At Folsom Prison

I want to go to prison

I guess I mistakenly thought I knew Johnny Cash, mostly through the radio and general consciousness, and I was not prepared for how incredible and just fuckin metal this album is. This dude is up there singing about murdering dudes to applause from murderers. if your black metal isn't this black, go the fuck home.

One of the few live albums I've heard where the audience is just as much a part of the performance. The songs are great, Johnny's performance is charmingly flawed, but it's all about the atmosphere created by the little details: the inmate's reactions, Johnny's asides, and the warden's announcements.

johnny cash performs in a prison sings about doing cocaine and shooting his wife the crowd cheers unfathomably based

"This show is being recorded for an album release on Columbia Records, and you can't say 'hell' or 'shit' or anything like that." "How does that grab you, Bob?"

Look: even if the music wasn't great (which it is), the man sang about taking cocaine and shooting a bad bitch down to a group of cheering convicts, so this may as well get five mics on principle. The concept alone is novel and raw as hell, but once you throw in Cash's devil-may-care stage presence, the atmosphere set by the wardens' announcements over the PA and the more-than-receptive crowd (I'll spare you a line about a "captive audience" because I'm sure plenty of rock critics thought they were the first to come up with that gem), plus the impeccable choice in songs, you end up with one of the most entertaining records I've ever heard. Key Tracks: Cocaine Blues, Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart, Greystone Chapel

Amazing album! Amazing that it was performed live and the flaws and asides and prison chatter add to the overall vibe, rather than detract. I'm normally not as much a fan of live music, but this was great all the way through.

Fucking visceral. “I shot a man in Reno just to see him die” & they cheer… Best live album ever.

(Listened to Before) One of the most genuine and authentic albums I’ve ever heard. I love it when he breaks mid-song to tell a joke or a laugh slips, especially when it’s in contrast to some soul-crushingly melancholy lyrics. I don’t really think there’s a bad track in the bunch. I love this album and the special place it takes me to every time I revisit it. Favorite Tracks: 25 Minutes to Go, Orange Blossom Special, The Long Black Veil, Dirty Old Egg-Suckin’ Dog, Jackson, Greystone Chapel Least Favorite Tracks: I Still Miss Someone

I don't know anyone who doesn't like Johnny Cash, and this is him at his best. I love how it's a live album but he sounds about the same as in the studio, it's authentic as. 5/5.

We've had the greatest live album ever from Nirvana but this is bang there with it. Cash is at his best live. And when he combines that with doing this sorta outlaw country stuff he's peerless. Its fucking brilliant and I'm gonna have to bring out the 5 again. A superstar at the top of his game. 5/5

Cash proves he is every measure the legend on this record. Even though the vast majority is covers, his crowd work is great and you can hear a pin drop on The Long Black Veil. Jackson is a cool duet. booing the warden on the last track is great

i don't believe there's much to be said here. it's johnny fucking cash at folsom fucking prison, with june fucking carter. to whom, if my chronology isn't way off, he was not yet married - so we witnessed it all, very raw, and very real. i also particularly loved that they didn't cut out the warden's(?) announcements, and what i believe was them slapping johnny in cuffs at the end.

I needed this so bad today. This dudes the fucking King. I need more stars...raw, authentic, fuck you. Yes!

Never listened to the album before though know a good few of the songs. It's bloody good. The context - what he's singing about IN A PRISON - is just great, really adds something

not bad, but too samey and I lost focus on this one

This was a great listen. I've been aware of this album for a long time and it's place in legend and lore. What little I know about Johnny Cash (nope, haven't seen the well-known documentaries or the super-famous biopic, but I would like to one day), I really like him as a person. As a musician, his appeal is easy to see. He makes it seem all so familiar and casual, but with his own signature sound, style, and of course, voice. I have heard his music in various settings over the years and I like it. It's not something I gravitate strongly towards on a regular basis. I have a feeling if I had ever seen him play live, I'd have been a lifelong huge fan. Seems like that kind of performer and person.

Solid live album, especially considering the location and difficulties to make it happen. Some great gems throughout the set list, although there are a few songs that just kind of pass into the background. Clearly groundbreaking, but not quite a 5-star for me.

Not bad but actually somewhat boring. Slow pace, similar style of all the songs, just not memorable

Really excellent

I feel like I’m sitting right there in the prison with the guys watching the show—the most heartfelt, candid show I’ve ever heard. Not only is Cash an unparalleled storyteller, he’s really got a heart for the prisoners he’s playing for. I really like how the guys applaud, letting me know exactly what lyrics or licks best tickle the imprisoned listeners. The music rollicks along, but there are quite chilling moments, too, like when the voice announces normal prison business over the PA. Whenever I finish listening to this album, I have mixed feelings: I go on with my life, but those guys all go back to their cells.

Ace

An enjoyable listen with a strong social (prison) reform message.

I loved this. The music, the banter, the announcements with inmate numbers, the laughing mid track, the lyrics, just all of it. I’ve somehow never listened to this despite always liking Johnny Cash, and it is such a great record. The recording it incredibly good for being recorded in what I assume is a prison cafeteria or auditorium. The singing comes through beautifully but none of the instruments are overshadowed. I rest can’t think of a bad thing about this. Really great.

Really entertaining - one of the best live album atmospheres I've heard captured on record. Started off thinking it might make a interesting listen but nothing more, and ended up being the fastest I've bought an album from this list. Great stuff [edit: "Hot Rats" currently holds the instant classic title, but this is still 2nd]

makes you wanna take a shot of cocaine and shoot a man in reno

Johnny Cash is so badass. Dude had just come off of a hard fought battle with addiction and is looking to return to the music industry. Mind you, he had been out of the limelight for years. So he does the sensible thing and… makes a live album? From a prison? Hell yes. The audience noise and commentary makes you feel like you’re actually at the show. He’s singing about doing cocaine and shooting people and the crowd is loving it. Amazing record.

Möglicherweise das Beste Live-Album als Live-Album. Die Interaktion zwischen Cash und den Insassen, der Jubel bei »just to watch him die«, die währenddessen ununterbrochenen Abläufe des Gefängnisses – einfach unglaublich.

The best live album ever recorded. Bar none.

I mean Johnny fucking nails this performance for a number of reasons, but to me one of the standout moments is with June on Jackson, as she surprises me with her power and what it adds to the record. Instant classic.

So this album is great. Obviously. And, taken by itself, it's a masterpiece live album against which other live albums should be measured which is why it's earned a 5-star review from me. That said, I'm unclear as to why this list contains both "At Folsom Prison" and "At San Quentin" since they're essentially the same album. The amount of deja vu that I experienced listening to this after having listened to the other was uncomfortable. Sure the tracks (barring one, "Folsom Prison Blues", which is on both albums) are all different but the banter, lyrical content, and delivery is so similar that you'd be hard pressed, if the tracks were mixed up, to tell which song went on which album.

Really good stuff. I might just go and get obsessed with Johnny Cash now

Pretty good record

I suppose my detailed comments on the San Quentin review apply here. I have loads of respect for Johnny doing these prison shows. Giving something to people who have nothing deserves our respect. As was the case at San Quentin, he performs a song written by a prisoner in the audience and gives him credit and a piece of the royalties. The song is Greystone Chapel which is a bible thumpin song. Normally not my thing but Johnny used religion to help him get off drugs and booze so it's understandable that this made him a tad evangelical about his religion. I'll leave my different opinion on religion at the door. Highlights from the first 5 songs (I stopped the list after that): Folsum Prison Blues( one of his best songs ever) Cocaine BLues, 25 Min to go Since I gave San Quentin a 5 I can't give another 5 to Johnny.

Nobody can ever find any fault with this album

PEAK ONE OF THE BEST LIVE ALBUMS EVER

Great album, Perspective from a criminal and being in jail is mint storytelling wise then actually being there singing is top notch

Now that this album is over and done with, I hang my head and cry

forgot how much i love this album!!! So good!

"I shot a man in Reno, Just to watch it him die". When you're not a murderer but in honky tonk show business and you sing that to a crowd of actual criminals, and they rejoice and welcome you in their ranks, allowing you to give one of the most entranced performances ever put to tape. Gangster rap, please take some notes here. Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've went over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 432 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 256 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 316

Probably the best live album of all time. Impossibly cool and made even cooler by having the prisoner announcements included through the album and by playing a song written by a Folsom inmate to close out the album.

I love this album!

One of the rare live albums that I can 100 percent imagine being in that place, listening. And the concert is perfect entertainment. Moving from one familiar song to the next, throwing in some completely unknown ones. And June Carter coming in for a few songs to add richness to the text. Best of all, it is a concept album. The songs were collected to be identifiable to the prisoners, so Johnny chose songs about people askance of the law, whether guilty or innocent. Both upbeat and dark, collectively powerful. 4.5/5

great record from the master of dark country / Americana

Badass

Hey, the hype is real: A live album that's made better by being live! I think Johnny Cash is a) a legend and b) pretty one-note, musically (with notable exceptions) but this album is fun to listen to. That says a lot. I think any other Johnny Cash album would probably get a three from me, but this seems like an easy 5?

How badass do you have to be to perform in prison, intimidate and gain the admiration of inmates? Simple answer: You have to be Johnny Cash!

Despite always recalling to mind Krusty’s “Just Visiting Springfield Prison,” actually this is a terrific record. Not just a gutsy performance, but heartfelt, multi-layered, both exciting and peaceful. They’ll never let anyone do anything like this ever again.

This one's an all timer. I generally don't listen to country music, but I'll listen to Johnny Cash.

Masterpiece! Powerful and meaningful live performance

Great live album

As per my other reviews, I am not a live album fan but this one hit it out of the park. Johnny had fun with the crowd and it shows.

The audience reactions are almost as good as the songs. 5/5

One of the best live recordings of all times. Besides „Live at San Quentin“ this is a masterpiece.

If you're gonna own one Johnny Cash album, this is the one.

Wow, what an album. Easily one of the best live albums I've ever heard. I love all the crowd noise and Johnny's banter with them.

4.5☆/5 10.27.2024

I don’t usually love live albums, but this one is just so much fun. Johnny Cash has so much charm and humor and an authenticity to him that is winning. Fun to hear the reactions and listen to clever lyrics, even if the tunes are a bit repetitive.

Making this a live album really gets this to a 5/5. Engaging to hear how charismatic Johnny Cash is and how much the audience is vibing with it. Also him breaking and laughing and making comments is a ton of fun.

I'm not a huge fan of live albums, but this is just about as iconic as you can get.

A classic and formative to my taste in music.

Loved this

What a fun album! I really enjoy listening to live albums, and enjoyed this live album as well. Johnny Cash is solid - all of his songs sound very similar to me (at least all the Johnny Cash songs I've ever heard) but it worked for this album and these live shows at Folsom. Very cool to read about the history of this album and it's reception - I think I would throw this on for a Fallout NV playthru for sure.

This is what a live album should be, it captures the ambience and what it might have been like to be there. Johnny's personality comes through and the audience is right there with him the whole way. And then the music, well, it's just great.

Favorite Track: Folsom Prison Blues

Awesome. On both idea and executikn

Can you imagine going to prison and finding out a day before your arrival Johnny Cash performed a concert there? And then getting to listen to this album and finding out what you missed out on? Christ that sounds more miserable than getting a sentence.

Super nice

Sooooo ein gutes Live Album! Ich kannte bisher nur einzelne Lieder, ich liebe albumsgenerator. In einem Gefängnis aufzutreten war eine crazy Idee.

Songs are good but the story behind its creation is what makes the apbum

I love Johnny Cash! This album was a lot of fun to listen to, and it wasn't a chore to listen through the whole entire album. It flew by pretty quick, but each song was memorable enough to not be boring or forgettable. It's super hard for me to choose a favorite, because I like all of the songs quite a lot. But if I had to choose, my favorites would be "Folsom Prison Blues", "25 Minutes to Go", "The Long Black Veil", and "Green, Green Grass of Home".

Wow. So let's get it right out of the way: I'm not a country guy and Cash's performance is flawed. But WOW. Many rightly feel that this is one of the greatest live album ever. This album is an artifact. It is not only a collection of songs, it is a place, in a time, with a forlorn and forgotten crowd, and the Man in Black who fully understands his audience. The authenticity jumps off the recording and pulls you into their world; you can't avoid it, you can't look away. Meanwhile, Cash is singing about killing, drugs, and prison life to a crowd of killers, pushers, and prisoners. Some songs are good, some are almost juvenile. The juxtaposition of the music and banter, and the visceral atmosphere with cheers for killing and boos for the warden is palpable. This album (series) cements the legend of Johnny Cash and, while perhaps not exceptional for its pure entertainment value, is a major museum piece worthy of its own wing in the museum and serious academic study. In fact, I know Cash has his own museum in Nashville. I give it only 4.6 because I would need to hear only a few songs again.

Hall of Fame.

An absolute classic. Listened to this album several times over. A real banger

There's something about this record. A son of a bitch like Johnny Cash singing songs written with the perspective of a prisoner in a prison in front of inmates cheering. To make it better, the performance is sublime to me. This is the definition of aura.

Histórico e irrepetible. Cada canción que habla de las condenas y la cárcel, vitoreada por los presos de Folsom, hace temblar el alma. Extraordinario.

Possibly the best live album ever. Or possibly the second best after San Quentin

Another classic!

Never mad about having an excuse to listen to Johnny Cash!

This one’s great, full of terrific songs and banter. And June!

A classic for a reason. Folsom Prison Blues is five star, and there’s some other top notch songs on here. I’m not sure this quite gets to five star for me.

1001 Albums Generator recently assigned me At San Quentin, and it didn't do anything for me, so I went into this one unenthusiastic for more of the same. My impression was quite mistaken. This has got better sequencing, tighter pacing, livelier energy, stronger performances, better songs. This is everything a live album should be. favorites: Dark as the Dungeon; 25 Minutes to Go; Green, Green Grass of Home least favorite: The Long Black Veil

Sleeper hits here include "25 Minutes to Go" and "Flushed From The Bathroom of Your Heart".

Sings: I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die Crowd: woooo! Incredible record. A masterclass in live performance. What a moment in American history.

Excellent. Definitely worth repeated listens to parse the lyrics and to hear the inmates' reactions. Tres cool.

I couldn't ask for anything more from this album. Peak Johnny Cash, in fine form, playing to an enthusiastically appreciative crowd. Glad I didn't listen to this around the kids--Johnny knew his audience and brought songs the convicts would relate to. He didn't seem at all intimidated to entertain a crowd of inmates. He was as smooth and charismatic as ever. The songs were simple in structure, but he and the band served the songs capably, effortlessly, naturally, hitting that perfect point between polished and spontaneous. The setting and crowd brought a lot of character to this live recording. The entire prison concert concept fascinated me and made me want to learn more about how this project came to be. I have a vague memory of seeing some video footage from this performance long ago; I'll have to track it down (if I'm not confusing it with something else).

Classic.

<3 Johnny Cash

Classic! Love it

solid live album

Great album! I'm not a massive fan of live albums but this one is so unique. Hearing the prisoners cheering and Johnny Cash joking about with them - it made me feel like I was there And of course the songs were great, and it's Johnny Cash so an easy top score for me 5 ⭐️

I’ve genuinely lived my whole life thinking I hate Johnny Cash — I’ve only heard American IV so far. Boy was I wrong. This album is incredibly badass. The fact that it’s a live album allows the listener to get a sense of Cash’s sense of humor as well as his stage presence, and I ate it up.

Man, I love this guy. It's not often that I enjoy the little spoken skits and interludes in an album, but this time they could well be the album's highlights. When Cash declared to the audience that they were recording an album and that none of his band members should even think about saying "hell" or "(bleep)", I gained at least a year of life. His little bouts of campiness during tracks like 25 Minutes to Go ("And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o") and Cocaine Blues ("Hopped and he coughed as he cleared his throat / He said, *cough cough* *obviously with an obstructed trachea* 'Come on you dirty heck into that district court' *cough cough*") are fantastic. And the audience at Folsom Prison is clearly having a blast. The main critique I have is that the music is very simple. As in, simple enough that Cash can go completely off-script ("...hehehe did I see somebody applaud that lyric? hehe. anyway,") and the instrumental remains entirely intact. But even then, I have trouble really faulting the music for this. The musical simplicity is made up for – even complemented – by the audience interaction, the humanness of Cash's singing and the backing instrumentalists, and the music's incredible rawness and "instant classic" energy. Quoting one of the top reviews here: "This dude is up there singing about murdering dudes to applause from murderers." Can't get much more badass than that. 5/5 Key tracks: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, Orange Blossom Special, Greystone Chapel

Cash on top form belting out the hits and entertaining the inmates.

No notes. Live album perfection.

No question, 5 stars. Dad LOVED this man and all of his songs. I have as much respect for Johnny Cash as I do for my mom's favorite singer, Frank Sinatra.

First time listening to the entire thing. It’s great. It’s a living album.

5* obviously, but the one thing this album does, which is great, is that it shows country music can have all the urgency and passion of any other genre. Sometimes I feel country music is thought of something dower or downbeat and this is certainly not.

I cannot listen to Johnny Cash without thinking of I Think You Should Leave. The bones are their moneyyyy So are the woooorms

As a millenial my closest connection with Johnny Cash are the American recordings. Objectively looking however I feel this period of his life is where his best recordings are. The Man In Black persona begins to manifest. Nothing but respect.