in a prison! Im not sure how I feel about a man singing about killing a woman to a bunch of prisoners but hey ho. I dont really agree with live albums being on this list but to be honest this was great and I was happy to listen to it. J Cash is such a good storyteller and I enjoyed the banter and laughter within the tracks - as well as the prisoners hollering and cheering. June was a brave woman!

This is a great recording - I love that they've kept all the (excellent) banter in, and even the warden calling a few dudes to reception! Johnny Cash just seems so effortlessly cool and everyone's having a great time... maybe too much of a great time when the inmates reserve their biggest whoopin' and hollerin' for the song where Cash sings about blowing his wife's face off with a shotgun.

Enjoyed the album. Particularly like the long black veil but prefer the non live version. Really good storyteller and lovely the super deep vocals. Live set not really for me and not my favourite genre. Would listen to a few songs again here and there but not the whole album again.

I do like some Johnny Cash songs but have never listened to one of his albums. Also, I am not a fan of live albums so this one may have an uphill climb to get a good rating from me. "Folsom Prison Blues": Great opener for a show at Folsom prison. + "Dark as the Dungeon": Song was slow but crowd interaction was great + "I Still Miss Someone": This one missed me - "Cocaine Blues": Weird feeling to hear prisoners cheer on the killing of a woman. - "25 Minutes to Go": Great story song. + "Orange Blossom Special": Fun drumming, didn't care for the harmonica bits - "The Long Black Veil": I liked this one although the crowd interaction broke the mood of the dark song + "Send a Picture of Mother": A sad, heartfelt songs about imprisonment. I liked it. + "The Wall": Short but good story. + "Dirty Old Egg-Suckin Dog": A song about shooting a poorly trained dog. - "Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart": Clever writing on this one. Humorous + "Jackson": Fun song with June Carter + "Give My Love to Rose": Did get into this one - "I Got Stripes": Ok, a bit repetitive though - "Green, Green Grass of Home": The nostalgia of youth and freedom wrapped into a country song. + "Greystone Chapel": This one fell short for me too - Songs add to playlist: Folsom Prison Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Send a Picture of Mother, The Wall; Green, Green Grass of Home The idea behind the recording of this album and the execution of it were very original and ground-breaking. Cash put together a set list tailored for this audience and gave them a bit of happiness in their dreary situation, even if it was for a brief moment in time. However, I only enjoyed half the songs on this album which precipitates into a 3-star rating. Decent album.

6,50/10 Buen album, increíble la voz. No son malas las canciones pero me falto algo, muy bueno que sea en vivo y vaya hablando entre medio de cada canción

Not sure why we need this and San Quentin but the Cash prison albums are both pretty good at least. My review for the other album was that Cash is one of the few exceptions to country music sucking ass, and that still holds true here. Man is a brilliant storyteller. Folsom Prison Blues and Cocaine Blues are both incredible. It's also not just the music, Cash clearly had a stage presence and respect for the crowd, which absolutely come across throughout the album.. Easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

incredible album, i love all the little interludes, the cheers and hoots from the audience, it adds so much to what would be a brilliant album anyway - loved it :)

Someone else on this site put that anyone who doesn't give this album 5 stars is wrong. They're probably right. I still didn't give this album 5 stars but you know, I felt bad about not liking it even more

This album is all about the atmosphere. The prison speaker, the inmates cheering at all the unsavory characters in these songs, and Cash's stage banter really make you feel like you're at this performance. Cash having the guts to sing "far from Folsom Prison, that's were I'd want to stay" in front of a bunch of men who may never leave it is haunting. As a live recording, this is great. Which is good, because the songs are just fine. "Folsom Prison Blues" is amazing, as are the vocals - especially the emotive ones on "25 Minutes To Go." The duets are a treat. But a lot of the rest is just pretty good country music, no frills and sometimes corny, like on the humorous songs in the middle. Which is what the audience wanted to hear, I'm sure. It just makes this more of a historical document than a moving listen.

Listened to this many years ago. Still think it's a great live album.

A lot of exposure to Johnny Cash to start, and I'm really enjoying. More than I expected. The record being live performances is also very enjoyable

Пиздато че порофлил надобавлял почти весь альбом

This is my first time listening to a Johnny Cash Album start to finish and I dont love love it cause i dont like the weird songs about him killing his dog or the song about someone getting hung and have 25 seconds until it happens but i love the song with his wife.

he has a good deep voice

Not much variety.

Love this!

If there were only one live album on this list, it would be "At Folsom Prison". It's almost impossible to make a live album that good. Somehow, Cash managed to do it. Every song on "At Folsom Prison" was simply great. Let's hope that someday someone will record a live album that's just as fantastic. 5 stars for "At Folsom Prison".

I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. It was a little long, no real change to the beat or rhythm, vocals sound the same, but the combination of location and subject matter made it an interesting listen. 4 stars

No to tak, bo mam kilka przemyśleń. Po pierwsze: biografia/pamiętniki Johnny'ego są dla mnie dużo ciekawsze niż jego muzyka. Dalej, żeby nie było, że tak się czepiam już o tych muzyków nie swojej generacji i spoza moich zainteresowań: bardzo dobre nagranie występu na żywo, widać że ktoś tu się z tego grania naprawdę cieszył.

Its a fine album. Lacks somehow the energy and fuck the man feel if the San Quentin album. The calls to the office are pretty funny. As far as cou try albums go, it’s OK. Band a bit limited, no pedal steel, no fiddle. More a rockabilly album than a country album perhaps. Fine enough just the same and Johnny’s boice and energy carry the stripped back sound well. Guitarist is super good also.

Good live album from Johnny

Очень приятный альбом с фантастической работой с аудиторией. Тф как будто сам побывал на это клнцерте,пока послушал

Yeah, this is a great album, and the energy was all there. Funny and entertaining, he is an awesome songwriter and an even better storyteller. I think it's funny that Metallica thought they could catch this lightning in a bottle with their st Anger album - lol

I enjoyed this one, a bit more than the previous 'Johnny Cash sings in a prison' album - but I don't think they're different enough to both be deserving of being on this list. Trying to put my grumpiness aside, I usually don't enjoy live albums, but I think I'd add this to my exception list. It feels so in-tune and conversational with the audience which I really enjoyed, seems like Cash was a real performer.

I feel like personally I have fallen victim for the general repugnance society and cultural critics seem to have for this time period in America. General discourse seems to have gone from Cash being a respected musical figure to kind of like an overrated hack based on albums like American IV (which I stand by as sucking ass, could be Rick RUbin the fat fraud's fault). Regardless and digressions aside i put this on today ready to have an opinion but quickly taken in after Folsom Prison Blues ended by the energy this record captures of positivity and humanity. Cash shines as a natural showman and entertainer, veering almost into children's host sing along hour at points. He has the prisoners joyful and having fun when he says a CUSS. Honestly it reminded me a little of my own time in the psych ward. It reminded me that even if you commit a crime or are in a low point you deserve to have something to look forward to. It reminded me of that feeling of wanting desperately to go home and having nowhere to run to. In this case, I feel like as an act of humanity and good will this album is amazing. On top of that his voice sounds so smooth and good here.

Only good country I’ve ever heard so far out of 600 or so albums that I’ve heard on my own. Good start to my 1001 album journey!

Great album and you can really feel the Prison Audience as Cash plays

I liked! Certainly not my kind of music, but the songs he did play I liked and the interaction with the prisoners was really cool.

Fantastic. I’ve bumped this up a star for how humanising the little conversations are throughout it. Cash has such a brilliant voice and is such a gifted lyricist. The released tension from all the prisoners watching him is so gripping. Songs are just slightly too repetitive to warrant a 5

Awesome as always

The most epic of live albums

A soundtrack built for the audience. Great storytelling

Veldig kul historie

Always forget how much I like this album until I play it. Great music obviously, but the rough nature of it is what I really like. The laughs, the announcements, the start overs and words like hell and shit.

Repeat title

It's good. I try to give country a fair chance, but it's something I find very hard to enjoy. There were a few songs I did genuinely enjoy

That's incredible voice, I'm a bit doubting regarding the texts, cannot take them seriously now.

I liked it!

and the BONES are their MONEY, BONES means DOLLARS

Not only the best live album of all time, but also the best country album. Nothing else like it.

I mean duh. One of if not the best live album ever.

I can appreciate why Johnny Cash was such a sensation back in the day.

This album defined Johnny Cash. As a musician. As a legend.

this is great but real ones know på österåker is the superior 1

I usually stray away from live albums but this one is special. It's cool that he performed this at a prison and I was so happy when June showed up for Jackson. It's sad I'll never see Johnny live but this is the next best thing.

Johnny Cash is the crown jewel of old country, of country music in general frankly, and this, this is the crown jewel of his catelogue. It has everything from high-energy songs like “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Cocaine Blues,” to more melancholy songs like “Dark as the Dungeon” or “Give My Love To Rose.” It even has songs on the funnier side, such as “Flushed From the Bathroom of your Heart” and “Dirty Ol’ Egg-Suckin’ Dog.” I especially enjoy the songs performed with wife June Carter Cash; they add an even deeper level of universality to the recording. My favorite song on the album is “25 Minutes To Go,” which is a surprisingly harrowing song. This album is in every way a must-listen if you want to have a good sense of the influence and importance of Johnny Cash as an artist. 9.5/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES REASON: impact, significance, quality

Dont like country but its Johnny Cash so

This is my first Cash and I'm smitten - charisma and empathy off the charts Truly the male equivalent of Dolly

It’s ok but it’s a life album…. Title tracks a good un

Might just be the only live album that matters

It may not be the first rock n roll record exactly, but it may as well be. My indie rock band (that probably wanted to be something less twee at times) used to sit out in the van before a show if there wasn’t a dressing room listening to this as our hype music, tossing back whiskey shots, absolutely on fire by the time we hit the stage to play to the other bands and 20 random people on a winter night in New Hampshire. “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash...” just the most bad ass intro.

not my kind of music

Monumental and pivotal album. Pitchfork: 9.7 (2006 "Legacy Edition" 2 CD/DVD set) Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #164 Best Songs Folsom Prison Blues I Still Miss Someone Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart

This is a remarkable album which perfectly documents an artist's ability to communicate with an audience - the crowd are as much a part of this performance as the band. The cheer in response to "just to watch him die" is so joyful and cathartic (apparently that line was cut from the single version of the song), that it's clear, from the wardens and prisoners - which side the man in black was on. Amazing stuff.

This is a special album. The sounds, the audience of prisoners, the whole sound and feel is unique. His voice is extraordinarily as well - the richness, the power, the empathy and the enjoyment. Not all the songs are out of the top drawer but it works all together as a piece and rolls along. I can’t think of another record that has so much humanity and feel for the outcasts and the outsiders.

not a country fan but I love Johnny Cash

egg sucking dog

I think it's very admirable that Johnny Cash did several performances at prisons, including this one. I didn't know that until now. Clearly his music really resonated with the inmates and it would've been a special experience for them. This is a cool moment to have captured in album form and I enjoy the music too. Simple blues and ballads sung in his lovely baritone.

I love that doing prison concerts helped revive Johnny Cash’s career. It was a cool hearing the inmates cheer for the more illegal things in his outlaw country. Still not a fan of country and the best song Johnny Cash has done is his NIN cover of Hurt.

Solid album

This has layers. Johnny Cash performing at a prison? Wardens making announcements, inmates cheering for some off the wall lyrics, on theme songs. Feels very America of the 60s, it oozes a certain vibe, which Im here for. At first the music didnt hook me in, but after a 2nd listen and a 2nd thought about the circumstances? Woah, suddenly Im really into it. This gives similar vibes to the Koln concert as far as live performances go. The two are nothing alike whatsoever, except for the fact that there's all these things and circumstances surrounding the performance itself which raises it to another level that no ordinary live performance or recorded album can obtain. Its a snapshot to a special moment in time that will never be able to be recreated. Making it a special listening experience if you were to imagine yourself in the room, the lead up to the performance, inmates whispering to eachother that Johnny fuckin Cash is coming to the Folsom prison to perform? Wardens and guards probably trying to weazle their way in to avoid responsibilities to see Johnny play live. Musically for me personally its like a 7.5/10, but with everything ive listed above this gets a 9/10.

Yeah, I absolutely can’t fault this. It’s rip-roaring in places, sad in places and tense in places. A unique and wonderful live album.

Perf for driving through the BC Rockies

Yeah this is great. The crowd is so unique. Doesn't always fit the mood but when it does it's amazing

It's a fuckin' classic, man. Let's focus on some of what makes this such a perfectly-executed concert instead of arguing for its essential-ness. If I'm honest, live albums seem to be polarizing by their nature, so you may have already made up your mind. It's fair to say this album may function as a sort of greatest hits collection, as much as anything, so you can make your own decision about how essential this is. This band (June Carter -- married to Cash two months before -- singing with him, Carl Perkins -- guitar legend in his own right, W.S. Holland on drums, Luther Perkins -- no relation? -- on a second guitar and Marshall Grant on bass guitar) is seasoned and tight. You'd be forgiven for not noticing that it contains three guitar players (including Cash, himself). The whole thing remains as rhythmically tight as the movement on a Swiss watch. Cash's charisma and his outlaw nature (swearing onstage in 1968 was transgressive, to say little of the content of his songs) are on full display. You can hear the crowd hanging from every word he sings. I've listened to this album a few times. Is it a must-listen, really? I guess if there's a thousand for us all to go through, maybe it's in the top thousand. Maybe not, though. It's certainly enjoyable and worth hearing Cash with a crowd but I don't think it will change your life or your perception of music. I'm calling it a 4/5 though; it's a solid listen.

This is great stuff. The crowd make it special with them booing certain wardens and cheering things Cash says. It has a real crackle to it. Special for the setting alone.

none of the songs are as good as the studio versions, but there is a very distinctive sense of place in this album which is distinct from most live albums

3.5

*would be a 2 except that I feel like it's historical or something, like it's live and there's something special about that

Undeniably one of the best live albums of all time.

4.5

funky :D personally always a little perturbed by live albums, but it was actually pretty good, bonus points for hearing the train a'comin

Absolutely wonderful, the energy brought me infinite joy throughout the whole performance

This probably the best live album I've ever heard. Cash is Cash and generally that's good, if a bit samey. But the audience, the little interjections, the fact he's singing about all these crimes and prison life to prisoners. Pure outlaw country stuff. 4 stars

Live albums can be hit or miss for me, but the energy and atmosphere really adds to this record. Rating: 3

i don't know if we really needed both Folsom Prison and San Quentin on this list but the charisma machine that is Johnny Cash really works in both cases. San Quentin just squeaked out an extra point.

Es Johnny Cash, siempre es buen escuchar algún album de él