At Folsom Prison

I guess I like country music now! Johnny Cash is so funny, charming and charismatic here in both song and talk, what a delight. Favourites - title track, Orange Blossom Special, and Give My Love To Rose

Story telling is off the charts and relatable. Beacon of joy for prisoners and a live performance worth listening. Individually I would not listen to most of the album but listening to as a cohesive piece makes it enjoyable and catered to the prisoners’ lives

Incredibly unique, amazing storytelling. I can’t believe I haven’t listened in full before. Truly one of the best albums of all time.

It was so good, I want to give you a 10. But that’s not possible, so I give you a 5.

They don’t make prison albums like they used to

Johnny Cash at his best and one of my favourite live albums. When I hear the studio versions of some of these songs, they just don't sound right without the prison announcements.

Banged up the slammer.

Absolutely incredible - no notes

Anna - There's a reason this album is iconic. The music is humble, the lyrics witty, and everything in-between makes it so special. Dan - simplicity and brilliance

Imo one of the best folk/country albums ever

Live recorded albums rule forever. Also. Wow first time listening to Johnny cash ever; this rules

Absolut ikoniskt album! Musikaliskt är det kanske en stark 3a, saknar ett antal av hans bästa låtar. Men allt runt omkring albumet förhöjer det så otroligt mycket. Svårt att komma på andra situationer som skulle vara jämförbara. Någonstans mellan 4a och 5. Känner mig generös

Amazing idea to go into a prison for a live concert! Really impressed by this record. It's one of those, where the songs are already pretty good on their own, but it is the context and the vibes that just carry it through the roof. Many songs are a bit samey and Cash's performance was far from flawless, but taking the circumstances into consideration, this is certainly not that important. A weak 5.

It’s one of these albums were the context is more important than the musuc

A great piece of rock and roll history.

This is one of the greatest live albums off all time. Do you hear a train a comin'? No, that is just the steady tones of Johnny Cash. This album is a piece of America herself!

Best album of all time, Folsom prison blues is just aura.

One of my favourite live albums. The whole thing is dripping with atmosphere, between the crowd, Johnny's jokes and anecdotes and the warden announcements. There's something darkly funny about him singing "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" and doing coke and shooting his wife and the crowd going wild, whistling and applauding. All of this could've detracted from the album but it actually tops it off and completes it The actual performance sometimes isn't perfect either, but that just adds to the genuine atmosphere and the character of the whole thing, especially when Johnny laughs in the middle of a song. A lot of the performances on here are the definitive versions of these songs, like Folsom Prison Blues Highlights: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, Jackson

5 estrelas

Man of the people. Prisoners deserve entertainment too.

Classic Johnny Cash.

Supreme set from a legend. Funny, moving, sassy, and a great lesson in how to work a crowd. Surely this and San Quentin must be in a tussle for best ever live album. Masterful.

Just the best.

So great. The presence of the audience noise is additive rather than distracting, because there's so much chemistry between Cash and the inmates. It's so humanising, in a scenario which is anything but. One of the best live albums I have ever heard.

Johnny Cash at his iconic best.

Most badass live album ever recorded.

Some live albums make you wonder if the live element makes an actual difference. That is not the case for At Folsom Prison. Raw, alive and at times chaotic - there’s just no faking the energy of Cash and the inmates of Folsom Prison.

i love to say that all live albums are bad except for the grateful dead but Folsom prison and san quentin are of course also exceptions to the rule

Johnny Cash at his flawed best. Probably one of the best live albums, the crowd (inmates) are like another instrument and add a depth to the recording often missed in other live recordings

This album is awesome. Have never heard of the concept, and the live album brings you back to the time. You hear the flaws which makes the album special. It is basically listening to a concert, and feels like you should listen to the whole album at once, which is what I think makes a strong album. Also singing about some crazy stuff!

I’ve generally been indifferent to the live albums on this list as even if the music is good I fail to see why I’d want to listen to a concert over the studio versions. But hearing the way Johnny banters and jokes with the audience and how the audience reacts to him really adds something to this. Like I feel like I’m transported to this performance in a way. Plus, it’s Johnny Cash music. Easy 5

vicces, hogy az outlaw-tapasztalat mennyire a középpontjában van a countrynak meg a bluesnak is, aztán ő volt az első, akinek eszébe jutott, hogy ez a zene hova való. nem vagyok nagy rajongója a fiatal Johnny Cashnek, ez a koncert mindblowing ❤️

One of my all time favorites

When seeking authenticity in music, this title says it all. Not only was Cash an artist who brimmed with authenticity, but this album was a high water mark for him. A novel idea he'd been knocking around for over 10 years and finally sober enough to pull it off, this lives on as a document of rebel-country's anti-authoritarian stance as Cash relates and connects with his thrilled audience of inmates. The music is pulled off well but this is as raw as you'd expect it to be, with all the shit talking, jeering, and sneering banter you'd want. It didn't matter what these inmates did, their sentence length, or the overall functionality of their moral compasses, it had been a long time since someone came into their walls and treated them with the dignity that any human deserves. Not every inmate deserves their freedom, but music doesn't discriminate. This album captures that shared understanding between Cash & his audience, a circumstance that elevates this live album so highly beyond the great caliber performances and content of the songwriting alone.

Good stuff

Awesomee

The music itself gets a 3/4, but the concept of performing a concert in a prison is fucking awesome. The whole idea of it and the interactions Cash had with the crowd add to the album. Absolute fucking comedy when they started cheering when he sand about shooting a women

What can I say? I love Johnny.

I hadn't realized Johnny Cash had done two prison albums, and mistook a previous album for this one. Excellent as all Johnny Cash albums are

Absolutely JR.

Loved it. A great. A great live album.

Spectacular. The measure by which all other live albums, outlaw country albums and singer-songwriter comeback albums should be judged.

I don't often wish I was in prison, but this album is enough to make me consider the possibility. What a tremendous voice, and what a charismatic performer.

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.

This is probably the most hardcore album on the list.

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 better sequencing, tighter pacing, livelier energy, stronger performances, better songs. This is everything a live album should be.

Awesome live album, awesome concept for an album?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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"

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.

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.

Cash is king

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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"

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.

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

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

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

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.

Awesome. Great vibe, great flow

Did we do this one already?

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.

Perf

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

Legendarisch album is legendarisch. Vette nummers, ongelofelijke setting

Songs about crimes, sung in a prison. 👍

Banger of an Album.

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

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

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 😊 🐎.

I love this

Great heartfelt concert

Wow what an album

A classic by the Man in Black.

How have I never listened to this before, my god

One of the greatest live albums ever to be recorded.

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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.

Classic live album

So great for so many reasons

Day156 - the perfect live album

Classic Johnny Cash!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Great album. The prisoners really add something special.

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.

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

Great album.

Really good live set from the Man in Black

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

💖 25 minutes to go 🗣️ 🔟

My favorite live album. Such a distinctive atmosphere and concept. Love the interactions with the crowd and the way he infuses this pretty grim and dour set of songs with life and color. The masterwork of an all-time great. Best song: Jackson

Perfect performance. No notes. 5/5

Hay que escucharlo

One of the best live albums there is. Johnny Cash really put some thought in the performance and the audience are really engaged and part of the listening experience.

Absolutely legendary.

My god, I've never sat down and listened to Johnny Cash. The albums got a good playful vibe, with an undercurrent of sorrow for the prison system. Or that was what I felt at least. A good natured man it seemed, playing music for the soul. Even the damned souls.

It's Johnny Cash playing in a prison, obviously this rocks

This the type of country I wanna be listening to, no more of that honey donky shit. Johnny Cash the goat frfr.

Johnny Cash en su más celebre live performance que le dio vuelta al mundo con su solidaridad. Impecable e icónico. 10/10

SO love some Man in Black! Time being what it is, when I overlook misogynistic references, and mention of violence...I still love me Jonny Cash.

What a badass, singing about cocaine and murder to cheering prisoners. Fantastically imperfect. One of the best live albums I’ve ever heard.

Le charisme de Cash transcende l’enregistrement. L’interprétation et les interactions sont empreintes d’humour et de tendresse. Ça en fait un album éminemment intime, même si enregistré live

Great Album

This album is insane and I love it. From the first song, everything here is prison or criminal themed and the crowd is cheering each time Cash talks about killing a man, or going on a cocaine bender. The atmosphere here is pretty special and unlike any live album I've heard. Cash has a great voice and most the songs here were new to me. My favorites were Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, and 25 Minutes to Go (shoutout Shel Silverstein).

Lively country album. Enjoy this one a lot.

Loved it. Easy five stars

1. Build a time machine 2. Go back to California in 1968 3. Commit murder in a cocaine binge 4. Witness the best live album of all time being recorded No regrets

9/10 About as good as live albums get, can’t think of a better one The band and him are so tight, so slick, he is so at ease that he can just mess around at points without screwing it up. In lesser bands the in-song banter could wreck it Don’t care if it is a character or facade, he plays the outlaw so well Such energy in the delivery, he sounds almost unhinged at times The announcements for the prisoners, the speech at the end. Makes it feel like you’re there “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash”. Iconic Best: Folsom Prison Blues

Really enjoyed enjoyed this. Live at San Quentin came up last time and that was also great. Never thought I would enjoy this as its not the genre I listen to but surprised myself. Its fun and the songs tell a real story. 👍

Not normally my kind of thing but this is a great album - very authentic and a real eye-opener. Cash was a great showman and really knew where his roots lay.

Outstanding

a classic, johnny cash is a staple of country and will always be the best

the best live album of all time, hearing johnny cash crack up at prisoners saying random stuff adds so much to the album.

It was an incredible musical moment captured to tape.

Love "Folsom Prison Blues" :) Johnny Cash has such a unique voice. I really enjoyed listening to his songs because some of them were funny in the album like "Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog".

I very much so enjoyed this album! This was a very nice study listen.

If only I could give 6 stars, this album deserves it. Start to finish it's just brilliant musically and entertainingly.

Incarceration is underrated.

Iconic

This album is so fascinating. I'm not into country music at all. But this album is entertaining as all hell. Some of the music gets a little repetitive. But the mood and atmosphere is incredible. Just so raw and authentic.

Masterpiece. If you like this album you should check BB King Live at Cook County Prison

I still can't quite believe that these concerts actually happened, but this is an absolutely perfect album.

This is an awesome album and definitely belongs here!

This album crackles with a unique and exquisite energy.

Another Johnny Cash prison album? YES PLEASE! I like this album better than at San Quentin… and that was fantastic.

Really unique live album

Iconic.

The songs, the band, Johnny - a solid 4 without the audience, perhaps a 3 if country isn't your bag. But the atmosphere is unlike any live album. The electricity is tanglible. Johnny delivering the song stories, playing the crowd, the humour, the darkness. June Carter coming on to sing Jackson. Has to be a 5, whoever you are?

There are two versions of this album and I listened to both today. The original version is compiled mostly from the first of two shows Johnny Cash did in a single day in 1967 at Folsom Prison. There are 16 songs included. The more recent anniversary edition offers about 60 songs over three CDs. Both shows are presented including songs by Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers both of which were part of the Cash ensemble and got to do a song each to set the mood. June Carter Cash comes out about midway for a few duets. In addition to the two concerts, several rehearsals recordings are included. Highlights of this concert were recreated in the Johnny Cash biopic, I Walk the Line. Sometimes expansions like this dilute the original album. Not so with At Folsom Prison. Both versions are terrific listening experiences. The expanded set reinforces the connection Johnny had with his band and his audience. Plus with the extended version you get a ton of additional songs. The theme of many of the songs are the prison life. They range from poignant to comical. There are also some hits and a couple of religious tunes.

Classic live album -- what can I say that hasn't been said a million times. It's the Man in Black doing Johnny Cash stuff. If you can't find something that resonates here, you're not looking. Unexpected bangers: Orange Blossom Special, Long Black Veil

Good stuff

98/100

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I've listened to it through hundreds of times since I first heard it in 2016. Live shows are about the connection between the audience and the band, and this album captures every ounce of that. Many live albums fall short in capturing the energy in the room. Johnny is playing prison songs to prisoners and his enthusiasm comes through in every track. I will continue to listen to this album forever.

A very 'human' performance. This album is music heritage, an absolute gem. Although it's legit very enjoyable on it's own, and almost makes me want to admit that I might actually enjoy country music more than I thought, musically I still wouldn't give this a 5. But the fantastic environment and atmosphere makes this work: the connection with the crowd is just too good. To go into a prison and sing about these topics is absolutely mental lol. I loved how good old Johnny acted a bit, and also lost himself multiple times throughout the performance, you could tell he really enjoyed the absurdity of the situation as he basically became a musical comedian on the 'stage'. I also love to imagine how fucking cool it must have felt for the prisoners to experience this. Hats off to Johhny Cash for this record. With that, I still have to mention that some of these songs like 'Folsom Prison Blues', 'Cocaine Blues', or 'Greystone Chapel', etc. absolutely bang, so it's not entirely carried by the atmosphere, but it certainly carries this record into a 5/5 for me.

The live album to trump all live albums.

This album is one from my personal collection. I'm not a huge fan of country music, but Johnny's music transcends any labels that could be used to describe his style. Johnny's music takes influence from country, rockabilly, folk, and blues. This album is a great listen from start to finish. The songs here deal with many unhappy subjects but Johnny does justice to them all whether the lyrics are sad or humorous. His rapport with his audience of inmates is undeniable and he seems to have enthralled the prison staff as well, which is why they kept bringing him in to do prison shows. I am somewhat surprised by some of the things he gets away with on this record, knowing what the censorship of the time was.

Great, classic album.

Johnny ♥️

What else can say about the greatness of Johnny Cash! The announcements over the prison PA and the warden getting booed gave it authentic prison touch. I did feel for the guy that called for visitation. What bad timing! I was surprised how some of the songs didn’t start a riot. It was pretty special and shows the man he was that he played an inmates song.

Almost everyone knows the song “Folsom Prison Blues” but this album has a lot of other great songs like “25 minutes to go”. The lyrical storytelling from Cash is amazing and he can paint a picture with words in less than 3 minutes. I really haven’t listened to his music outside of the hits and I’m going to dive deeper after this. Outlaw country music at its finest.

Album # 32 Everything about this album is awesome. A legend up until the day he left us.

Super album and atmosphere. Love the man in black. 5/5

After moving to TN, I realize now just how bold and outrageous this album must have been. Cash must have absolutely shocked southern folks. When you hear him speak, he's got that good old fashioned TN sense of humor and social ability that you can't find anywhere else. Oh, and the selection of songs on this album were dynamite. He even ended it by playing one of the prisoner's songs, which he said was taught to him the night before. As a listener, you really don't know what to expect. You put yourself in his shoes and feel the pressure of performing an important song with little to no rehearsal. Then he and the band absolutely nail it, and you're left realizing why he's the legend that he is.

Love this album! Love this man!

Is there anything more iconic than that opening line? "Hello. I'm Johnny Cash."

Perhaps one of the greatest live albums of all time. I've listen to this dozens of times already and it never loses it's charm.

Great and classic Johnny Cash record that I never tire of. He’s a terrific performer and clearly the (captive?) audience is loving it.

This is great. I loved the stage banter as much as the songs. He's got more charisma then the actor who played him. A great listen.

This might be the best live album of all time. Most live albums the crowd is there, but they're unnecessary. The crowd on this album is another instrument, and a very important one. Plus it's Johnny Cash, the songs are all excellent, sung with passion and humor. It's just great.

Fascinating piece of American cultural and music history - a classic.

Amazing performance. I can never get enough of this.

The seminal outlaw country album.

Great album, I loved hearing Johnny's banter.

I really enjoyed this one. Johnny Cash was the real deal!

One of the most punk rock albums in existence.

Aurrez ezaguna

It's hard to imagine how an album can define an entire genre, but you tell me, what aspect of country music, and especially outlaw country are we missing here? From the songwriting, to the performances, to the tight band, to the freewheeling stick it to the man spirit, to the iconic live setting, At Folsom Prison has it all! Five glasses of Folsom water out of five 🥛🥛🥛🥛🥛

THIS is how you do live albums.

I've always heard *of* "Live at Folsom Prison," but other than some brief clips, I've never *heard* the album. I would have thought older Johnny Cash wasn't my thing, a thought that was dumb as hell. Live albums can be hit or miss, but this one is fun. His bumbles and corpsing - to borrow a television filming term - are funny. I'm a lot more likely to explore the rest of his discography at this point.

Iconic country album. I feel like the song choices don’t contain as many of the direct hits he has besides Folsom prison blues, there are some great songs and the energy actually does come through from the prisoners on an interesting way. Grey stone chapel is my favorite Johnny cash song due to this

Mike performed and sang Folsom Prison Blues for me in Madison as we unpacked his apt. I was so surprised. It was wonderful.

Very entertaining 5/5

I love this. I can't imagine any current artist doing anything remotely like this. The openness and ability to treat the audience like human beings made me wonder would Johnny Cash be considered woke today? I doubt it, but an interesting question. I often hear older recordings as evidence of differences in technology or style or arrangement, but this one is a time capsule of culture and what was possible, even in 1968, not so long ago.

An iconic album, and a really easy and enjoyable listen despite some of the themes of the hardships of prison. Cash has such a rich voice, and it comes through in a genuine way with his voice cracks and falters. The album is sprinkled with great humor as well. The melodic repetition across songs is interesting - he repeats the same melody Dolly Parton uses in Coat of Many Colors as well. 9/10. Favorite Songs: Folsom Prison Blues, I Got Stripes, Greystone Chapel No particular least favorite songs

Although I love these songs and how Cash sings them, it's the prisoners that make this live album special.

now THIS is a live performance actually what a joy dirty old egg best song name also songs are short and sweet im liking that incredible all around

p137. 1968. 5 stars. Not a fan of live albums, but this one hits the sweet spot. Great songs, great voice, great atmosphere.

Er vel kanskje tidenes beste livealbum

I had fun listening to this live album. Like I finally got to experience a part of history. I like how Johnny Cash panders to the crowd. I liked Johnny Cash and his popular hits, but this album personalizes him for me. I am a new fan , and I will add this to my playlist.

This is definitely not a generic “live” album. The performances are great and the inmates makes themselves heard at all the right (wrong) lines.

one of the greatest live albums. i love the dark gallows humor. Johnny Cash is incredible and the empathy he has with his audience is palpable.

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. I give it a 10+

Una grata sorpresa

I think I've only ever heard this in parts but really enjoyed it

A stone cold classic

There's a reason this album is so lauded. It's just pretty darn perfect. Every song fits just right, the crowd interaction is perfect. It's really a phenomenal piece of art.

What a great live album. There is really a connection between him and the prisoners. The music is that reason. such a earnest set.

I mean, what am I gonna do, not rate this 5 stars? Johnny Cash is incredible, and this album has to be near the top of the coolest things he ever did.

This is a MUST listen and, in my opinion, Johnny's best album!

Starting off strong with Folsom Prison Blues., also really liked the song Jackson and Green Green Grass of Home, three classic Johnny Cash songs. A really good album, I really enjoy the style of music of Johnny Cash .

Never heard this before, really amazing.

i mean, come on. this rules.

just great