At Folsom Prison

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Johnny Cash singing about guns and coke in a prison...amazing.

Not my genre of music by any means, but some interesting tracks, and if I have to listen to Country it would definitely be Johnny

Began this journey on 1/21/2025/ Classic and simple feeling country. There is soul and humor through the 45min performance. Favorite songs “Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart” & “Jackson”

His crowd work is great. Songs are solid. Quite a good album.

eeeh classic, hani scho kennt. de vibe isch scho haarscharf. s banter findi ziemli amüsant, dass d gitarre teils ziemli outta tune isch passt au, und d sängerin findi gaht ab.

Probably what he is known for in the popular zeitgeist for the most. This album is everything it purports to be within the context. A man of the people, great songs and great recordings.

Normally, I read the album's Wikipedia article while I listen. It's impossible to read while Johnny is telling stories through song; he just commands my complete attention.

one of the quintessential live albums, walk the line!! My mom is a huge huge cash fan. He's one of those artists that will probably never get the recognition he probably deserves, but that shouldn't take anything away from the impact he had on music in America at the time. He's so in control in this performance and what a badass performing at the prison. I do NOT like country music... but Johnny cash is fun. He's genuinely crazy and I fuck with it.

I generally don't like live albums, but this is really well recorded, and absolutely Johnny Cash in his best voice- he's so weary and silky on these recordings. I know Johnny Cash pretty well, and I have my favourites, of which Folsom Prison Blues is definitely one of them. Obviously, the set list was meant to appeal to convicts- a lot of it reminds me of Nick Cave's Murder Ballads. In Cocaine Blues (supposedly written by someone in the prison!) and The Long Black Veil the narrators aren't depicted that positively, but playing in the prison at all seems like an inherently liberal thing to do. I don't think Cash's set was designed to help reform anyone, but maybe the stories are meant to help analyse the men who have done bad things so they felt understood. That being said, "If only I had not tried to escape" in Send a Picture of Mother definitely does sound a bit didactic, and The Wall is basically a tale of how trying to leave is fruitless and will drive you to suicide. 25 Minutes to Go really stuck out for me, it feels like a dangerous thing to sing in front of prisoners- I assume no one who was allowed to go to the gig was on death row, but it's insensitive in a way I found funny, despite how horribly dark the subject matter is. All the live asides are wonderful, and give a great idea of Cash's fearlessness in being there- his reputation as an outlaw country star and many arrests meant this could have been bad PR, but in a very modern way he's owning that narrative. I'm reminded of Brandi Carlile's prison recordings at a women's prison, which I think she must have done in reference to this, but have a totally different energy- though they're both singing songs about how difficult life is for poor people in America, Brandi's feminist angle seems genuinely anti incarceration, while Cash is kind of glorifying the convicts he's playing to.

This is one of the best live albums I've ever heard, and it just makes me love Johnny Cash more and more. From reading up a bit, this was after he got clean from his drug addiction and was a turning point for his career, he even said so himself. He had been inspired from a film to write 'Folsom Prison Blues' and he always wanted to do a performance at a prison and so Folsom Prison was the obvious choice. To start his live show with that track is perfection ('I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die'....wow), and he keeps up the use of prison and law breaking tracks throughout which, again, is brilliant. Can we talk about Cocaine Blues though??? Not only is it great bluesy country track that keeps you bopping throughout but to hear Johnny singing to inmates about taking cocaine and shooting his woman down, and to hear them whooping and hollering. Just great. I am a big fan of 'The Wall', and the reception he gets from his audience is what makes it. Talking about the warden and getting the response he gets and then Johnny not being able to keep in his laughter or replying to them is why we listen to live albums I think, because it takes you right there and you can imagine exactly how it was to be there. The silence that follows from the audience though too is just as loud to me, as you remember these are all men in prison who probably have all had the dark thoughts in The Wall. Ending the album with a song written by an inmate, and then we hear from the warden himself with an announcement - a perfect ending. The album captures it all, and keeps going when the crowd is leaving. You are right there and Johnny has put smiles on faces that even though we have no idea why they're in prison, I can't help but being glad Johnny went and did this.

Guay

The unsinkable legend.

I have a personal leaning against country... Or at least that's what I keep telling myself. My slowcore preference and my love of Wilco says otherwise... Either way, this was really fun! The back-and-forth between Johnny Cash and the prisoners is fun as hell. Pretty much all good songs, both really dark and very funny at times. RYM was at 4/5.

Fun immersive theatre live performance and good old fashioned country

I got into the album, already informed about its uniqueness. An album tailored to the people of the Folsom prison. A performance that is clearly deemed brilliant from the people of Folsom. A once in a lifetime opportunity, created by a person that just overcame his battles with use. A scene created just for him to be at his best. These are not opinions of mine, rather the long list of brilliances from the educated public. I now share these few ideas and I am willing to add something of mine to the pool. With his strong background of struggles I am willing to bet money that this was no random choice of repertoire. This man is at ease around criminals, possibly thieves, murderers, people with danger written all over their face. Yet he feels at ease. He can perform. He can laugh. He can exchange jokes, conversation. He is willing to do that, not only with ease, but with class. I would give a 5 out of 5 just for the performance part. Nevertheless, I have to make justice to the tracks. I will take a leap and say that some of those laughs and claps were pure. A pure laugh even from a single corrupted soul is a premonition about the strategic selection of those smile-inducing tracks. The music intelligence of creating tracks that do not go over the line, that resemble the emotional staleness of having adapted to a place that is your never-wanted house. The type of controlled emotional expression required to get these men, that are probably emotionally detached or rather have sometime in their life learned to be, to let go and enjoy the show, I am not sure if I am overstating this but I feel that it is exactly what gives justice to the music. This is by no means a perfect musical voice, a perfect melody, a perfect album but it is one of the best crafted one’s that do not just relay on the music to be special, because it is more that music, it is a way to understand what music represents! With all that being said, I cannot give it a 5 out of 5 because this is not solely about the performance and uniqueness, this album for me lacks just one thing… This musical wow factor, a thing that I will find down the road and a thing that personally I value just a little bit more than everything previously stated. P.S. I wish I could see a video recording of this “concert”

It’s classic Cash for sure.

This was a fun one, I love a bit of Johnny Cash though most of my favourite songs by him weren't actually on this one except for Folsom Prison Blues. This was a really fun listen, I greatly enjoyed Johnny's banter with his unruly audience and the fun he was having. You could definitely tell this was live with his voice cracking and breaking at various points.

Johnny Cash does it again. Another excellent performance with an excellent set in another shitty prison. San Quentin had more involvement with the audience, which I really enjoyed, but it doesn’t take point away from this album. Cash is the original badass.

good album although not my style. Still, it's legendary.

It's pretty true what they say about Johnny Cash clicking with non-country listeners, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this given I have zero interest in Country music, but Johnny Cash's brand of Country, at least based on this album don't have the same feel as other country things I've listened to and just felt like it was absolutely not for me, especially modern country. I think if something helps with this feeling is simply how much fun energy there is here, Johnny is a great storyteller but doesn't shy away from showing emotions or laughing at something that happened during the performance or when interacting with the audience, it creates an atmosphere that's weirdly more approachable because it's not about country life or something, it's about the misadventures or tales that Johnny tells. I can't really comment about the instrumentals, something about them isn't repellent to me but beyond that Idk if there's anything else to point to Generally: Really fun!

A lot of Cash’s songs have high cringe-level violent lyrics (stomping on a dog’s head? Aside from Kristy Noem, I don’t think anyone would get behind that). But it’s hard to take it seriously when he follows them up with songs like “Flushed from the Bathroom of your Heart.” Staging a show like this in a prison was more than a publicity stunt for a man like him, though. It demonstrated a level of empathy uncommon in most of our society, and helped define the legend of Johnny Cash.

His cough, the way he interacts with the inmates, and these songs being performed in a prison are more interesting than the songs themselves.

Johnny Cash is a great performer, and does such a good job working the audience. He just has so much charisma. I don't know if this is a popular opinion or not, but I think I like San Quinton better. I think he just played more up beat songs at that one, and had more variety. Very high 4.

awesome and funny!

Love a good live album that really captures the time the recording was captured in. Also, full of bangers!

I continue to appreciate Cash's music as I grow older. Also, a nod to the production of this album. They do a great job of simply capturing the moment and allowing it mark it's moment in history.

What a bad-ass album. Johnny Cash performs in a prison singing about doing cocaine and shooting people in front of prisoners. Johnny's performance is flawed. There are little slips and laughs here and there but it doesn't actually take anything away, if anything it adds a charm to it. It's all about the atmosphere, the reactions from the crowd, Johnny's jokes between songs, the prison warden's announcements. Johnny has the crowd in the palm of his hands. At the time of recording, he sounds like he's the coolest guy on the planet. A track that stood out to me was '25 Minutes To Go' which sounded just like a countdown to death. At the end of every line, the clock ticks down and Johnny has less and less time left. It's brilliant. I would need to listen to this a few more times to be able to fully differentiate between every track on the album though. As is that case with this genre of music, it can be a little samey, but overall I really enjoyed this a lot.

Awesome concept, i give him credit (because he already has cash) 😅

I really liked At San Quentin and gave it a 5 - particularly enjoying the vibe with the crowd. This feels a little slower and lacking the energy of ASQ - its still a good listen and great performance from Johnny Cash - just not quite as good.

Just as good as San Quentin. 4 is harsh but there are no stand out tracks I'll go back to. I'll revisit the album as a whole though.

I give it 4 stars, just because of the mood and how cool it is. The music is 3 stars, some classics, but gets a bit boring at times. But to play at a prison and include audio of the prisoners and the people in charge of the prison is unique and damn right cool.

At Fulsom Prison is the first live album from Johnny Cash. Cash's career had a rocky period during the mid 60's; Cash kicked his drug habit, and during his rebound, he recorded this album. The live album he recorded became the biggest album of Cash's career. At Folsom Prison became a defining point for Cash's career; he has cultivated an image of an outlaw, and he grew into an advocate for some disaffected groups, including the incarcerated. The album features "Fulsom Prison Blues," one of Cash's biggest songs. He wrote a version in the 50's, early in has career. The live version from this album became a hit in 1968, and became one of Cash's best known songs. This recording captures Cash's simple, elegant version of country - just a baritone voice and a guitar - that he developed through years of touring.

Loved listening to this album - especially with the LIVE component. It was a very good way to market JC as the outlaw.

probably wouldn't listen to it repeatedly but it was enjoyable. The crowd cheering murder and booing the wardens was peak.

Kind of an odd concept that would never fly today. There’s definitely an energy to this that’s unique. That said, some of the songs aren’t great.

I normally don’t like live albums, but this is a notable exception. I feel like this one added a lot to the album. There was something amusing about the inmates cheering at the murder and drugs in Cash’s songs. The cheers added quite a bit to the album which I didn’t expect. And as far as the songs, there is Cash’s usual storytelling like songwriting. Guitar is good, if occasionally repetitive. And I like his voice

Another classic. Good album.

Liked thi a lot. Great story telling album

Not a huge fan of country music but Johnny is such a fantastic personality. Definitely would have loved to be in the audience.

It somehow seems a little more impactful when you play Jail songs within a Prison like that

Good ol classic, probably the most accessible country album out there

Very good album.

Better than I thought it would be! Would relisten!

It’s like I’m in prison!

So refreshing after the last album, as i believe that they are quite similar singers, but this is much more introspective. i really like the live aspect and the comments/bloopers he makes. no real downsides as i think that he completely nails this specific style, however all of the instrumentals are nearly identical. favorite songs: all of them, the album seems like such a full body of work that it feels incorrect to single out a specific song. overall around 8/10

Culturally relevant and fun. I dig Johnny Cash.

I don’t normally enjoy live albums. This is an exception. The warmth that shines through on this recording makes it standout.

The only time I've ever wanted to go to prison. Even as a Country Music hater, I still stand by that Johnny Cash is one exception. The greatest Country Artist of all time showing enough empathy to perform at a prison is a magic of its own.

This is a classic. Songs are good, setting is better. Historical.

4.75

classic album. i think the stuff in the american series is his best work, though.

pretty good but there aren't any songs about applebees so i'm not sure if it counts as country music

Maybe a little worse than the other prison live but still so fun

- 2/16 songs added to main playlist - Live album, I will have to give the studio recordings a try - Love the personality live albums have - Smooth voice - Orange Blossom Special — never knew harmonicas could sound so interesting - Overall pretty enjoyable, I’m not a country fan but it was a cool listen - Favorite song: Cocaine Blues

Enjoyed it

4.5 out of 5, you feel like you’re there watching the show.

Don’t really like Johnny cash much but I loved this live album i think it’s great and really like how he interacts with the crowd

Disco central en la discografía de Johnny Cash, con él fundó el mito del famoso 'Man in Black', cantando sobre conflictos sociales, forajidos y cárcel. No romantiza ni al crimen ni a los criminales, pero consigue forzar la reflexión sobre el contexto y las causas de una sociedad salvaje. Difícil destacar alguna canción, porque todas tienen un valor más allá de los musical. Por supuesto, "Folsom Prison Blues" es una de mis favoritas, y cómo no, "Cocaine Blues" o la inspirada por Leadbely, "I Got Stripes".

Hello, I'm Johnny Cash. Legendary artist, even if you don't like country you can admit that Johnny Cash was great.

Some of the man in blacks best.

This album is such a unique piece of history. I cannot imagine a world where artists not only perform in prisons, but are able to make records there. I really love the quality and bass of Cash’s voice. The songs are enjoyable, but the circumstances really make this album worth a listen.

Loved it!

This is quintessential Johnny Cash. Very good. The live commentary is so endearing. Greystone Chapel, which I think he says is written by a guy while he was at Folsom, was the surprise of the album. That being said, this isn’t my preferred genre and I don’t know if I would just pick it up and listen to it.

SO good

Simply iconic. Johnny Cash may not have written some of history’s more complex lyrics. He may not have been responsible for some of the most complex or captivating melodies. Hell, from what I’ve seen he wasn’t exactly a thrilling showman. But his personality and his attention-demanding baritone voice, his style and his gravitas all make him a compelling performer. This might’ve been his best live performance. Even the songs that feel like duds to me, either because of their silly, dated humor or for simply being less exciting, stand out as great performances. Cash has always been an artist I wanted to know more about. I’d actually only heard “Folsom Prison Blues” from this album but never the rest of it. I definitely wasn’t disappointed, but I wanted more from it. It’s iconic, it’s great, it’s fun. But I don’t know. There’s some oomph missing here. Not enough to put it below four stars, but enough it isn’t worthy of five. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. But I just feel like there was something a little lacking here in terms of energy. Standout Tracks: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Jackson, I Got Stripes

I mean, obviously this is a classic live album. I haven't changed my tune on whether live albums should be on this list or not, but if any deserves to be here then Cash at Folsom is it.

Not sure we needed this and San Quentin. That said, this is the better of the two. More interaction with the audience, than I recall, no san quentin reprise. Man June's singing sounds kinda dated on Jackson. Did Glen Sherley's song at the end that's a good wikipedia deep dive, and introduced me to spade cooley, a wild and horrific story there.

Fav: Cocaine Blues Least Fav: Dark As The Dungeon Best country album I’ve received so far

Its Johnny Cash, I mean its such a classic. The banter, the songs it was amazing the whole time. A perfect album artistically? Nah. It was a really fun time though and I think its one of those music things that gets referenced so much in pop culture I think you owe to yourself to listen to the album at least once

Not as tight as San Quentin but still a master class in working a crowd and connecting with an audience. Johnny Cash is a force of nature.

Listened while stripping paint off the stairs. Great album!

Classic album, classic singer. Great live album and extremely enjoyable

One of his classic albums. Great live album, great songs and a great singer and performer. One of the best.

Classic from the man in black. Gritty songs with that signature voice and performed in a prison, it’s a good album.

Classic.

My second spin of this classic album. I’m a fan. This is so Johnny Cash, to record live in front of the incarcerated, bringing a speck of the outside to their otherwise (rightfully) miserable lives.

79.4%

I'm being open-minded with this one because it is not my preference. However, respect to Johnny Cash for his music. He has a unique ability to bring his personality and experience into his music. Even though I've never done hard drugs or been in jail, he is relatable and real. Normally I'd rate this 3 stars for being neutral to my taste, but I'm giving it an extra star for being unique it musical quality.

nice lively vibe, but at the same time pretty low-key. Like a calm sort of lively. Very interesting that it was recorded at a concert given to prison inmates.

Wow, talent and fun. This is so unique...draws you into history with the banter, and prison announcements. Kind of crazy to hear the applause at some of the darker lyrics

Great performance. Tune your guitar John

Shuffle blues. Old school

From the way Cash blends his ditties with the supporting cheers of the prison crowd, you’d think him one of their own - with the light-hearted interruptions and intermittent prison announcements making this a truly unique listening experience. Though within this time capsule there isn’t much to see past the clever gallows humour songwriting and Cash’s supreme charisma, it is just this that makes this album so homely, in the least homely of settings.

hier en daar een minder puntje, maar bovenal een steengoeie plaat van een steengoeie zanger...

Good album! I like his faster more jazz/jug band style pieces over the ballads.

I'm not a fan of live albums, but this one seems to do the most for me in adding to the zeitgeist of an album and the artist when recording it.

But, soft! What train through yonder bend rolls? It is the east, and Johnny is the Cash. - - - Yes, he does deserve to have two live albums on this list. They’re both that good.

Live Classic

Surprisingly fun, a genuine bop

This album was honestly so fun, especially the parts where he started laughing mid-song.

Very cool album. Nothing groundbreaking musically. Just a storyteller with an inimitable voice.

Ashamed to admit never listened to the whole thing. Some real amazing stuff here. Also a bit repetitive. But holy hell hard to believe they did shit like this back in the day.

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

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

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

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

A real time capsule of a record! Really enjoyable.

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

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

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

Top notch

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Very fitting as I leave Nashville

Great live album

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4.5

Good Playlist for a prison.

4.6

enjoyed this one!

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

Great voice, great songs

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

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

Fun : )

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

Love it

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pretty good. June Carter rips on Jackson

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

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

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

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

Pretty good. I like him and good live album

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

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

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

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

Great voice, great entertainer.

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

Been wanting to listen to this one for a while

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

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

A real classic

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

Bad ass

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

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

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

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

Classic - amazing album

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

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

Love this. Baller.

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

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

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

Pretty good

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

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

Good album for its historical value

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

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

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

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

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

analog zu St. Quentin...

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

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

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

Classic

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

A part of what made Johnny Cash an icon.

Great album

Loved this, absolutely electrifying record.

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

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

Classic. Gets a little repetitive. But love it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Classic.

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

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

Really great. Funnier than I expected.

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

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

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

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

Just an incredible live album

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

Um dos melhores albuns ao vivo que ouvi. Apesar das músicas pesadas e que trazem temas tristes relacionados a vida no carcere, desentendimentos, brigas e homicídios, a apresentação tem uma certa leveza, descontração. Imagino que para quem está assisitindo deve ser relativamente fácil esquecer que está numa prisão.

4.4

I have no doubt they had a prison riot after this show

Chill, kult at han hadde konsert i et fengsel

Such a great performer. This is an awesome set in an interesting location.

Enjoyed the prison banter

Cash just does it better. One of the few artists that I consistently hear people say “I hate (genre), except (artist)” about. A fun and often funny listen that’s simple yet good.

4.5/5. Fuck yes, the one and only man in black.

An absolute classic.

Classic Cash.

This is a great album, there's no arguing it. The songs are great, and it's sounds good as a live album. I'm still surprised they let him go into a prison and sing songs about doing cocaine and murdering people.

Just the concept of this album is brilliant. And Johnny Cash is absolutely the perfect one to have done this. I'm not a fan of country/western (if that's what you can call this) but I do like some Johnny Cash and I feel like this is him at his best. Add in the crowd noise and the banter between songs and you get a fantastic experience listening to this album. This is probably the only album of his that I would consider buying if I ran across it at the record store. And I'd throw it on every now and then. 4/5 because as great as it is, it's still not exactly my kind of music.

Incredible album, really benefits from the live atmosphere. Easy 4.

Classic Johnny Cash. Love the non-subtle theming of murder and jail songs throughout. Kind of serious, kind of funny.

A very cool album, Johnny Cash’s first live album “At Folsom Prison” revitalized his career. Cash sings melancholy songs of cocaine, murder, and capital punishment before inmates who hoot ‘n’ holler in support. The audiences’ jeers and the warden’s announcements are as much a part of this album as the music itself.

I don’t usually listen to much country music but when I do it’s OLD country music! This record is iconic!

good album, great voice on the guy, something i wouldn’t listen to myself but i enjoyed the songs

There's something very special about a Johnny Cash live album. He's the kind of artist that really shows no difference between a studio album and a live album. He's just as talented and just as personable. He's also a badass for getting bleeped on his own record within the first 6 minutes. Wonderful Performance.

"Did I hear somebody applaud?"

I had heard of this album but never listened to it. Johnny Cash is one of the few country musicians I don't think are hypocrites and this album is pretty good. Not good enough for 5 stars but close.

The Man in Black! Really good live album, I like the little banter in between songs. Johnny was in top form on this one.

Love his style. The song choices are blackly brilliant and put a wry smile on my face

Such a legend

best song: Folsom prison blues, or, I still miss someone

Here I was, all set to express some minor annoyance that both of the Johnny Cash prison records were on here, but this album is so goddamned charming. I love listening to Cash banter with the audience. The songs are also amazing. Having June come up and sing songs was really cute too 4/5

As far as complete albums go, this is a gold standard. Even non-Cash fans know of this one. Classic.

Johnny Cash rules. I wish I was a bigger fan because his catalog is humongous. This was a great album and from what I read up on, a really incredible, ground breaking live show at the prison.

The MAN. Songs of love, women and fighting. What’s not to like. And what a voice!

Un album tout aussi bon que celui de San Quentin, pas mal les mêmes commentaires que pour cet album. 8/10

Hello I'm Johnny Cash.

Just a pure classic. Loved the live versions too

Good listen for multiple reasons as noted in other reviews but can't quite give it 5 stars

Not a big country fan, but Johnny Cash was very good!

So here’s the thing, I don’t know because I have never been in prison, but I imagine that if I was and I got the privilege of a concert I would be a bit annoyed that every song was about being in prison and/or being executed in prison. Because I’m not entirely sure that would be such a great emotional escape from my current situation. That being said, the album was throughly enjoyable. I’m taking a star off for the excessive dead prisoner songs.

Great album. Love hearing it now and then but wouldn’t add it to my queue. Hmmm… Does that make it a 3 or a 4?

How cool that he played at the prison.

This is a benchmark album. I grow tired of Johnny pretty quickly, but can appreciate why it is so special to so many.

Definitely a seminal moment in the history of rock. The music is a bit scrappy at times but the atmosphere, sentiment and spirit bring this one romping home. Good on you Johnny.

Cash was making waves many years before Rick Rubin showed up and this is a landmark album in more ways than one, as interesting sociologically as musically. Enormously enjoyable. And authentic.

I want to give it three stars, I didn’t like it but the live aspect and the fact he performed in a prison makes it a bit mire exotic

HL: "Folsom Prison Blues", “Jackson”, “Green, Green Grass of Home”

got some gas

Jeg foretrak San Quentin (bl.a. pga. 100% mindre hundeslander) men synes generelt de her livealbums er nogen af de bedste jeg har hørt. Utrolig stemme, godt udvalg af numre (ville have valgt en fra!!!), god energi

Lidt ligesom dem anden plade i fængslet. Det er sgu bare noget musik der er nemt at høre.

listened

Authentic Genuine (5,5/6)

Great live album. Enjoyed it a lot Favourites- Folsom prison blues, cocaine blues,25 minutes to go, long black veil, send a picture of mother, give my love to rose 4 stars

Good stuff although I'm a bit iffy about the man!

As original as a live album gets. But at the end of the days it's an album of mostly country covers.

Country, folk, male, mid, just legendary, great voice, great atmosphere, great announcements, this is a blue print for a live album - very authentic, country still not mine.

Desconozco si hubo otros artistas antes que realizaran un show en una cárcel y, sobre todo, que grabaran un disco con su presentación en vivo. Si no fue así, esto coloca a Johhny Cash en otro nivel, como a un artista comprometido con lo popular. Tiene gracia, tiene rock, más el innegable carisma que tenía el tipo en el escenario. Tremenda experiencia.

Awesome, even some funny songs, the crowd takes the record to another level. The cover with Cash sweating. Great stuff.

John c Reilly did it better

Nonostante i tanti problemi di questo album, Johnny Cash non si discute!

ACAB

This sounds like a great document nicely raucous at times. I prefer to listen to album versions maybe the very interesting concept for Cash outweighs the quality a little bit. Excellent moment in time captured.

Fantastic live album, reminded me to finally give Johnny Cash’s discography a proper listen. I know a couple of the crowd’s cheers were added during production (inmates were afraid of possible retaliation from prison guards if they cheered too loudly at the parts talking about jail life) but that didn’t diminish the listening experience or the quality of Cash’s performance.

It’s fun and the live elements add a lot. I find it slightly one note, but that one note is one good note. 4/5

Yes!!! Now this is a great album!

What a classic. Johnny kills and plays off the crowd so well. Songs are the perfect duration to keep you going but not get bored. 4/5

Liked this.

i love you johnny cash 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷 4.5/5

I really enjoyed listening to this. I’d never really listened to Johnny Cash before this. I like how cheerful he was, making jokes with the prisoners, even though he was playing in a prison. I can definitely see his influence on modern music.

Very cool and raw album. Worth revisiting for sure. Some very deep songs peppered with some very funny songs.

Great Live album. Really enjoyed the dynamic of this album. The inmates are one of the best live crowds ever. You can just feel the energy of the room when listening to this album

Classic Johnny Cash. Great listen!

- not a big country person - his usage of curse words is very fun to me though .. nothing like an old record with the word bitch in it

if you ever meet someone who says they don't have a part of them that wishes they were johnny cash playing live at folsom prison they are a replicant and you can just go ahead and blow their brains out right there on the spot

clasico

Good, he’s very charismatic

Not many country albums of the era have as much personality and livelihood as this does. These tracks are fairly simple, but Cash is a charismatic and hilarious singer, and the idea of his audience members being rowdy inmates from a maximum security prison brings greater attention and appreciation of his outlaw subject matter. Fantastic first half. I think the 5-track run from "The Long Black Veil" to "Flushed from the Bathroom" drags too long for its quiet and solemn mood on top of the minimalist instrumental. They should cut 3 of them. Other than that, I just wish the instrumental was more lively. Favorites: Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, 25 Minutes to Go, Jackson

Iconic

A great album all the way through. I love folk music and ballads. I love the stories in the songs. No surprise but Johnny cash sounds amazing even live. I liked the rhythm of the guitar in most of the songs aswell. Would 100% listen again

I’m not always a fan of a live concert, but the live element of this is what makes it. The interruptions, the announcements, the imperfections, the inmates’ reactions. they are what animates the whole thing. The songs are good and I haven’t listened to a Johnny Cash song I don’t like, but I appreciate the edginess of this. It didn’t seem over long either.

An album I know well. Great songs, great performance.

such a cool album in a cool setting songs are still plain country but that doesnt take away much from it

What's there to say? Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison is a classic for a reason. Still great to listen to every time.

I can't think of anyone who can take such woeful lyrics and put them to music that makes you unable to resist the urge to dance and laugh. Pure magic.

Il fatto che sia in live questo album secondo me lo rende più interessante e anche il suono è più veritiero, mi piace di più. Non è tanto il mio stile ma mi fa piacere sentire le canzoni. Ha una bella voce. Lo ascolterò volentieri.

Amazing atmosphere

Quite a collection of tunes, some I heard for the first time. Rating this album higher based on what Cash did for those men in prison.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Dark as the dungeon, Folson prison blues, 25 minutes to go, I got stripes,

Classic American music! This is one of few albums. I’ve already heard of on this list.

Very good

Very solid and great history

God bless Johnny Cash.

- Der Auftritt ist legendär. Ich habe trotzdem noch nie in dieses Album reingehört, Eindrücke hatte ich eigentlich nur aus "Walk The Line" dessen Rahmenhandlung der Auftritt im Folsom Prison bildet. - Irgendwie spürt man, dass das nicht irgendein Auftritt ist, sondern was ganz Besonderes. Das Publikum ist schließlich kein Gewöhnliches. Ich bilde mir ein ganz am Anfang eine gewisse Anspannung bei Cash zu spüren, die er verdammt lässig überspielt und wahrscheinlich auch relativ schnell verliert und einfach der coolest Dude on Planet Earth zu sein scheint. Und er liefert ab! - Auch wenn mich nicht jeder Song vollends abholt, hatte ich eine unfassbar gute Zeit beim Hören. Ich hatte das Gefühl, ich weiß wie es sich angefühlt hat in dem Saal. Schön, wie die Publikumsreaktionen auch immer wieder in den Mix integriert werden. - Ich hätte schwören kann, dass er "I Walk The Line" bei dem Auftritt gespielt hat, aber scheinbar täuscht mich da meine Erinnerung. Rating: 3,75-4

- Ich bin kein riesen Country- und auch kein riesen Johnny Cash Fan - ich habe dieses Album dennoch schon ein paar mal vorher gehört, weil ich die Geschichte darüber und darum interessant fand und es mir mehrfach als "muss man mal gehört haben" begegnet ist. - Diese Live-Platte hat einfach eine elektrisierende Wirkung auf mich. Die Songauswahl samt passender Texte. Die Historie von Johnny Cash. Dann die spürbare Energie zwischen den Insassen und dem Interpreten. Wie authentisch Johnny Cash mit dem Publikum interagiert. - Musikalisch ist das halt moodyger country, bluegrass, gospel, blues, wasauchimmer. Das spielt aber auch irgendwie keine Rolle, wenn man das Album hört - Textlich läuft es mir nicht selten kalt den Rücken runter, wenn Johnny Cash von Straftaten, dem Drang nach Freiheit, von der fälschliche nGlorifizierung von Drogen, über die kurze Zeit vor der eigenen Hinrichtung, eine nicht enden wollende Liebe und der Hilfe des Glaubens im Gefängnis singt und das ausgerechnet vor hunderten von Schlägern, Dieben, Drogendealer und Mördern. - Bin etwas ambivalent was das Album angeht, aber ab und zu ist das ja auch in Ordnung 4/5

A classic album. Surprisingly great production.

Love Johnny Cash, he was one-of-a-kind.

I always liked Johnny Cash’s deep voice

I enjoyed this and wouldn't normally have listened to it.