Reviews (page 7 of 15)
This album is everything I could ask for from a live album. Its unpolished nature is endearing and moving. I love hearing Cash’s voice raw, gritty, and warbly in such a tough setting. The banter is fantastic as well. The prison sounds and interruptions as accompaniment give the album such humanity. June Carter Cash brings a sweet spark to the album on the Jackson duet and with her backing vocals. The addition of The Statler Brothers on background vocals was a nice and surprising touch. In addition, I was fascinated to learn that Shel Silverstein wrote 25 Minutes to Go. Cash’s storytelling ability through song was incredibly strong. I was nearly moved to tears with the closing track Greystone Chapel, especially after reading the story behind the song and that the writer was on the front row of the concert with no clue his song was to be played. Beautiful song to close a brilliant album.
Overall: 7/10 This is my second "Cash Live at a Prison" album I've gotten. Not sure if there's more, but I absolutely adore the energy in these albums. Johnny seems at home with these types of audiences and he shows so much charisma and a bit of humour at times. It's nice to have albums like these that show off the artists personalities so well. Fav Song: Folsom Prison Blues
Михаил Круг (Michael The Circle), если бы родился не в России)
This album is incredible. I can’t believe this is live! Johnny Cash sounds incredible and his banter with the inmates is hilarious. Totally an album that belongs on this list. Started off super strong and petered out towards the end. Legendary regardless.
Johnny Cash is a legend. Love the album
9.5/10
Best live album of all time.
just the idea of this live concert happening at a prison, with songs about prison - incredible. Good early folk, male centric though of course
Runter von der Autobahn, die Berge tauchen auf und Jhonny shot a man in Reno...Eines meiner mistgehörten Alben, der Cameo June von ist legendär gut. c
I LOVE USA I LOVE TEXAS BABY YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAA (cri de l'aigle) Non en vrai ça commence à me faire chier tous ces albums américains c'est bon on a compris. J'ai écouté 2 morceaux y'en a un qui parle de meurtre et l'autre de cocaïne non mais on est où là ? Pas mon style de musique je trouve que c'est tout le temps la même chose franchement c'est nul hein. Je préfererai ne pas le noter plus que de mettre 1 étoile parce que je pense juste qu'il a pas sa place ici.
Ça swing, ça saute ça twist dans tous les sens, mais on finit après se laisser distancer et essouffler par cette énergie perpétuelle. L'écoute au bureau et pas sur une piste de danse a du jouer aussi dans la faible adhesion à l'album
on n’en peut plus des albums live
J’aurais jamais pensé écouter un album live, et le mec avait une énergie de dingue ! Après j’ai quand même l’impression que toutes les musiques sont similaires
clásico de Johnny, suenta casi tan bien como und sico grabado en estudio.
Johnny!
Look, I'm really not a fan of this kind of country. Or country in general, to be honest. I love the vibes of this album, the sound of the inmates, Cash speaking between songs and so on. But I just can't help but find the music itself to be completely dull
this has gotta be a joke.
A textbook american classic that every music lover should listen to
What could you expect? A full country-album with the unforgettable voice of Mr Cash. Uptempo, Slow, Midtempo and some great songwriting. Definitely an album you can hear on a road-trip.
This is an album that really got me into traditional country music at a young age. His personality is so funny in this too. Just a damn good time. 5/5
Classic
Folsom Prison Blues - 5/5 Dark as the Dungeon - 5/5 I Still Miss Someone - 5/5 Cocaine Blues - 5/5 25 Minutes to Go - 5/5 Orange Blossom Special - 3/5 The Long Black Veil - 5/5 Send a Picture of Mother - 3/5 The Wall - 4/5 Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog - 4/5 Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart - 5/5 Jackson - 5/5 Give My Love to Rose - 4/5 I Got Stripes - 4/5 Green, Green Grass of Home - 5/5 Greystone Chapel - 5/5 Average score: 4.5/5 (rounding up)
One of the best live albums ever made. Johnny's charisma, crowd presence, and vocals made this damn near perfect. Truly iconic. Top 5: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, Orange Blossom Blues, I Got Stripes, and Greystone Chapel 4.50-4.75/5
Really makes you feel like your in prison.
Absolute classic. What a moment in time.
Странный пис. Очень минималистичные песни, исполненные под восторженные вопли заключенных в разной степени странности моменты. Но вместе с тем сама концепция - супер бэйсд. Лучшая песня - Folsom Prison Blues.
Crazy concept to record an album in a prison but it works. Just good Country songs with johnnys personality coming through too
Legendario. Pocas interpretaciones en vivo tienen la calidez que transmite Johnny Cash en temas como Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, Give My Love to Rose o Greystone Chapel. Además, los interludios entre canciones le dan ese toque extra que no pueden ser replicados en el estudio. 5/5
very relaxing to listen to
Almost as good as the music is listening to the interaction with the audience of inmates. Jackson is a favorite as is the title track.
Good one. I like it.
Top
Johnny Cash was the man. This is him at his best. One of the best live albums out there
This is the second 'Live at a prison' recording by Johnny Cash from this list. The first one was cool, but for the same reason this one is. It's really fascinating to hear prisoners react to Johnny Cash, and he's good at playing the crowd. It's definitely a gimmick. Cash is a good performer and charismatic speaker, and it's a unique setting. Outside of that, the music is good although I feel Johnny Cash is over-represented on this list.
Raw and badass.
Весёлые (?) и мудрые (?) напевы как-то совсем не зашли. Возможно, нужно ознакомится с текстами.
Really lovely country album. You can tell he's a bit younger than on the other album of his we listened to, the vocals are maybe not as awesome but he makes up for it with amazing performances, a lot of country boy swagger and great live instrumentation
I like this album!! Good vibes I really enjoy the live versions especially and his charisma and the audience’s enthusiasm. Funny songs and prison theme. Lots of headbopping was involved in the listening of this.
really enjoyed. 4.5
Classic, live outlaw country record, setlist amazingly executed 10/10
Quite an interesting album. I never been to prison but I think I got the idea now. It makes you feel like you are on the actual concert 3/5
One of the greatest concert albums ever.
Johnny Cash has a very interesting voice. I really liked this album, the songs were all super interesting. Even if I didn't like the lyrics too often, the songs were still captivating.
This was a very fun album. I love the way Cash interacts with the crowd, which helps bring a lot of the spirit of the album to it. It is a shockingly good live recording.
The peak of gospel country being performed prison will never not be fun. Certainly not my favorite genre of music, but this album rightly deserves this place on the list.
There isn't much that I can say about this album that I haven't already said about Cash's 'At San Quentin', but I guess this is the OG after all, and it has the better crop of songs in my opinion. I mean, this rendition of his 'Folsom Prison Blues' track is my favorite Johnny Cash song of all time, just the way the crowd roars when Cash mentions he shot a man in Reno gets me every time. The provocative nature of this album is really the standout here; there's something so satisfying about the start-stops of a song like 'Cocaine Blues'. 'The Wall, ' I feel similarly about, but the crowd's reaction is far more reserved here, and rightfully so, given its darker nature. Other highlights here are 'I Still Miss Someone' and 'Send a Picture of Mother', a song that I'm sure tugged at the heartstrings of every single inmate at that show. Cash's interjections and random one-liners are as funny as ever, and the recording of this thing still sounds crisp. And his duets with June Carter are a much-needed change of pace late in the performance. I love her growling presence on 'Jackson'. This thing rules, really enjoyed it much more than I remembered on this most recent listen.
I don't normally like live albums but oh my god.
I feel like I don’t see many albums like this anymore, he is so expressive and I love the storytelling and instrumentals, they were so fun. Thanks Johnny
Excelent
2.5/5
Udmærket album, konceptet og originaliteten trækker op.
very good. awesome that its at a prison.
Pues es country, cocaine blues está curada
didn't listen
Love justice, I do think WWW is their best but this one is pretty good too
Rolig men inte min smak
Definitely a classic country album and deserves to be on the list. But I don’t really enjoy it all that much personally.
Classic
Probably my favorite Johnny Cash album. Certainly better than Live at San Quentin. It’s funny though that early on the bleep “shit” but a later song about going on a cocaine bender and murdering his woman is A-ok.
Good stuff
Went into this feeling skeptical. Although it might not be anything that I could see myself reach for - I found it very pleasant
I don't normally like live albums, but this one is an exception. It's surreal listening to Cash sing about murder and executions while the literally captive audience cheers and boo when the warden's name is mentioned. LOL
I really enjoyed this album. Definitely sticks to what he knows but he does it very well and has some variety within the genre. Like slow songs and fast ones.
A good live album with a bunch of good older hits.
Love it
Please no, I hate country. The moment I heard harmonica playing, I knew I was doomed. Couldn't bring myself to listen to whole album, dropped with 2-3 songs left.
Have heard this before but not in a long time. Funny, lively versions. The crowd sure love murder! 4 Heard before? Yes Owned: No, 6/1001, 6/22 (27%) Will I get? Maybe Recommend: Yes
Sir, another Johnny Cash prison album has hit the list.
First off this album is so unbelievably well mixed its hard to believe its a live recording. I suppose a lot of credit for that goes to Johnny Cash himself, his vocals are perfect, so honest and emotional throughout. Each song resonates in its own way with the crowd and with the listener. The album itself is just authenticity in its purest form. Not a shred of insincerity or fakeness. Listening from the perspective of a prisoner, it must have been incredibly emotional to hear such vivid descriptions of the outside world, the things they had once known and now lost. For someone to come and speak to them. To show understanding, empathy and to relate to them honestly through music. Really thought provoking. Without the setting and circumstances the album would be good. Musically the songs are enjoyable. But its the other stuff that makes this a true classic. Favourite song - Cociane Blues into 25 minutes to go! 9/10
lovely
This is the album that makes one want to reconsider prison. At Folsom Prison is fantastic from start to finish, the crowd is enjoyably enthusiastic. Johnny Cash only needs a few notes to connect with them. One can feel the energy pouring through the speakers. It all feels so real, so close. 80 procent of this album is filled with prison blues songs and they are all, every single one, entertaining. At Folsom prison truly makes a play for the greatest live album of al time.
Yuh
4/10 - Johnny Cash is alright but this was brought down by it being a live album
Johnny cash live album. No complaints
Fun but not really for me
extremely good favorites: jackson, give my loves to rose!!
BEST SONGS: - Cocaine Blues - 25 Minutes to Go
lowkey ass (i usually wouldn’t listen to this type of music but maybe i need to give it another try)
One of the best live albums. Really connected with his audience.
A great country album with a bit of rock from one of the greats!
It’s electric the atmosphere crackles, and America surprises me. The authorities allowed this concert to happen knowing what Johnny cash is about it’s fascinating. Surprised they didn’t riot
3.5
cool
kad sam vidjela da spotify nudi samo live verziju su mi se ocekivanja znatno smanjila ali turns out da je to potpuno nebitno jer naprosto ne volim country i ne bih nikad ovo slusala da ne "moram". mislim da sam in fact ovo uopce poslusala do kraja samo zato sto je 4. album u ovom projektu pa sam za sada locked in. zao mi je da nisam od onih kojima je u glazbi najbitniji tekst jer mi stvarno svaka pjesma zvuci isto and i really do not care enough da bi pratila tekst. sve u svemu nije za mene
One of the most iconic live albums ever.
Could be a 4.5
Classic outlaw country; this is a great live album due to the reaction and energy of the crowd. "Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart" is a genuinely amusing track.
A plus!
The only bad parts of this album were when June Carter was singing. 4/5
A fun and hugely important album. The material is first rate and the playing and arrangements are simple and fun and of the highest quality. This is country music of the highest order. 5 stars
A classic for a reason, I guess. I'm not a country music fan, and most of these songs sound the same but they are comforting.
His first live album. The best live album ever !? Maybe. Going to a prison and singing about murder, drugs and fighting etc is ballsy. Ha! The audience are as crucial to the album as Johnny and the songs. Great set list and Johnny Cash doing Johnny Cash things.
Second album de J. Cash proposé par le générateur: Country, 24eme album => 1/5
"I took a shot of cocaine and shot my woman down"... sang in a prison?! Safe to say Johnny knew how to cater to his audience Was not expecting to be tapping my foot to these songs
Cash was such an incredible performer. The atmosphere here is amazing, and the sound is perfect. Easily a contender for the best live album of all time.
Assez entraînant, pas écouté jusqu’au bout car uniquement session live
I love when an album starts off with a strong song! I am vaguely familiar with Johnny Cash. But I had never heard this album. I tend not to like live albums, but this one was great! I loved the banter and the announcements from the jail. It could be that I’m a “mood listener” but I enjoyed this album! Fun fact: I live about 30ish minutes away from Folsom Prison! Songs I liked: I Still Miss Someone Orange Blossom Special (for the Harmonica)
Pretty good country but still country 3.6 The opener is a banger
Hard because I’ve heard it so many times. But in 1968 to go into a prison and have the setlist and band to blow it away? Johnny knew how to put on a show and this captures it.
Great for what it is, but not my thing.
Repetitive
★★★★★
Country isn't for me, but Cash is king.
Tons of humor from cash and charm to warrant a decent recording and what sounds like a fun time
Loved it
Familiar with Johnny Cash from my grandfather growing up. Never much liked the music but loved the storytelling in the lyrics. Same is true on today’s listen. But there is something insanely special that comes through on this album especially given the lyrics in this setting. Johnny is sincere, bold, improvisational and you can feel the deep connection and appreciation from the prisoners and administration alike. I cannot imagine the sheer joy and reflection an event like this with songs deeply connected to their prison experience must have brought to attendees. It easy to imagine yourself there listening. And inclusion of the prison announcements throughout are chefs kiss. What a moment in time. What a recording. For the music 3/5. For the lyrics 4/5. For the setting and capture of real history 8/5. Total 5/5
Iconic album! Not a big fan of early JC but this was an electrifying performance. Cocaine Blues was a highlight.
No private session used for Spotify. The music is really basic, but hey when its Cash's deep timbre of a voice singing it makes it work.
Classic for a reason
What stands out to me other than the raw talent on display is how well the album works live. The ongoing banter and interaction with the crowd bring such life to an at times somber, at times fun, and at times dark performance that encapsulates Johnny Cash as an artist in such a powerful way. It's perfectly authentic and atmospherically on brand in such a way you can almost picture Cash in front of you performing. Cash conveys the emotion of the songs and you're captivated by a magnificent storyteller who hooks you the way an invigorating show on streaming would. 1. Folsom Prison Blues 2. Cocaine Blues 3. Jackson Honorable Mention: Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart Musically, it's simple with its folky undertones while maintaining a level of purity that elevates it beyond what another artist could bring to the table. All the way through, there's not a song on here I'd skip as it'd take away from the experience. Every high and low is a journey Cash alone was capable of taking us through. I agree this could be one of the best live albums ever recorded. From legendary hits to harmonic solos, the album is full of life even in its simplicity. For these reasons, I give At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash 4.5/5 stars
I loved the energy on this album - a really great live album. Sometimes the songs feel a little bit too similar, but I still really enjoyed it. Fav song: Jackson Least fav: Cocaine Blues
Always love a bit of Johnny cash. The announcements throughout like it’s someone on the mic in Tesco is ahite funny as well. Imagine you’re having a once in a lifetime chance to see Johnny cash live and you get called to reception. Specific rating - 3.9 Fav song- Folsom prison blues Least fav- the long black veil
Have to admit I'm not usually a live album fan, but this is a whole different universe- the audience is what makes this album incredible. You can really feel the atmosphere: the announcements, Johnny Cash's little comments, the cheers, the laughs- but my absolute favourite part is when he mentions Folsom in Cocaine Blues and you hear a little whoop- like someones shouted out your hometown in a song. Favourite song: Folsom Prison Blues (also love Greystone Chapel) Least: Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog
It's only 12:01 AM and my day is already ruined since I saw Johnny's judgmental face staring down at me. Wasn't one Johnny Cash live album enough? (/sarcasm, but also serious.) Guess who's earned his one-way ticket to my worse rated artists? ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ )
Great live album. Hadn’t heard many of these.
7,6/10 country nice
Terrible. Nothing good about this album other than the songs being short. Bad songwriting, same instrumentals and just an overrated voice with nothing special. He talks about being on death row or something and just came off disturbing. Just very repetitive so it’s a 2.6 1.3/5
I've never been much of a fan of Country and Western music, but when I first heard this album, I was blown away. It's fantastic, and even it's flaws and oddities add to the experience. The man knew how to entertain an audience, going from light-hearted fun to reflective songs. Do yourself a favour, and have a listen to the whole things.
Classic !
Genre: Country One of the best live albums of all time, and one I’d almost consider to be a concept album (“what if we did a live show in a prison?”), presented in a way that humanized one of country’s biggest stars, and put him back on the map. For a time. Johnny Cash has some of his best moments in this record. Beautiful ballads, moments of pure comedy, tremendous takes on true classics, all with the backdrop of a gaggle of prisoners laughing and cheering. The warden sometimes steps to the mic to address certain inmates, while the band resets behind him. It’s such a rewarding listen each and every time, and Johnny Cash’s beautiful bass voice and the easy country stylings make it even more so. 5/5
I've said it a few times, I'm not a huge fan of live albums unless they're amazing. This one is amazing. 4/5 stars
Gear: HEDD Audio HEDDphone Two Artwork: 👨💼🥵🆒 Production: 🥩🙂👌 Music: 🔫💀🥳 Rating: 🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️(🏛️)/5
Johnny Cash is one of the best artist of all!
Johneh
Ya lo había escuchado, pero está guapísimo tbh. Animalada por momentos. Increíbles las llamadas a los presos entre canciones y los comentarios de Johnny Cash.
in love
An incredibly entertaining album, from a great entertainer in an unusual and entertaining setting.
I've never listened to a Johnny Cash album but have always been curious to. Yey. Ok so blues. But this is the kind of blues I can get behind. More rhythm based. Second track's cool too. Love his voice, really suits the genre. He's funny too. Third track's short and sweet. Cocaine Blues is a tale about drug, marital murder, and a trial. A lot of fun too. 25 Minutes continues with the fun times. Love the drumming and the harmonica on Orange Blossom Special. A lot of fun too. The Long Black Veil is a murder ballad, but also a love song (?) about cheating and betrayal. Send a Picture of Mother is sad and sweet. Jackson, with what seems to be participation from an audience member is, taking the risk of repeating myself, a lot of fun! The songs I didn't mention weren't bad, I just didn't have much to say about them. As this is not my genre, I can't quite comment on technique. So just saying that I like something is just boring. I really liked this album! Even if blues isn't really my genre of choice, this was very accessible. The playing's a lot of fun, and the vocals are great. Song subjects too. I do like the first half more than the second, as the first is faster and more dancey, and the second has some ballads along the way. Definitely worth a listen!
An absolute classic. Who today would record a live album at a prison?
If y'all are interested in trivia, look up Mr. B, his brain implant, and his sudden obsession with Johnny Cash
Solid album.
When I was just a baby My mama told me "Son don't you go to prison, or you might hear one if the most legendary album recordings live" And I replied like "Goo goo ga ga" or some shit I don't even live in the US Anyway this man had crazy aura
If any live album should make this list it's this one. Everything I liked about the other one but even better
A classic and not my preferred style of music, but this one transcends genre. Outstanding.
Country music was much better when it was about doing cocaine, getting arrested, and doing crimes.
This album is fucking insane, right? It’s Johnny Cash singing about drugs and murder, in front of prisoners, who applaud it. Normally, I hate getting the live albums, but this is a clear exception. And not just because it’s recorded in prison. There’s just something between the warden announcements and Johnny’s Cash carefree nature that make this just… real. Even the set list is top notch. Outside the songs about the crime and stuff, there’s a lot of songs that reflect on the melancholy of the audience’s reality. It kind of humanizes them. Hell, even picking one of the inmate’s songs to end the show was a hell of a choice. I won’t say this pushed itself to the top of my list. Some of this album is a little samey, but nothing that made it feel too detrimental. This is a rare live album that everyone needs to experience. Favorite track: Cocaine Blues Other hits: Folsom Prison Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Flushed From The Bathroom Of Your Heart, Jackson, Greystone Chapel, Give My Love To Rose, The Wall, Send A Picture To Mother
Ace
really enjoyed listening to this, will definitely listen again
I dont like his music. This is okay But I dont like it But thats just my opinion, its not actively bad or evil, just something I think its unappealing and a little shit
“Hello! I’m Johnny Cash... and I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.” Desde una prisión estatal en Folsom, California, Johnny Cash dice esa frase que resume las múltiples capas de sentido que tiene este álbum en vivo. ¿Está hablando de su propia carrera? ¿Está haciendo una crítica al sistema carcelario de California? ¿Está llevando al folk, al rockabilly y al country a su límite más político y crudo? Lo único cierto es que solo un blanco puede salir impune de hacer un chiste sobre que no se puede putear en la cárcel porque el policía de Columbia Records nos está vigilando. Entre risas, murmullos e interludios hablados, las cuerdas del banjo country hacen que la carrera carcelaria de Cash anhele libertad. Con su carrera yéndose en picada —atravesada por adicciones, arrestos y escándalos— decide que su fijación con las cárceles se convierta en el escenario de su próximo proyecto. La irreverencia y el privilegio clasista norteamericano de Johnny salió tan bien que, años más tarde, nos traería el Unplugged de Nirvana: otra postal del privilegio blanco en músicos norteamericanos con guitarras. El ritmo seco y constante de The Tennessee Three contrasta con los sonidos típicos de la cachiporra contra los barrotes que conocían los presidiarios. Tal vez ese fue el único día en que la banda sonora de esos hombres sonó distinta. Y para Johnny, ese escenario le permitió resignificar su carrera. Un montón de gente reunida en una prisión, creyendo en las segundas oportunidades y en una forma de igualdad que suena a ficción. Pero las preguntas quedan: ¿Qué pasa cuando ser un criminal te da el beneficio de tener una listening party con Johnny Cash? ¿Está el sistema penitenciario preparado para su propio Lollapalooza? ¿Qué sucede cuando los nombres del público solo aspiran a ser reingresados al sistema de reinserción, mientras el que está arriba del escenario termina en otro tipo de registros... como el Registro Nacional de Grabaciones de EE.UU.? 56 años después, Beyoncé dirá que el country tiene raíces afroamericanas —como todas las historias de emblemas nacionales yankees—, pero para 1968, que un blanco con guitarra, medio predicador y medio delincuente, cante una canción escrita por un presidiario de Folsom redefinió la política de los álbumes en vivo. Si ves a un grupo de personas que creen en las segundas oportunidades, y están en una especie de trance donde la igualdad parece real, y hay un escenario con un hombre blanco, medio predicador y medio delincuente... Usted no entró a una iglesia evangelista. Usted está At Folsom Prison.
Love Johnny Cash--I'd give it a 4-star for the music alone, but bumping that up to 5 for how visceral and compelling this is.
Pretty solid, might like San Quentin more
One of the best live albums on the planet. Brought a smile to my face every time the audience cheered; applause straight from the heart.
He's defiantly playing to the crowd, but I love how Johnny Cash is always making comments about how the guards hate him.
A good overall country music album. A GM always liked Folsom Prison Blues. Also liked some of the other songs.
I can’t really be objective about this album, because it’s one of my favorite Johnny Cash albums. All the songs are great. The humor and the interstitial bits make it really unique. God bless Johnny Cash for bringing some joy and music to incarcerated folks.
A must-listen.
This album has some great music, though it doesn't have a lot of my favorite Cash sounds even from that era. But it's about the performance and the immersive feel of it and the way he connects with his audience. However edited it may be, it still feels like a moment, an event, and it's iconic.
This has got to be one of the greatest live albums of all time. Cash’s dialogue with the inmates, band and his wife just adds to the flavor. Every song is solid and well done. One of my favorites.
I've never really connected with Johnny Cash, though I've heard this a bunch of times and admire it a great deal. The trappings of the setting and his banter are more compelling to me than the actual music, but that's no fault of Mr. Cash.
It’s all right but I’m not a big fan
Love it. Johnny is crazy charismatic and the prison as the backdrop cements this an iconic album.
Finally found a country album I like. Maybe I am a little bit country.
It was alright. Cool concept though. 3 stars
One of those reminders there's good country out there! Not the sort of thing I'd listen to at random, but it makes for a really good album and just absolutely solid listening experience. Really hard to beat Cash when it comes to country stuff.
I'm not usually crazy about live albums, and was surprised to see this one on here - but my girlfriend loves Johnny Cash and I was ready to give this a shot. I really loved this - so much heart, laughter, and energy. Learning about the background of this album was really cool too. Can't wait for more Johnny Cash!
A goddamn stone-cold country classic. We need more country with this energy today - Morgan Wallen would just say a racial slur if you asked his stupid ass to play in a prison.
I obviously don’t completely vibe with country, but you can’t hate Johnny Cash. Great storyteller, and the atmosphere of this is really fun.
Country is such an easy genre to trash, and yet I can't imagine anyone actually *hating* this album. Johnny Cash is charismatic as hell, has the least twangy voice in the game, and is giving a heartfelt performance to an audience that is having the time of their lives. That energy is absolutely contagious. This won't really go into my rotation, but I had a good time and I'm sure even a Country hater could appreciate the live atmosphere here. Standout: 25 Minutes To Go
Truly a GOAT live album. Good mix of upbeat and tragic and fantastic and the prisoner cheering gives it good atmosphere. This is a perfect intro to country or intro to Johnny Cash album too.
Fun album to listen to! Not a Blues fan, but this is a classic.
This was good, but basic. Fun album that is solid, but it isn't really a standout. Love how the crowd sounds and reacts/interacts. REAL! It sounds clean tho. It is a classic. Actual...3.5. Liked Songs: "Folsom Prison Blues" , "I Still Miss Someone" , "Cocaine Blues" , "Orange Blosom Special" , "Send a Picture of Mother" , "Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart" , "I Got Stripes" , "Green, Green Grass of Home"
I'm not a big fan of Johnny Cash's music in general, mostly because most of his songs just sound too similar. BUT this was a very good live album. 3.25
Me gusta cuando me toca un disco que se grabó en directo, suena más divertido.
'Hello, I'm Johnny Cash.' Hardly a live album: alive is more its tune, since this one gets into your bones. From one to the next, the tracks here roll effortlessly, a set perfectly balanced w/ the upbeat and the tragic. In reality, it's all tragic, the right mode for this captive audience, now clearly feeling the pangs of freedom, at least for the moment. Cash is the definition of an American classic, in the lineage of Hawthorne and Ice Cube: America's dark side, but a vital dark, 'the green green grass of home.'
Very good
And yet another great album. It's great how Cash plays with his audience, how he fires things up with his characteristic shuffle, but even more so with a couple of very sentimental songs, 'Give my love to Rose' especially. 'Folsom Prison blues', 'Cocaine blues', 'I got stripes' and 'The wall' are truly great songs and performances. There's also a lowlight, with 'Jackson' and to a lesser extent the silly christian 'Greystone chapel'. Sorry ma'am, but I really can't stand June Carters (Cash') singing...
My partner's words: We listened to Elvis right after so I have a hard time keeping them apart, but I liked it. It sounds old. Didn't recognise any songs. Maybe one. I like his voice. It was nice that it was a live album. Don't think the songs were that different from each other, didn't notice it was a new one sometimes. I liked this more than Amy Winehouse. That was harder to listen to and I don't like her voice as much. I can listen to this again.
Classic, give me an album of my man just yapping and it's getting 5 stars.
Fairly decent for country.
#646. This is way better than the San Quentin one. 4/5: yes
Enjoyed the commentary between songs.
Never understood the fuss about going to Jackson, Wyoming. Been there, it's fine.
"I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die" "Woooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!" Listened to B4? Yes Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: 2 - Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues Standout Tracks: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Jackson (90/100)
Ok, so I guess I'm not actually opposed to live albums in the list, as this one is iconic and clearly worthy of inclusion. Great songs, great performance, great recording, great story
Magnânimo. Não sou fã de álbuns gravados ao vivo, mas este aqui é outra coisa. É outro mundo. É o molde que todo outro disco assim deveria seguir. Neste álbum, a platéia é basicamente mais um instrumento da orquestra. E as interações de Cash com a platéia vende completamente o LP, essas interações são engraçadas e elas transbordam carisma. O homem conquista e envolve a multidão de forma leve e jocosa. Não é difícil se imaginar ali no meio, sendo um dos detentos, ouvindo estas lindas canções performadas tão perfeitamente, às vezes ornamentadas por algum anúncio no PA de um guarda. A voz de Johnny Cash se assemelha a voz de um anjo, as letras são profundas e contam histórias fascinantes e envolventes. A banda não falha em um único momento. E olha só Bob Dylan, uma gaita que não nos estupra!! Aqui temos, sem dúvida, o suprassumo do Country. Um disco obrigatório na coleção de todo mundo, e um que se deve ouvir de acordo com as temporadas, de vez em quando, com moderação para que, toda vez que você o ouça, você ainda seja pego de surpresa tanto pela beleza das faixas quanto pelas colocações inesperadas de Johnny. Ótimo! 5/5
Goes to play a live performance in a prison, nice and uplifting for the prisoners... Al song are about being stuck in prison or getting the death penalty. The prisoners seem to love it, it's a wonderful time to listen to it, then trying to make him laugh is another great touch.
Not bad, nice live.
I still don't like live albums. I only liked three songs from this album.
You can’t beat Cash singing about being a criminal, love at a prison. This album is an all timer
I do like me some Johnny C.
Creo que es uno de los mejores en su especie, este álbum es también para Cash un punto culminante de su carrera, su despegue absoluto, de allí...
Not my favorite style of music but I can appreciate how legendary this live album is.
Not a fan of live albums but you have to make an exception for Folsom Prison!
Great album
Dark
Well, I don't like country and/or western music ... except Johnny Cash. Love it. Especially great are Fulsom Prison Blues, 25 Minutes to Go and Jackson. That June Carter can sing! 4/5
All-timer
Another Johnny Cash live album, and once again from a prison, though this time, the infamous Folsom Prison. There's more songs in this performance, but less playful banter. In terms of a live album, it's alright, but Johnny Cash's live show is better with banter, stories, and his charming personality.
Cash sounds more alive in prison than he had in years. A rowdy crowd fuels him; the energy’s sharp, sweaty, and mean. One of the greatest live albums ever.
Done
Not a country fan generally but I like the energy of these live prison albums
Favorites: (All of them?) Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog, Flushed from the bathroom of your heart, Jackson, I got stripes, Greystone Chapel Probably the greatest live record of all time. No skips.
Fun album. 3.5 stars
3/5
Epitome of outlaw and punk. No one else but the man in black would have the balls to walk into a prison snd sing about murder, drugs, and walking death row
Surprisingly dark
Awesome.
A little misogynistic but so was 50 cent, Eminem, and Snoop..
I dislike country but this is a perfect album. The story, the performance, songs selected and the prder in which they were arranged. All in all a perfect conbination of music that I can't hate onnpr find amy flaws not to give it a 5. Its the best country album ever
The only time I’m proud to be an American is when I listen to Johnny cash
Great album. Good sound, every track is solid. Old country
Excited for this one. I don't think I've ever listened to it all the way through. Track 1 is obviously famous. A track that probably couldn't be made today. I love the understated "Hello, I'm Johhny Cash" at the beginning. Track 2 find Johnny slowing things down. Funny "outtake" in the middle when he talks to the audience. Pretty good song overall Track 3 is a wistful number. Short and sweet. Track 4 speeds things up back with a track the prisoners really enjoyed. Another track that might not make past the censors these days which is a shame. A lot of fun. Track 5 is one of favorites from the album. I love the countdown theme. He does a great job with it, even though its a gimmick-y concept. Track 6 is incredible. I've always had a soft spot for songs that sound like trains. The harmonica work is fun. I really like how "live" this album is. It makes you feel as if you were there...as much as possible. Track 7 slows things down, highlighting his songwriting. And his beautiful baritone voice. Another great moment when he breaks into laughter. Track 8 highlights the juxtaposition between Johnny's outlaw lifestyle and his deep faith. It's always fascinated me. Track 9 seems to be written purely for this show. Another great laugh and comment to the crowd. I'm really enjoying this album Track 10 an ode to fido. "A man has nothing else!' Track 11 is a filler track. Silly metaphors. The crowd loved it though so who am I to judge. Track 12 is a duet with June Carter. The really appreciated the vigor in which she sang with. One of the standout tracks from the album. Track 13 is another love ballad. One of the better ones on the album. He really had a way with words, that the everyman could understand and relate to. Track 14 is fun and jaunty. He has done a good job ramping up and slowing down and than ramping up again. A nice mix. Track 15 begins with his full-full baritone which is incredible. A superb rendition of the this traditional ballad. Track 16 is the closing track. It was written by an inmate of the prison. A gospel tune to finish it off. It was a big hit with the inmates. That was fun. Not a lot of revolutionary music but a great insight into one of the 20th century's biggest character is the music industry. 4.1/5
I love this album. Johnny Cash is great as always, but more than that, the way he is able to connect with the prisoners is so nice and I always felt like this was significant to them. The little snip-it's of prison announcements and him between songs, it's just so cool to be able to experience. The music is great, but what this album represents makes it so much more.
I mean what’s there to say? Perhaps the most iconic opening to an album. Cash at his peak. Candid moments of laughter and snatches of conversation. Very well recorded and preserved. 10/10
Obviously a classic. I would even go so far as to say that of the MULTIPLE Johnny Cash live in a prison albums we have already covered, THIS is the superior one. And I also feel pretty confident that if you heard this one but not the other one, it would be OK to go ahead and die if you needed to. And welcome to the group, Willie!
Literally at Folsom prison!
Love this album.
Speaking of J. Cash, the movie was great!
The concept is so cool! An album recorded in a prison with songs which relate to them. Also Johnny cash seemed like a pretty funny and chilled guy.
My favorite Johnny Cash album.
Tolerable country. It's alright, some of the themes are interesting to some extent, but it mostly sounds the same. The vibe is fun and the interactions with the inmates are iconic. Best song: Folsom Prison Blues Worst song: Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog Cover check: Looks like a live album
Nice live album
51/1001. I am not a big fan of country music but Johnny Cash is an exception and this album is the best live album in the world, period. Anyone not agreeing with this should spend some time in their local prison and wait in vain for such a gig to happen. Love that it includes all the interruptions, booing to the prison staff, hickups and mistakes and stories. The atmosphere is thick with imprisoned joy and anger. I feel this could have lead to a riot.
It’s clear why Johnny Cash is considered one of the greats. Even if his music isn’t my preferred genre, the performance quality can’t be denied.
Super cool idea to have a live performance at a prison. Despite this I was quite surprised to see a live album here. Not only is it a novel idea, it's also a very cosy listen. The songs are nice, and perhaps get a bit one-note in some ways, but also have their own little things that make them unique and stay interesting, and the listen itself doesn't get boring at all until perhaps the final stretch, as you get little pockets of Johnny's personality poking through, and cleverly placed crowd ambience, which really sets the listen apart from the usual, studio recorded album. Folsom Prison Blues was a cool song to start on, being about the prison it's being sung at. Nice melodies and a soulful performance, with very nice musical intermissions. Dark as the Dungeon was decent, but the laughing in the middle, and the outro, make it stand out. Really drives home how this is all done live, and shows how easy it is to forget that, even two tracks in, as the quality of the performance is just that good. Aside from brief crowd noises, it still feels like a standard recording, tried time and time again for perfection. I Still Miss Someone was a bit short, and I found it weird how the outro from the last track bled into the intro here, but the song itself wasn't bad. Cocaine Blues is the most energetic performance so far and while Johnny doesn't keep up as perfectly as the other songs, it's still a great performance and doesn't fail to excite. The outro was hilarious too. 25 Minutes to Go is the most memorable lyrically so far with the whole countdown thing, and Johnny gives it some nice flair with his vocal inflections too. You can tell he's having fun as he does the performance. Caught me off guard when he said 'seven' more minutes instead of 'four' more minutes. Orange Blossom Special is a nice change of pace as he brings out the harmonica. Big prison vibes, if that's even a thing. The Long Black Veil was also pretty funny halfway through, and also a nice song to slow the pace down. Bit of a shame how long the outro is, but I love these humanising moments, going through these albums each day it's easy to forget about the actual people behind the albums, and this performance has so many little moments where it's like 'oh yeah, these are real people here' and it almost makes you feel like you're there, as cliche as that might sound. Send a Picture of Mother was nice. Not much else to say about it, but I did like it. The Wall is equally pleasant, even if it does talk about suicide. Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog is just funny to me, very memorable. Short but sweet. Especially how I'm pretty sure he described it as a love song in the previous song's outro. Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart was also kinda funny with how surreal(?) and creative the lyrics get. Jackson mixes thing up with a duet, and it works really well. The setlist of this performance is really good at keeping things varied and interesting. Give My Love to Rose was a bit boring to me, even though I did like the lyrics. Wasn't a huge fan of I Got Stripes either, though I can't quite put my finger on why. I think I must be fatigued at this point because Green, Green Grass of Home isn't hitting either. Having said this, I'm surprised it didn't get tiring earlier, since while they mostly have unique identities, a lot of the songs sound similar rhythmically and instrumentally. Greystone Chapel is a nice way to finish the record, being a song that someone else from the prison wrote. Has a nice vibe to it. I didn't really get what was happening in the outro though, and kinda ruins the replay value for an individual listen. Seemed unnecessary, apart from reminding you that it was in fact a prison lol. FAVOURITES - Folsom Prison Blues; Dark as the Dungeon; 25 Minutes to Go; Send a Picture of Mother; Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog; Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart LEAST FAVOURITES - I Still Miss Someone; Give My Love to Rose; I Got Stripes
It being live in a prison really adds to it, the album wouldn't be the same without the cheers of the crowd and other interactions with them. His voice is really good too and the band does great. The only real criticism is by the end it has become a little samey, the novelty having worn off somewhat, though they're still decent songs. Folsom Prison Blues - sounds good, idk how he's allowed to be saying this in prison, talking about shooting a man just see him die. Dark as the Dungeon - much less upbeat, I love when he calls out the laughing, a moment only a live album could bring. And the little jab at Columbia records, fun. I Still Miss Someone - good Cocaine Blues - way faster tempo, Im liking it, his voice is always good, I'm especially liking when the music cuts out, love when he clears his throat on that one line. Like the lyrics too. 25 Minutes to Go - this sounds decent, if it weren't for the vocal inflections at the end I wouldn't see much reason to listen to this over the tracks we've already heard so far. It's quite fun sounding despite the dark subject matter. Orange Blossom Special - does indeed feature his harmonicai and it sounds pretty good. The Long Black Veil - a slower song, quite nice. Send a Picture of Mother - another good track. The Wall - pretty good too, about a man who tried to escape. Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart - at this point I was thinking its getting a little repetitive and is going to feel weak on the backend (it still did) but the laughs and cheers throughout this really pulled me back in. Fun track. I Got Stripes - by here I wasn't paying most attention but as for the last bunch of songs this stood out as one of the better ones. Best - Folsom Prison Blues, Dark as the Dungeon, Cocaine Blues, Orange Blossom Special Worst - 25 Minutes to Go, Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog
3.5
3.5
This was a mostly solid album, but generally forgettable. That's just how most Cash is for me though. I like his style in small doses, and his hits are great. The live format works well and sounds really good for Cash. I liked Johnny's banter with the crowd between (and during) songs. Standouts were "Folsom Prison Blues" "Cocaine Blues" Pretty standard 3/5 for me here. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
Love me some Johnny Cash. One of the few country artists I can stomach and listen to without getting annoyed. Classic album with a ton of listens from top to bottom. "Folsom Prison Blues" is such a well known track (265M listens!), still being covered today, so influential all these years later. You can feel the energy in the room, it was the perfect song to kick this show off with. It's a great playlist for a bunch of guys locked up. "25 Minutes" sounds like it was a difficult one to get through, but it's a live rendition and he's feeding his audience. This is raw live stuff, you can hear the crowd, they included the announcements about prisoners who are needed elsewhere and his need for a glass of water. He's a storyteller, this must have been a real treat for the guys in lockup. Short songs, relatable to the prisoners. Most sound just like the one before it, not much variation, one trick pony. This may have redefined live albums released later on. It was enjoyable but I can't say it's a fantastic album or T1001 worthy. 3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5. Only not 5 because I like San Quentin better LOL - these prison albums are just perfection in my eyes. I love hearing the inmates, Johnny’s joy and grit in performance, and the music and covers are just perfection.
Найвідоміший запис живого виступу Кеша, що повернув йому колишню славу. Того року він одружився з Джун Картер, яка допомогла йому подолати залежність від амфетамінів, та записав цей приголомшливий виступ. Як ви напевно здогадались по назві - виступ відбувався у суворій каліфорнійській тюрмі та був заряджений неймовірною напругою. Усі ці вигуки енергійної тюремної публіки буквально є тут частиною самої музики та додають емоційності та атмосфери не менше ніж спів самого Джонні. Пісні по тематиці тут також обирались не випадково. Концерт відкриває Folsom Prison Blues, що була особливо близька слухачам у залі. Кеш ніби одразу каже «Хлопці я свій!», особливо коли зухвало співає “Я засміявся шерифу в обличчя й плюнув йому в око”. Після цього чути рев схвалення, та стає зрозуміла, що межа між артистом та публікою майже стерта. Далі лунають душевні речі про спокуту, здобуту через болючі уроки втрат: від пронизливих зізнань помираючого колишнього в’язня в Give My Love to Rose до «сильної» Greystone Chapel, що присвячена тюремній каплиці. Найціквіший на найбільш аутентичний запис живого концерту який я чув на сьогоднішній день, шедевр та класика яку потрібно послухати кожному, обов’язково вчитуючись в текст.
Over rated. Boring songs, very samey, annoying crowd interaction
Highlight Song/s: Folsom Prison Blues, Dark as the Dungeon, The Long Black Veil, Give My Love to Rose and Greystone Chapel When it comes to live albums it probably doesn't get more infamous than this one; the one where Johnny Cash and his crew showed their humanity to the prisoners. Big fan of the track picks for this album which of course have prison, death and longing as themes. I am also a big fan of the stage banter on this one (especially on Dark as the Dungeon), it gives the album such a lighthearted feel to it.
Album flows pretty good, nice country vibe. Its Johnny cash
.....I've lost all motivation to put effort into rating songs now
a live album is always fun and I love Green, Green Grass of Home.
The audience – whose caterwauling would indicate they’re being held captive by Cash’s charisma just as much as by the actual law – whoops notably a few times throughout this record. “The green, green grass of home” gets a sentimental, spontaneous applause; June Carter’s gravely attack in verse two of “Jackson” inspires some audible excitement; there are titters, I think, through the whole of “Flushed from the bathroom of your heart”. But the big one, for me, is the “wooo!” won by Johnny for killing a man in Reno “just to watch him die.” For a long time I’ve wondered what’s behind the longevity of Cash. It might be that his songs, sparse and direct, are the absolute embodiment of keeping it simple; or, on the flip side, that his talents go so far beyond those typically expected of a musician that he could stand as an important figure in a number of fields. What he’s doing is equal parts literary, historical, sociological, folkish and comedic – a special and refined artistry. So while my incarceration in this challenge might be voluntarily, it’s a pleasure to join the ranks of the late 60’s wrong-uns for a run through Johnny’s “idiot sheet”. My conclusion: this is a timeless collection of songs performed in a place where time is the ultimate punishment – a subtle symbolism that amplifies every intensity of the material, lionising the character at the centre of it all in the process. An experience that delivers you back to the moment every single time you play it. Johnny’s moment, forever.
This guy can PERFORM, enjoyed most songs even though some of the lyrics were a bit 💀 though. Highlights: Orange Blossom Special
Enjoyed most songs except, 'Dirty Old Egg-suckin' dog'
I especially like when the inmates cheer when he talks about cocaine and killing people An incredible live album, Johnny Cash has an amazing voice and then you add June Carter in there and it’s perfect! Fav songs: Folsom Prison Blues, Orange Blossom Special, Jackson
Terrific Johnny Cash music
Listened on vinyl
What a voice, sense of humor, and interaction with the audience. Pure talent. Not 100 percent my cup of tea, but I still enjoyed it.
Glad to listen to him! This was great! Cool idea of recording at the prison
This is just a classic album. The performance is iconic. Cash is in great form during this performance. I would run out of superlatives describing Live at Folsom Prison. I like all the songs, and the haunting way he sings 25 Minutes to Go gets me everytime. Top notch all around by Cash. This is a 5 rating for me. 5/5
Best country
track 1: good start track 2: THE LYRICISM!!! track 3: short but sweet track 4: OMG THE STORYTELLING HAHAHAH track 5: I love this D3ath row song so much, that last lyric is so impressive hahahaha track 6: Harmonicassss track 7: what a sad song :( track 8: This song low key made me cry inside :'( track 9: I love the story behind this song track 10: HAHAHAHAHA what a bad dog track 11: Love the lyricism :D track 12: I love the duet with June Carter track 13: this song is so sad :( track 14: my least favorite track compared to the others before, but still a good track track 15: this song caught me off guard ngl hahahahah track 16: shouout to the one who wrote this song, what a gorgeous outro (10/10) THIS IS WHAT YOU CALL A GREAT LIVE ALBUM
Great album, I've heard it many times. I love the vibe of Johnny being so chatty with the audience and how he relates to everyone there.
What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said, other than the "oh hell yes" I uncontrollably uttered when it popped up as today's selection? Everything that is good and vibrant about the American country music tradition is present here - empathy, longing, tragedy, murder, dirty jokes, gallows humor, family ties, faithless and faithful women and men, poorly behaved dogs, the erasure of the boundary between the speaker and the hearer. Most of all there is honesty here, real as the beads of sweat dripping down the side of Cash's face on the album's cover as he looks out at the assembled denizens of the California State Prison System. There but for the grace of God goes he.
had his own sound
I really liked it :] I enjoyed his voice,with and story telling. Seemed like the crowd enjoyed it as well ^_^
very funny bits of conversation i liked that part
9/10 Favorite Song: Cocaine Blues The record is a live album, but it's more than that, it's an experience. Cash strides into Folsom as if he is a king, and he plays to the audience like he cares. You can feel the anxiety, the roars of the crowd, the applause, everything about the recording sounds alive. "Cocaine Blues" is the first song, and it is fast and hard-hitting. The crowd loved it, and you can sense that they're not just being entertained, they are being understood as prisoners at Folsom. The rawness to the whole thing makes it connect more than a studio album would. The band sounds tight, Cash is dialed in, and even the mistakes he makes or the chit-chat between songs only adds to the appeal. It is gritty, real, and full of soul. This is the kind of album that you get why Johnny Cash was important.
Classic in all possible ways!
Live albums have taken a while to click for me, but now they really do, thanks to albums like "Alchemy" (Dire Straits), and this is yet another one that really works for me. Cash is on fire here - laughing, joking with the audience, (Dark as the Dungeon has a great moment where he reminds the audience not to laugh as the performance is being recorded), and that voice is just...fun to listen to. I really enjoyed this. Solid 4.
The record defines what it means to have a good live audience. The charged reactions of the prison population throughout all this is just fantastic. I could take or leave the music, largely.
A wildly entertaining evening spent with Cash, his wife June, and 2,000 odd prison inmates. As a live performance this is exactly what I love: the performer takes us into the room with him and his audience and give us a glimpse into the energy of that moment. Everything in the show has this off the cuff feel to it that is so obviously engineered by Cash to get a rise out of the inmates. But I can’t help but be charmed. The songs tell authentic stories about the damned and downtrodden, and they’re often amusing. This is a really great album. Well worth coming back to in my opinion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good prison music
Never been a fan of live albums, or particularly a fan of Cash, but that's now changed! What an incredible record. Raw, visceral, violent and very, very funny.
Old time country, but surprisingly pretty enjoyable. Maybe it was because this album was the live rendition, really felt the energy of the performance. 4
Klassikko! Tykkään kovin kovin paljon. 4/5
Hyvä ja kiinnostava livelevy! En oo isoin cash-fani, mutta toimiihan tämmönen hittikimara.
Legend
Love it!! One of my few favorite live albums.
Stripped down and raw. Singing about dark subjects in front of a crowd of prisoners. It doesn't get much better than this. I've mentioned before that I'm not the biggest fan of country music, but Johnny is one of the few that gets beyond the "country" label. A legendary performance by a legendary musician.
At first 8 was against Live albums on this list, as I feel we should just explore studio works. But the nice thing about the live albums that have popped up so far, is they are more than just a live album, but they have a story and include a piece for musical history.
One of my favorite live albums. The live audience is great.
I remember watching the live verson (and the Hollywoodized version) of this, and wow, Cash has such stage presence and performing in a prison lets you sing about the most depraved topics.
I absolutely love this album. It isn't something I'll listen to every day, but I return to it once or twice a year because it's one of the most ingenious and charismatic live albums. I might give a slight edge to Live at San Quentin because I like the song selection more, but the interactions with the "fans" at Folsom are fantastic. Callback to that terrible James Brown live album, but this is evidence that you can incorporate crowd-sounds without it being grating to listen to
One of the all time great live albums. Cash’s energy, his authenticity, the play with the audience. I’ve been listening while driving, so no in depth notes, but this is a masterpiece! I particularly love the way his sense of humor shines through.
Live albums are hard, but this one pulls it off. I'd call this 4.5 stars, rounding down.
Didn’t like any records on this one. Interesting Lyrical content as well.
he looks sweaty
LOVE
Ik zou dus zweren dat ik deze al had gehad. Blijkt dat dat dezelfde Jantje Contant was, maar dan in een andere gevangenis. Dus even serieus man, Robert D, je maakt een lijst met 1001 albums die men geluisterd moet hebben voordat ze het tijdelijke voor het eeuwige inwisselen en 2 albums daarvan zijn van één artiest, beide live opgenomen in een penetentiaire inrichting. Pure minachting van de luisteraar. Maargoed. Gelukkig betreft het Johannes Liquide die hier z'n verhaaltjes zingt en niet ik noem maar een André Hazes live vanuit de Koepel. En Jean Chartaal kunnen we goed hebben. Het blijft jolige country-achtige carnavals-achtige meuk maar dit is wel goed verteerbaar. Relatief hoog tempo, lekker veel liedjes, Jan heeft het naar z'n zin, het publiek heeft het naar hun zin. Joelende rowdy inmates altijd +1 moet oom Robert gedacht hebben. En gelijk heeft ie, onze ziener. Je moet wel heel zuur zijn om dit niet te kunnen waarderen. Sterretje of 3 à 4.
Rv/G
Cornelis Wreswijk but even older
not a country guy. 2.09
- wild to know the applause was added in post production that makes it so much weirder. to know the actual audience was silent ‘for fear of reprisal’ - “my idiot sheet” - by jove the gal singing on jackson can really sing! - sometimes wished my voice sounded like johnny cash but i am. a skinny white woman
Very fun album, wish I was more into cash than I am but the music doesnt really do it for me. However, I loved this as a live album
BANGER! Just some absolute country tunes one one of the best live albums of all time.
Not my cup of tea. Historically intereesting.
The story behind this album is great. He stayed true to the concept for over a decade before he saw it come to life. So raw and real. I gained much more respect for JC after seeing “Walk the Line”, (Joaquin was robbed for best actor that year BTW).
This was my first trip into the Cash live prison series, so I always liked it best. San Quinten is also good, but on personal taste this one is just a bit better. The banter between songs and even within songs makes it that much more interesting and authentic. A truly “live” record. And today IRL I learned that “25 Minutes to Go” was written by famed children’s author Shel Silverstein? Wow.
So much to like about this: the song selection being catered basically entirely to the inmates, the casual interruptions from the prison staff, the banter between Johnny and the audience… have always loved this one. I know there are other live records he did after this, but to me this has always been the one.
Damn he sounds great on this. Charisma for days and I actually enjoyed the few times he laughed and bantered with the crowd. Get the man some god damn water!
Rating this slightly higher than San Quentin... hits about the same for me. 4/5
When I saw this, I could SWEAR that I had already listened to it. Turns out it was Johnny Cash At San Quentin. "At Folsom Prison??? At San Quentin??? They're the same album!! Doesn't anybody else notice this? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!" In any event, I gave At San Quentin a 4, so I guess I have to give this one a 4 as well?
Johnny Cash at his best and one of the best live albums ever. However, i question why we have more than one Johnny Cash live album included on this list if they are going to limit it to the critical albums you need to hear before you die. Seems like a list of this nature should include only one of these albums as this album and San Quentin live are more or less the same, with the same grit, same irreverence and largely the same playlist.
Brilliant. Love the prisoner announcements .
Amazing songs, but the album is like a mixtape, or a radio. 5 stars.
Which Jesus do I need to pray to in order to not get any more Johnny Cash albums? I like baby Jesus the best, of course, but I'll pray to pre-teen Jesus if I need to, or obnoxious mid-20s Jesus, even. Just, please. No more Johnny Cash.
Standout Songs: Folsom Prison Blues Cocaine Blues 25 Minutes to Go Orange Blossom Special Dirty Old Egg-Suckin’ Dog Flushed from the Bathroom of Your Heart
Yeah, ok
One of the greats
Fantastic Cash. He always reminds me of dad. He liked Johnny Cash.
I've loved this album for years. I haven't it played it in a long time, but it hasn't lost any of its appeal. The live versions of these songs are my favorite versions; something about how and when the crowd decides to respond to passages adds so much contextual storytelling to the record. I also just love the simplicity of the songs themselves. 5/5
Listened for another list. Was decent. 3/5
Fun revisit. i perform 2 of these
Very good live album enjoyed a lot.
“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash” Has there ever been a more iconic opening line to a live album? Probably not. Some people might ask why there are two Johnny Cash prison albums on this list and I would say that they are both equally good, with distinct differences in tone. This album feels a little more playful, although the subject matter is as dark as ever - death, poverty, addiction, heartache and the brutal reality of life in prison. Cash even manages to find humour in a song about an inmate on death row counting down the minutes until his execution. The final track, Greystone Chapel, is notable for having being written by inmate Glen Sherley who was sat in the audience with no idea his song was about to be performed. He did actually work with Cash for a while after his release from prison in 1971, but he never managed to fully escape from his troubled past, Folsom having failed to deal with his many problems, and he sadly took his own life in 1978 aged just 42.
Do we need two prison albums from Cash? They both are good, I wouldn't be the guy making the pick, but I'm pretty sure we can live with only one in the list. This live is a bit less chaotic compared to St Quentin but Cash is still bantering a lot with the audience. The sound quality is pretty good. And it's a good best of for the guy.
Have it on vinyl.
Good country rock.
decent! stage presence is great. not necessarily my type of music but objectively good
Decent
Excellent
The only Cash album I’m familiar with and still a fav.