At Folsom Prison

The only thing that’s ever bothered me about this amazing recording is the use of a fake audience track. The times you can hear the actual inmates without the arena track being faded in makes for an even more intimate experience. Other than that this is an incredible performance from Cash Money and his funky band of Millionaires. I love the banter going back and forth with inmates and the odd times someone laughs or applauds at the scenarios presented in these classic songs of murder and mayhem. Cash’s road-worn baritone voice sounds great as he proves he’s the king of storytellers. Listening to this album given the context of its recording location is the perfect set up for a movie. If only someone would make a Biopic that starts with someone like Joaquin Phoenix preparing for this performance by sitting alone and thinking about his whole life first. That would make for a funny parody scene too. Overall, this album proves why Johnny is the Cash Money Millionaires most gifted country rapper and also why Folsom Prison has the best acoustics for recording and should be utilized more often. Easy 4.5 for me.

Johnny Cash is the man. This is a cool album, and interesting concept to play and record at a prison. After awhile, the songs begin sounding the same, but Cash is a great story teller. I give a bump to Cocaine Blues.

If you write "Folsom Prison Blues", you gotta be willing to play it in Folsom Prison, at least if you have any credible grit. And we hear the unmistakable grit of Johnny Cash throughout this whole album. He goes straight into the belly of the beast and sings of watching a man die in Reno, doing cocaine and sleeping with his gun, pushing back against authority, pleading one's case to a judge, being hung for his sins, and wearing stripes and chains in jail. This crowd can relate, and they let him know.

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).

Nice. Johnny Cash's voice is so recognizable. I guess it's considered to be in the baritone range? This is old school country music. Even though I am not that big of a country music fan. I find this stuff to be authentic and real. I wonder what made him want to play at a prison to begin with, and could something like that be pulled off today? Could someone like Chris Stapleton play at a prison? Some of these songs reminded me of old school calypso....the story telling aspect. Maybe this is why my dad was drawn at times to this kind of music. I remember seeing some of his country albums as a kid (Marty Robbins comes to mind). (here's the Mighty Sparrow for comparison: (https://open.spotify.com/track/1LfS3MtG65yVVgReCMe0Cc?si=kbPzRWE8T62KSVqRW64i_Q&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A5wIqQb2zDEI1RHJAdrxrMy). I think that was one of the key aspects about old school country music was the story telling. You just don't get that same vibe anymore with a lot of modern country music. My favorites were Folsom Prison Blues and Dirty Old Egg Suckin Dog. I'll be giving this another listen for sure.

A real time capsule of a record! Really enjoyable.

Classic.

Not a Johnny Cash fan

Like most of Cash's stuff, but didn't particularly enjoy this live album.

A really great document of a renowned artist playing live music in a remarkable setting but it's music I just don't care about, and with all due respect, even if this album with its circumstance is a best version of this music, I still don't care.

<3 Johnny Cash

Ok this album was much better than I thought it would be. Live albums just hit different because the artist is able to show their personality and you can hear them feeding off the energy from the crowd. Plus the different instruments just sound so real and raw when you record them live like that. Great album!

Classic! Love it

solid live album

Couple of decent songs but fundamentally fairly boring can’t see listening to again

I thought I rated this album again? Is there seriously 2 Folsom albums on here by Johnny Cash? Weird... This one is better than the last but it's still not perfect. I don't get why this record is on here. The performances aren't the best. June carter's vocals sound abrasive. Every song has a similar sound to Walk The Line - which we already know... Cash's talk singing is actually not bad. And I do enjoy him. But this set list was boring and short. Some of the banter was funny. But the mixing in these records are poor.

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.

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.

por que iría johnny cash a tocar a una prisión

Solid 3.5. A novelty for the time, but still a great performance

Iconic

Johnny Cash's best known live album. It's pretty good, and he's one of the only country acts that I actually like.

Ace

The sort of music men in the '70s sang along to instead of talking about how they were feeling. The songs are alternately mawkish and filled with crushing despair, but at a distance of more than fifty years a lot of it sounds like parody. The ballady ones are the best. Original recording had another sixteen songs but they were sung so low that only elephants and blue whales could hear them, so they were never released.

i can imagine how they musta thought this was the shit back in the day when there was less music in the world

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

I know this has a reputation of being one of the best live albums ever released. I had never listened to it until today and boy oh boy I enjoyed it a lot. From the songs, to the commentary, to the audience reactions and the prison announcements. Loved it and highly recommend even if you are not really in to Mr Cash like me.

About as mid as the other prison recording

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

Definitely an incredibly cool time capsule but not my particular type of album listening experience

One of my Dad's favorites, I've always enjoyed this album.

Top notch

Not a huge fan of country but was a cool listening experience. The 25 minutes song sounds like a hiking song and it’s cool he did a concert in a prison

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.

At least some of the audience reaction was added in post. So, the choices about where to amplify the crowd noise (‘Cocaine Blues’, for example) are…interesting. Also. JC’s choice of songs seem a little out of place for a penitentiary audience. But what do I know?

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

Classic. Some of the plotlines in the lyrics don't hold up well though.

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.

What an absolute chore that was to get through. Really not my thing.

3.8 - I like it, but feels very similar. Maybe this is what people that aren't into bob dylan feel. It was good, but just not into it as much as other people are I guess

I criticised the other JC inclusion for just being a replica of this album, so I guess I have to be positive about Folsom. It’s good, it’s definitely a worthy list inclusion, though the songs are mostly very formulaic, Johnny’s best songs are probably elsewhere, but this is an iconic performance. Fave tracks: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Dirty Old Egg Sucking Dog 3.9/5

Enjoyable, I like listening to the crowd, first song was my favourite

Live album recorder in a prison. Good performance and connection with audience.

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.

Très bon album live, beaucoup d’interactions entre Johnny Cash et son public qui rend le concert très vivant. Musiques en rapport avec l’univers carcéral très agréables à écouter.

This is one of those classic albums that you just get as soon as you hear it. This doesn't capture one of the best musical performances of all time because the performance itself is not important what it really captures is the atmosphere and the period of time. You can learn so much just form this recording about how people behaved, how they expected others to behave, what was so appealing about Johnny Cash, why was it so important to perform at prison. What really shines through for me on this albums is his personality. You don't just see why people loved his music, you can see why people loved HIM. He was so charismatic and passionate, everything he's saying in his songs just floats right from his mouth and into your being, he was just simply made to capture people and he chose to do the right thing with it and used that gift to fight FOR people. A deeply troubled but great man, one whose legacy it feels simply can't die at this point.

Similar to other Johnny Cash live albums, liked the banter. Music was good.

I think it would be agreeable to say that Johnny Cash‘s prison albums were revolutionary and new and excellent example of his skill is both musician and showman. It’s hard to differentiate between live at Folsom and live at San Quentin. Both of them are great albums, have the same tracks and showcase the type of master he was known for, the interaction he had with the audience of prisoners and a Boy Named Sue is still a classic, but I can’t say this is any better nor worse than other live prison as I’m the same rank .

I listened to this one again as I listened to this when San Quentin was on the 1001 list. I said I preferred San Quentin but this one is pretty great too. The opener goes hard with Folsom Prison Blues. I also really liked 25 Minutes to Go and Jackson from this album. The ending is n't great. It kind of ends weird after Greystone Chapel. Also, not the best closing number. Still, Johnny's spirit and genuine care for the men incarcerated shine through. What a great document and testament to the man in black.

5 - the man in black! The type of old music that I like, and an amazing performance

Good-ish for its time and the venue it is performed at

Very fitting as I leave Nashville

Musically, it's classic country/folk stuff. But the historical significance of this album is worth putting it on this list.

My mom played this all the time in the car- loved it

My favorite Album by Johnny.

This was great. Such a unique concept. Live at an actual prison? That’s cool

Should be noted. He only wrote four or five of these 16 songs. Is his performance so amazing to be noted as a great album? I don't think so. Folsom Prison Blues is a good song but I'm leaning toward Johnny Cash being one of the more overrated artists in history after listening to two of these live from prison albums.

This is the quintessential live album. Johnny Cash is at his most genuine and sincere while also putting on a good show. He just knows how to play to this audience. On top of the fun crowd, he plays great songs. This is a top tier live album. Best Songs: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Jackson Worst Songs: NA

OH YEAH!!! J Cash is the man and prison blues is top 5 country/blues album of all time. Such a legendary and ground breaking album 5/5

Coolest live album ever. I miss outlaw country

An album like this runs the risk of making prison seem like a funny good ol' time. However, it's silly when it needs to be and somber at striking moments. "Give My Love to Rose" is perfectly timed for it to be drenched with sympathy and emotion.

Great live album

I don't like live albums that much; There's just something so overstimulating about the ambience in the mix that distracts from the listening of the song. However, there's a charm to Cash's performance at Folsom Prison...and you can never go wrong with that deep, buttery voice after all.

If ever a live album belonged on this list, this would probably be the one. The environment adds greatly to the storytelling of the album, and the themes ring out strong from Cash's iconic voice and masterful instrumentation. Even the errors and interludes serve as an important element of this intensely human album. Favorite track: "Folsom Prison Blues"

The best country comedy prison themed live from a prison album I have heard. 7/10

Finding out how very much NOT overhyped this album is was a genuinely moving experience. Really cool energy from the crowd and a consistently fantastic performance. It is probably the greatest live album ever recorded, or at least among a very small few. An essential listen, that I hate myself for not hearing before today.

Great. This could never happen today. The combination of venue and songs is really cool.

Catchy tunes, the lyrics were often depressing, the crowd loved it. Good live album, but still a live album. Stand-out: Folsom Prison Blues

As you might have noticed I'm not a country music fan. But to me this stands head and shoulders above everything else we've had from this genre. I really liked it. There was a good mix of pace, the music though simple was played expertly, there was just the right amount of atmospherics. Basically it's a really good album. Now for the hard bit what to give it, it's not a 5, and I can't give it a 3, it's better than that. But am I really going to give it a 4, can't not really.

Awful stuff.

A Country album that is good and worth listening to again? Yes, it can happen when you are as funny, witty, and talented as Johnny Cash. This is what I like, someone pushing the boundaries and doing something different with a genre of music and turns it black. Unlike those vanilla guest dinosaurs on that Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who just couldn't have an original thought between them. Once Id got past the a whoopin' and a hollerin' from the audience, I was hooked. Then later, I was laughing out loud to '25 Minutes to Go', great song, even with the irony of the venue.theres always a gem in a pile of a dogshite genre and Johnny Cash is it. 5 stars.

Johnny Cash. Incredible.

Folsom Prison Blues 4.3 Dark as the Dungeon 3.8 I Still Miss Someone 3.7 Cocaine Blues 4 25 Minutes to Go 3.6 Orange Blossom Special 3.4 The Long Black Veil 3.6 Send a Picture of Mother 3.5 The Wall 3.4 Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog 3.2 Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart 3.2 Jackson 3.4 Give My Love to Rose 3.6 I Got Stripes 3.2 Green, Green Grass of Home 3 Greystone Chapel 3.1 Score: 3.5

A classic through and through. If you like Johnny Cash, you'll love this album.

Great classic Cash album. The stage banter and off the cuff interactions with the inmates make this album so good. Really enjoyable.

Cash is king

Folsom Prison Blues - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dark as the Dungeon - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Still Miss Someone - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Cocaine Blues - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 25 Minutes to Go - ⭐️⭐️ Orange Blossom Special - ⭐️⭐️ The Long Black Veil - ⭐️⭐️ Send a Picture of Mother - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Wall - ⭐️⭐️ Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog - ⭐️ Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart - ⭐️⭐️ Jackson - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Give My Love to Rose - ⭐️⭐️ I Got Stripes - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Green, Green Grass of Home - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Greystone Chapel - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Total - 41/80 Percentage - 51% Rating - 2.55

Love Johnny's commentary leading into I Still Miss Someone.

Johnny always sounded kinda nervous and wired to me. In this set, he references taking some shots of cocaine, but that wouldn't make someone sound like this. Plus, you don't take shots of cocaine, you snort lines. Well, not you specifically, though it's possible you may, but that business is between you and whatever gods are present in your drug addled state. Anyway, sounds to me like he was more on methamphetamine than anything. Explains the shaky voice and the sweats, plus the fact that he was in Fulsom prison.

4.5

How could you not love Johnny Cash. Has the best voice.

Good Playlist for a prison.

4.6

It's stunning that this album got made at all. Can you imagine the pitch? Johnny says, "I want to record an album in a prison and shit around with the warden." Maybe it was inevitable that the resulting album would be unique, but it's hard to imagine it coming out so good. Listening to Cash's songs as an album, I was struck by the fact that the main character in his songs is dying or dead most of the time - Johnny had a pitch-black sense of humor and a soul to match. This is the catchiest and funniest suicide note I've ever listened to.

enjoyed this one!

You just gotta think this was the best day ever in prison. Maybe the best day of these guys' lives period. I love this album not only for the music, just good tunes, but Johnny's humor throughout and interactions with the prisoners. Such a cool and interesting dynamic to picture the scene. I slightly prefer San Quentin but a solid 4.0 album here.

Great voice, great songs

Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.

10!!!! 10! DIEZ!!!! 10! 10!

The most anti-establishment thing to come out of 1968. Fun to listen to, starting with the famous "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" line. June Carter sounds amazing. A true documentary, Cash is true to his Spiritual and chuggin' train roots. A little sloppy in places but that just adds to the charm of this album.

I'm not a fan of country music but I sure enjoy his lives.

Fun : )

I liked some and his charisma but not a fan of country.

Once again with Cash, I appreciate the talent and impact. But his style just isn't for me.

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

Amazing album, full of legendary moments. The Legacy Edition is even better.

Doesnt do much for me. Live element doesnt really add anything either.

Pretty sure the first time I listened to Johnny Cash was the "Hurt" cover (2002!!?). Then he passed and the movie came out. Somewhere around then is when I started listening to more of his work.

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.

I know 3 Johnny Cash songs and none of them are on this album. He's a talented dude and this doesn't sound like shit despite being recorded in prison cafeteria. Good job 1960's

Love it

Literally the invention of outlaw country taking place in real time. I assume in some corner of some Smithsonian museum there is an interactive exhibit that recreates the electric scene at this show. When he makes the guard get him a glass of water, I like to think he wasn't actually thirsty as much as he wanted to juice the prisoners. Truth be told, my favorite Cash jailhouse rock is his version of Shel Silverstein's Boy Named Sue on the San Quentin record but in any case this is a fantastic performance featuring a fabulous duet with June on Jackson, among other highlights. An essential American artifact. Fun fact: Luther is Carl Perkins' brother.

What a great album. And probably one of the greatest live albums I've listened to; they did a great job capturing the feel of the performance and the crowd (including the reception announcements), and it seems like a perfect touch to end the (original) album with the inmate-penned "Greystone chapel". (And what a sad story for Glen Sherley, unfortunately.) I also enjoyed listening to the unreleased "The legend of John Henry's hammer" from the prison concert. As a comeback album of sorts, I'm also really impressed how much better this is than the Elvis comeback album I listened to recently in this collection ("From Elvis in Memphis"). A fascinating turn in Cash's career.

What a terrific album! I love the energy and his voice is amazing. June Carter also sounded great, as did whoever was playing the harmonica (Cash?).

American music’s heart…except the dog shooting I guess

the only reason I won't give this a 5 is because I won't listen to it again - great album the atmosphere really makes it

Legend. It’s every bit better because of the audience. Such a crazy, bold thing to do. And a great listen.

The most remarkable thing about this record is the fact that you can't imagine a single artist in modern popular music ever doing something like it. The Man in Black is charismatic on the microphone, controlling the dynamic and performing to a rowdy room of convicts. Beat that, Swifties!

"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash". Iconic!

Still a unique idea more than 50 years later. Cash's voice and way with the crowd is absolutely perfect. Plus the gritty lyrics make this one of the greatest albums of all time ❤️

I usually rate live albums fairly poorly, looking through my review history shows this to be true. However, Johnny Cash is the exception. I didn’t enjoy this as much as the San Quentin album, but this is still great. He’s a total badass and true showman who knows his audience.

I mean, what is there to say that hasn't already been said? The atmosphere is fantastic, the crowd in great form, and the little flubs Johnny Cash has as he's performing make it all the more endearing. Favorite tracks: "Jackson", "Give My Love To Rose", "Cocaine Blues"

I always say I don't like country but this was amazing. Maybe I just hate modern country because the storytelling here had me hooked!! Loving the audience reactions aswell.

Have on vinyl. Great songs done live in a prison - there's a real rapport with the audience. One of the best live albums ever released

The songs he chose for this are incredible. Not sure why there are two prison albums for Mr Cash but this one is superior for live performance and song selection IMO.

probably didn't pay enough attention to review one way or the other - it was fine?

Not a big fan of country, but I respect and am a fan of Johnny Cash. The fact that he wanted to record a concert in a prison is an amazing idea, especially for 1968. Saying that, the songs themselves are still standard country songs. So if you hate country music, this is not the album for you. Some of the songs were pretty funny, like "Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart," and "Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog". And you had the classic songs, like "Long Black Veil" and of course, "Folsom Prison Blues". I teeter back and forth between 4 and 5 stars. I think the album is such a seminal, important album, but it's not one I keep coming back to and listen over and over, which I feel is important for an album to be a 5-star album. And the warden announcements, which makes it feel like a real event do get annoying. (I've always liked the "25 minutes To Go" studio version better anyway.) So as much as it is a classic album, it's just not a 5-star one for me for the reasons I mentioned above. Top tracks: "Jackson," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Long Black Veil," "The Wall," "Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart"

Take what I said about his San Quentin prison album and apply it here. Cash has a great connection with the audience and between his and their laughter, it truly feels live. Though I could do without all the announcements. I think he really starts to crank it up on Cocaine Blues and 25 Minutes to Go - he and the audience are both getting into it. But the songs themselves are a bit whatever, a lot of standard country tunes that sometimes land well (Orange Blossom Special - he kills it on the harmonica) and sometimes land a bit meh (The Long Black Veil, The Wall). I did get a kick out of when he told the crowd he'd do some love songs and then did some great twisted & funny Jack Clement songs in Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog and Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart. And June Carter brings some great energy and snarling vocals on Jackson right after those two. Decent album but gets a bump for its novelty (live in a prison) and making you feel like you were there.

This belongs on the list for its historical significance alone. I'm not a country fan, but I always appreciate Johnny. He sounds great on this album and the band is on point. There's also a surprising amount of humor in the songs and Johnny's comments. Well worth hearing. Removing one point solely for the fact that country music is so formulaic, but I'd definitely listen again. Favorite tracks: Folsom Prison Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Orange Blossom Special, Jackson (liked the duet with his wife).

I love his music, this idea and his comments in between.

Johnny Cash being Johnny Cash! 5 stars or A rating obviously.

Interesting experience

I love live albums like these, feels so real and personal. johnny sounded like he was having a great time, and probably a treat for the inmates too. 3.7

Pretty good. June Carter rips on Jackson

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GET HIM A GLASS OF WATER HE IS A THIRSTY BOY. NO, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF ITS RUN OFF LUTHER'S BOOT. Good album. Some top tier memes in here - love the egg sucking dog, love 25 minutes, love cocaine blues, stage banter is top tier and Johnny's songwriting tells so much with so little. A lot of fun! Best Song: Folsom Prison Blues Worst Song: I Still Miss Someone

Best Song: 25 Minutes Worst Song: --- Right, I like every song but maybe it's egg sucking dog, it's funny but come on leave that dog alone

Auðvitað klassík en ekki neitt sem færi í listann

Really powerful crowd atmosphere and connection. Has a personalised aspect to the performance. However is quite standard of Johnny Cash and the time period.

Good stuff. Didn't are for Egg-Suckin and Flushed, otherwise really good live album. The songs with June are fantastic.

Love me some Johnny cash. He nailed this set, great performance by the man in black. 9/10 Full of energy and rebellious menace.

pretty sure my step-dad spent time in folsom...

This might not have clicked with me the most musically, but it was the closest I’ve ever been to understanding what prison life is like, so from that perspective, it’s an extremely interesting album

I am not a Johnny Cash fan, but this album is wonderful. If you are commuting somewhere or working, put this on in the background and let this man take you away. I see why it is a classic, and rightfully so. No stand-out performances, but that is alright, I enjoyed listening to the entire thing.

An album I heared of so many times but had´nt listened to before. I can´t resist this iconic performance ⭐⭐⭐⭐ although it is not my prefered style of music! Because I generally question live-albums on this list I rate it down one star.

Awesome. Great vibe, great flow

Definitely a very historic album and I'm glad I took the opportunity to listen to it. I enjoyed the "liveness" to this album with Johnny's banter to the inmates. After a while though I couldn't help but wonder when the album was going to end. A good listen but not my go-to genre/style. 6/10 (3/5)

Pretty good. I like him and good live album

Did we do this one already?

Never been a big fan of Johnny Cash, bit the atmosphere on this album is what makes it

One of the best overall live albums ever, specifically because of the inclusion of the entire prison environment throughout and Johnny's interaction and performance within every aspect of it. Not giving a fuck, singing to prisoners about murder, cocaine and mayhem, throwing the middle finger to the label by mocking the profanity restrictions, and interrupting his own songs just to engage with the audience in spite of the recording, Johnny Cash is a bad ass. And despite it being basically a greatest hits album, it's still one of my all time favorite live albums, so I'll give it a pass.

Remains just about the best concept for an album ever. The music on this one is better than At San Quentin for me, so it gets up to 4 stars.

Perf

At Folsom Prison is an iconic moment in music history, but as a listening experience, it can feel uneven. Johnny Cash’s raw charisma and outlaw spirit are front and center, and the live setting adds grit and authenticity. There is a unique electricity in the air, the kind you only get when a man sings to a room full of inmates about crime, regret, and redemption. Not every track holds up musically, and at times the pacing drags. It is more historically significant than consistently compelling. Still, when it hits, it really lands. “Cocaine Blues” steals the show with its speed, swagger, and dark humor. Cash sounds completely in control, delivering it like someone who has lived every word. A flawed but fascinating listen, and essential if you care about country, rebellion, or the blurred line between performer and prisoner. Favorite Song: “Cocaine Blues”

Incredible. Johnny almost sounds at home and the crowd is in heaven.

Legendarisch album is legendarisch. Vette nummers, ongelofelijke setting

See the rating below for at San Quentin. Cause it's about the same

I don't think I've listened to this before. It's a really fun album, and Johnny seems like he's really relating to everyone around him. It makes for a great listen. Great songs, as well. And loved June Carter's performance on Jackson. Strong 3 stars. "These men have receptions: Matlock 850632 and Batshelter 839879"

I generally don't like live albums, but I quite enjoyed this one - except that clearly the song order of the original concert(s) was not respected. Not something that I'll listen to again, but it does encourage me to listen to other Cash albums.

I guess there is a reason that everyone knows who Johnny Cash is. I've never listened to this before, but it was enjoyable. The way he and the audience fed off each other made it better and more engaging. "Up the elevator of your future, I've been shafted On the calendar of your events, I'm last week"

Great voice, great entertainer.

Not normally a big country fan, but after listening to the whole thing it's easy to see why this is considered a classic album.

Been wanting to listen to this one for a while

Songs about crimes, sung in a prison. 👍

Just a solid live album. Johnny and June are great and the band is tight. The audience is a major character throughout.

I’m not always into Johnny Cash but this album is wall-to-wall fun.

A real classic

Excellent album, amazing to think that he recorded it live. I will definitely listen to this one again, it's a classic.

This was alright. I think I’d have liked it more if I hadn’t already listened to a different prison album from Cash.

Bad ass

It was fine, a lot of the songs quite similar and I didn't find it as entertaining as the last prison album we had from him. Maybe the novelty of it being in a prison had less of an effect here.

It was good. I'm still not a fan of a live album.

Banger of an Album.

Later versions better when combined with other gigs

É um álbum extremamento visual, a interação entre Cash e os prisioneiros e a ambientação sonora dos eventos promovem uma série de imagens sonoras.

The live prison setting makes this outlaw country classic even better.

I've already heard that one, but the mood of this album is something I really like.

Quintessential Johnny Cash. Seems like he curated sings especially for his audience at Folsom Prison. So many songs were about circumstances that probably spoke to many who were incarcerated.

It’s a concept album about death, murder and regret. An album that I think I respect more than outright love. It starts with a classic that built his legacy, but that’s the thing, nothing else rises to the same level for me as Folsom Prison Blues. But what gives the album its lasting charm is that Cash showed respect to his audience. The whooping and hollering, and even the booing when the warden periodically chimes in, adds to the humanity expressed by both Johnny and the prisoners. You actually sense they truly feel the stories of regret voiced in the tunes about crime and even fear at impending death by hanging. It’s interesting that it seemed only Johnny and B.B. King made these “prison concert” type of albums at the time, and both have representation of the style on several “greatest albums” lists.

God stemning i fængslet. Livgivende koncert med Johnny Cash i sit es.

Idk if it’s country to what, but Im usually not a huge fan. I understand that it has amazing quality and I liked it, I just don’t think I would ever listen to it alone out of pleasure. The voice is not bad, and the music is really good. Since it is the live version, I did feel more of a connection with the music. Its just not my kind of music, and tbh every time the audience clapped at a phrase, I thought it was pretty corny and bad

I don't like country music, but I love this album. I can't really give a higher compliment.

Folsom prison blues Orange blossom special Greystone chapel

Die Idee ein Album in einem Gefängnis aufzunehmen ist schon gut aber genial ist wenn Texte, Stimmung und Musik zu einem Gesamtkunstwerk verschmelzen. Neben dem Startsong „Folsom Prison Blues“ überzeugen „Cocaine Blues“ durch das Tempo, „The Long black vail“ in dem er einen Schluck Wasser erfragt und sich mit seiner Alkoholsucht selber aus Korn nimmt und am Ende das von einem Insassen geschriebene „Greystone Chapel“. Selbst die Weltgeschichte hat Bezug auf das Album, am Abend vor dem Konzerten besuchte der kalifornische Gouverneur Jonny in einem Kleinen Motel; es war „Ronald Reagan“. Das Album ist eine 5-Sternstunde der Musik, ob man Country Musik mag oder nicht 😊 🐎.

First Johnny Cash album for me. His deep range is incredible to listen to, it comes so clean. I'm generally averse to country, but this I really enjoyed. The side commentary is pretty great. Cocaine blues with the prisoners reacting to the lyrics about shooting your wife is also hilariously excellent. Bonus for telling them they can't say "shit" because it's being recorded. This guy is a storyteller, and this performance is very rock and roll even if the guitar chords are pretty straightforward. 4* because not my genre, but a very enjoyable experience nonetheless. I'm glad it wasn't edited to just contain the songs. Highlights: folsom prison blues, cocaine blues

Classic - amazing album

I love this

One of the finest live albums. Brimming with personality that makes otherwise standard classic country tracks shine much much brighter.

Great heartfelt concert

Wow what an album

Well, Johnny Cash. It's nice, it's entertaining, but not really anything more.

A classic by the Man in Black.

How have I never listened to this before, my god

I hate country. But I love Johnny Cash. This is missing a lot of his best songs, though.

One of the greatest live albums ever to be recorded.

Love this. Baller.

Hell yeah, Johnny Cash. This is as raw & real as it gets. It's also very metal & punk, so I never understand when people say they don't like country. Have y'all heard this album?? Johnny talking about cocaine, murder, and whiskey is hardcore. I'm a big fan of old school country & Johnny Cash, so this was an enthusiastic listen. A memory of his passing also crossed my mind. I happened to be living in Nashville, and the entire city was buzzing with a mix of sadness and reverence - it was a strangely beautiful thing to be a part of. God Bless Johnny Cash.

Never been a fan of country music. But Johnny Cash has always seemed to be the exception. Never sat down and listened to this album before. It was really good. Very much enjoyed it.

Espetacular

Good lord, I was right to be excited when I saw I had this album. It's really incredible. Usually not big into live albums but the crowd, and hearing Johnny Cash interacting with the crowd really adds something special. I know it's been said a million times before but it's absolutely brilliant of him to be singing these songs in prison.

A great record, but a little difficult to understand why it’s been singled out as the all-time classic that it is. Maybe its revolutionary status is connected to its late 60s origin. There are a number of boundary breaking, genre bending records this good or better, but most were at least a few years later. Within a few years Waylon and Billie Joe Shaver and Townes Van Zandt would make this sound quaint.

10

Favourite song - Orange blossom special

The first of Johnny Cash's prison albums. It's nice enough, but I much prefer the San Quentin one. 3/5

Good wholesome fun and Johny Cash, cannot complain. The live aspect of this album made it even more enjoyable.

Awesome live album. One of the best.

This was a great album. There's a little bit of that "singer-songwriter" type feel to it but it offers so much more than that. Will listen again.

I do wonder why he went and performed at a prison? Interesting. Some of these songs suck lyrically but I do like the sound of the music. 4/5

Classic!

johnny cash always had a special place in his heart for misfits and those with a “sordid past”. his empathy shines through, his songs often first person fictional accounts of criminal activities. he has the audience in the palm of his hand, they are fully engaged. i can’t say enough good things about this album… in my opinion, it might be the greatest live album of all time. highlights: “folsom prison blues” “cocaine blues” “25 minutes to go” “orange blossom special” “jackson”

Of course.

yeahhh i guess this is a five maybe yeahhh i guess... lets just leave it at that, shall we?

Pretty good

Iconic. You certainly get your money's worth with this one.

What you see is what you get with Johnny Cash. A real performance captured in all its glory. Even has a song penned by the late, great Shel Silverstein. Singing to prisoners about the very crimes they're in the pen for. Singing about executions, suicide, losing the love of your life... Fuckin' metal, dude. The very template for punk rock. 🤘🏼

Fun little folk album themed around songs for woes and tales behind bars.

Part two of a back-to-back: Now this is more raucous! Carl Perkins is the king of Rockabilly. No spirituals like Peace in the Valley that made At San Quentin a sadder affair. The chuckles during "Dark as a Dungeon" sum that up perfectly.

A classic will always be a classic. Cash's voice is so powerful that he makes me enjoy some country songs. It's not the best of Cash's works, which for me are his last albums, but the whole background history of the album increases it a bit in my rating.

No one can make you listen to a story like Johnny Cash. For some reason his voice stops everything. His clear charm and connection with the prisoners is amazing. He’s the only person who could’ve pulled this off and we got it on tape. Simply amazing. This album is a place, time, vibe, that will not exist ever again. Americana at its finest.

Good album for its historical value

Classic live album

So great for so many reasons

Day156 - the perfect live album

The album is really a product of its time with all the references to trains etc. Amazing to think how quickly the world has changed.

Excelente! Nunca parei pra ouvir. Sabia do estilo. Mas ouvindo o cara ao vivo, a pegada, a impressão é de estar jogando red dead redemption. Muito gostoso o som, a voz encaixa perfeitamente no estilo. Faz jus à fama!

Classic Johnny Cash!

I think I remember feeling more energy from the live performance during the San Quentin album, but still loved this!

Not really my vibe but I get it. A little boppy. I get how this became a classic. Different for the time, as far as performing at a prison, but Cash is also killing it for this crowd and he’s speaking down to earth to them in between songs. That alone is kinda cool. Plus tracks like Cocaine Blues are boppy.

Even better than the other Johnny Cash prison album on here.

Question a concert in a prison, but sure sounded like everyone was having a good time

I like JC but haven’t we had an almost identical album before?

One of the greatest live albums ever recorded. The content. The audience. June coming up to play a song. The prison announcements. There’s nothing close to this

Few live albums set a high bar. Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash is high up there. Cash is very casual for being in a prison and his interactions with the crowd during the show show him at his relaxed nature. 4/5.

I'm not much of a country fan but Johnny Cash is one that I enjoy. The fact he played concerts in prisons is pretty bad ass and quite fitting know what I do about his life!

I really love this album. I feel transported to the live performance. The lyrics, the absurdity of what he's singing about, his presence through the performance! The recording being at the prison is just brilliant and novel and adds so much to the experience. The inmates reactions and responses, the announcements in the background - this whole album is an amazing experience.

Never been the biggest Johnny Cash fan but I found this engaging and I love the idea of him playing in prisons for some reason. He has a good bit of fun with his banter with the inmates and delivers his brand of country rock with humour and conviction.

I appreciate that Cash took the time to go play for the prisoners at Folsom. Also he clearly picked the songs for his audience and even has a Shel Silverstein thrown in the mix. Cash could certainly play the audience even if it was in a prison.

For some reason it reminded me of O Brother Where Art Thou partially due to it occurring at a prison and some of the songs. Everyone seemed to be enjoying Cash’s music which was very good

Do I like country? I think I may, at least Cash. Loved this album. Normally I think live albums are dumb and don’t sound very good but this was great. You could hear the cheering from the crowd, the announcements over the intercom in the prison, Cash’s little asides to the crowd, it was great. Also who else is like “yah know what, imma record an album in a prison for a bunch of inmates and then include some songs from one of the inmates on it”. I don’t know of anybody else who would. The songs were all great, he is such a good storyteller and has the gravitas to tell darker stuff without it seeming fake and like it’s just for shock value. Really, really liked this album.

Cash is a great storyteller with his songs. love the unfiltered interaction with the inmates and his own story of redemption.

analog zu St. Quentin...

A couple great songs. Overall johnny has one style.

ANOTHER Johnny cash at a prison album????

Classics from the man in black! Good sets, and amazing quality for a jail house live recording.

This album feels interchangeable to the San Quentin prison album so it's going to get the same rating. Same gimmick. Same simple song structure with lyrics crafted for a specific audience. Cash's charismatic stage presence can really be felt. It's a shame there isn't more variety in sound here because I do really enjoy Cash's voice. I just grow bored of the similarity after a few songs.

At Folsom Prison captures Cash in a particularly jovial mood, and as such it is an album that is just a pleasure to listen to. He is a commanding yet cool and charismatic figure, and such the heartbreaking nature of songs like 25 Minutes To Go, The Wall, The Long Black Veil and Give My Love To Rose are made even more so by the contrast with his banter. It’s an almost perfect summation of the human spirit. Some of us are locked up, some of us are on death row, some of us have commuted crimes and never been caught, some have been caught, some have been framed, some are innocent. And we can be reflective and sentimental about that, but we can also crack a few jokes and say damn and shit and stuff like that.

Classics with a mix of live audience... different, but still good listening.

My parents would inexplicably sing Folsom Prison Blues to me as a baby so this was a lovely experience

One of the most fun albums I can think of. The cheering and yelling from the audience every time Cash says something about shooting women or doing drugs is hilarious, even cracking him up. Probably the one country album you could give to anyone and they'd get something out of it.

great album and for a great cause !!

Country music encompasses many multitudes. One of those is the image of the outlaw. A troublemaker, cast away by society, sent away to its jail cells. Its appeal is not that hard to describe and understand. One of those who understood was Johnny Cash. Going to the actual Folsom Prison, after singing about it a decade before, was to be not only a crystallization of a long held ambition but a shot in the arm for Cash and the country genre as a whole. No amount of censorship and implied walking on eggshells feel can contain the sheer vitality that's on display as Johnny and his band regal the Folsom audience members (relieved of the prisoners tag for a brief time) with the songs that speak to theirs and his experiences in life. It electrifies, it humors, it ponders, it tugs at the heartstrings. At Folsom Prison is just one of those indispensable documents that makes the music fan thankful for its existence, regardless of whether they're a country music fan or not and it is one of, if not the, finest hours of The Man in Black's career.

Fun to listen to. Not life changing but good lyrics with a rowdy crowd

At Folsom Prison It’s hard to not compare to At San Quentin, so I’ll just go ahead and do that. Like ASQ I thoroughly enjoyed this, the voice, both raucous and tender, the playing, the charisma. But this feels sadder and more melancholic, while ASQ has more of an edge. I suppose that’s probably a product of the song choices, more ballad and slower tempo songs and most of them dealing with being in prison or committing crimes. There is some humour to lighten things though, I suppose that’s why they did Dirty Old Egg Suckin’ Dog and Flushed from the Bathroom of your Heart, although the crowd cheers a bit too enthusiastically when he sings he wants to kill the dog! I loved the version of Long Black Veil, and I love June’s slightly manic vocals on Jackson, but I found pleasure in every song. I gave ASQ 4, so as this is a companion piece, albeit through a sadder lens, I’ll do the same again ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Classic

Some albums define a period of time. This album does that

It’s raw. It’s funny. It’s Johnny Cash.

There're basically only two different songs, nothing special about the arrangements, and hardly brimming with virtuouso musicianship - but it's deservedly one of the best regarded country albums and live recordings due to the sheer magnetism of the vocal performance, the magic between the performer and the audience, and the capacity of these simple country song structures to tell a story of guys who started fucked and then fucked up descending further into fuckedness and reaping what they've sown and being self-pitying and self-hating about it.

I know it's a classic. I prefer Cash's later stuff, though.

Talk about playing to your audience. It's clear they loved every minute of the concert (except the announcements and the warden), and their participation and reactions add to the album. Johnny Cash had the ability to infuse every song with emotion that made it sound as if he had lived the lyrics personally. I wish modern country music were more like this.

A part of what made Johnny Cash an icon.

Great album

Loved this, absolutely electrifying record.

I can't believe how much of Johnny Cash's personality comes through this record, it takes a true performer to have such a commanding presence and yet seem so human. I love that there are mistakes, ramblings, and crowd interaction. A truly excellent performance and recording.

Cocaine blues is basically a rap song. He uses the line "I shut that bad bitch down" at one point LOL.

Great album. The prisoners really add something special.

Not my style. Much more country, but good for what it is.

Good. 3

Johnny Cash Live at Folsom Prison is a classic album. For those new to country music or seeking to delve deeper into the genre, this album serves as an excellent introduction. Its cultural impact was profound, as performing for inmates was unheard of at the time.

Guess I might be in the minority on this one. Was unique for a song or two, then just kinda blended together. Did appreciate his brand of country - seems more authentic and raw than our current country stars. 2/5

This album stands out more for the venue/background than anything else. Nevertheless, Johnny Cash is an icon and great album.

One of the best live albums of all time. Just such a great connection between Cash and the crowd. Love the imperfectness of the tracks, how he pauses to chuckle or make a joke. And of course the music is just great, not a bad track on this.

Great album depicting death disparity and violence, kinda metal and changed my ideas of Cash

Toinen Johnny Cashin vankila keikka. SIllein aika jännä kaikkien välipuheiden kanssa. Muuten ihan ok perus Cashia. Kyllähän kaikki kappaleet kuullostaa vaan aika samalta eri sanoilla. Parhaat: Folsom Prison Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Cocaine Blues

Classic. Gets a little repetitive. But love it.

Great album.

Cool live album, classic songs, great singer-songwriter.

It's the same song but it just gets funnier and funnier. If he's got the cash I've got the rizla.

Svona á að gera kántrítónlist. Ég er algjör Cash-aðdáandi þótt ég sé ekki mikið fyrir kántrí. Hann gerir það bara svo skemmtilega vel án yfirlætis. Bara einlægur tónlistarmaður og það heyrist einmitt á þessari plötu þegar hann fer óvart að hlæja inni í miðju lagi. Ég fíla það. Gerir þetta að miklu betri upplifun að hlusta á og ég mun halda áfram að hlusta á Johnny Cash, aftur og aftur.

Really good live set from the Man in Black

Un excelente álbum de country con un sentido social sorprendente. En el trabajo se puede escuchar la cercanía de Cash con el público de la prisión de Folsom, transformado a este LP en una experiencia única, difícil de comparar con otras recopilaciones de presentaciones en vivo. Sumamente recomendable para comprender la relevancia de Johnny Cash.

Just a great example of a live album from a all-timer

An obviously great album, though I’m partial to Sam Quentin

The prisoners laughing and cheering whenever he mentions doing something naughty is delightfully macabre. Enjoyable listen 7/10

This seems like a legendary album, but just not my genre

Man, I love this! The sound, the story songs, the revolutionary-ness of Johnny Cash playing a concert at a prison -- all excellent.

very intimate and personal live recording that really gets you thinking about how even inmates like good music. the history behind this album is even more interesting, considering that Cash had wanted to perform at a prison after watching a film while in the Armed Forces, and he even performed a song written by an inmate. The story is really cool and adds to the overall vibe of the prison-heavy setlist.

I'm not the biggest fan of live albums, but this was just so fun to listen to

Really great. Engaging the whole time, the prisoners seemed to be eating it up.

no soy muy fan del country.... pero admito q hacer un concierto en una prisión y grabarlo pffff me parece TAN CAMP que le subo la puntuación

Classic.

Johnny is a badass and this was a really interesting concept for a live album. I'm not sure if he was the first, but definitely one of the most iconic. His story, voice and career are all legendary. Genuinely one of the most interesting people. In terms of this album, I'm not typically a fan of live albums, but this one is neat just for the concept. It sounds fine for the recording technology of the time. Classic, and definitely a fun piece of history. This would be a great lesson for a music history class. Favorite track "Folsom Prison Blues" 4/5

Not a country fan. Haven’t listen to a lot of Johnny Cash, but boy oh boy, is this album a fun adventure… literally! Every song about the perils of prison, each track with its own unique story. Definitely a great inspiration for writing!! Low 5.

Not for me and was a live album with all the boring extras which come with that

Really good, from the heart signing, felt genuine and not too fancy 4/5*****

Such a distinctive voice

Love this album top to bottom except for the song about killing your dog

Very cool that Johnny did this. The record itself is ok, but the idea behind it - fantastic.

Really great. Funnier than I expected.

Boring but still a classic

A live album from prison singing about prison life. Unheard of.

Good album, and thank you, Mr. Cash, for making it OK to sing about something “dark”. You changed American music

Crazy to think about how different the times were that there’s an album of anyone from a jail. Cash is the outlaw Goat

Obviously iconic, but I'm not one for the country muziks.

Just incredibly recorded. I love the ambiance, the backstory, and the original writing. I would say it was a cult classic if it weren’t such a famous knockout of an album.

Just an incredible live album

Never listened to this, but very glad I did. It’s hard for me not to give this a 5, it was just that compelling.

Oftentimes I skip live albums, though this is quite an exception, as this is a core element of the songs presented here themselves. I genuinely respect Johnny Cash's intentions behind this album and it certainly adds to the songs how you can hear the prisoners cheering and commenting, but also Johnny Cash's snarky, bold comments occasionally. It was an enjoyable listen. In terms of execution, it's definitely a 5, though in terms of the amount of songs I personally liked, I would say a 4.