At San Quentin

3.0 - Ok

A Boy Named Sue

Doesn’t quite capture the same magic as Folsom. Love the spirit of bringing music to the incarcerated but the energy is a bit low and the setlist is a little uninspired.

liked his little commentary but had to turn it off after a few songs because the music was driving me coconut bananas trying to work from home x

5/10

These live recordings are phenomenal.

Didn't I hear this already? Oh yeah, at Folsom Prison!

I don't know - it was just OK. Why two versions of the same song is beyond me. This could have used an editor.

Good album. I love the original Boy Named Sue, but kind of a bummer that it is bleeped out in this version. Not my favorite Jonny Cash overall.

Oh Boy; tossed me back to my Dad and his love of country music (and my distaste for most country music). Johnny was a staple on the radio when I was growing up. Johnny as The Man In Black was preferable to Conway Twitty (who I pray has no entries on this list). Dad would sing some Johnny here and there in his lovely voice. Miss that so much. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): Wreck if the Old 97, I walk the Line, A Boy Named Sue, Folsom Prison Blues ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it.

The music is good. The yammering between songs is not. I don’t really think it was necessary to have the same song played the same way twice in a row. Maybe if you were there it would be more powerful, but it doesn’t work on an album. (The negative of that one is cancelled out by how good “A Boy Named Sue” is.)

San Quentin, yet another pretty good Cash album.

Obvious legend. Love the underlying tone that the rehabilitation system doesn’t/won’t work.

This is my first Johnny Cash album for this project. I generally prefer studio albums to live ones, but he sure did have a stage presence. Censorship is lame, though. Peace in the Valley made me cry. I got to thinking about my late Papa. He loved him some old country music. Listened before? N Saved to library? N Favorite track(s): San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, Folsom Prison Blues ⭐⭐⭐: Liked it.

I do like Johnny Cash, and I certainly appreciate the significance of this album, and it's an enjoyable listen - between-song banter and all - but I doubt this is the album I'll ever choose when I want to listen to Johnny Cash. I see no compelling reason to abandon my live-album rating parameters for this one.

I love me some Johnny Cash. This is a good record. Not his best. You can feel, though, his appreciation, possibly affection, for the prisoners. And there's in retuen. Of course, this is pre-War on Drugs, pre-carceral state stuff. I can't imagine this happening now. Anyway, i'll probably lsten to this again. But, still only 3 star material.

3/5 - I needed to hear this once as a strong social statement and to hear how Cash commands and plays to the (literally) captive audience. Solid Cash songs as expected, but unlikely to revisit.

Country music isn't really my cup of tea, but the album wasn't bad, and the cover is fantastic

Nice blues live album but was a bit short with a lot of talking.

Classic. Not a fan of live recordings

Музыка: 7/10 Разнообразие: 6/10 Тематика и вайб: 7/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 6/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 8/10 Итог: 6.8

JC sounds great but his music takes a backseat on this record and you get a real sense of the man himself. Charismatic, irreverent, compassionate and funny.

- bem diferente dos outros albums por ser ao vivo - é uma música regional bem influente nos estados unidos - não é meu estilo favorito de ouvir particularmente

Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 👨‍💼🆒🟦 Production: 🥩🤨🆗 Music: 🔄👀🤔 Rating: ⛓️⛓️⛓️(⛓️)/5

2,8/5

Through this album I found out Johnny Cash played at a prison which is pretty cool. I am not a fan of live music on an album that I listen to in the car. I’m still pretty young and I thought the music was okay but he had a good voice.

I really enjoyed this album. The stories in the songs are very funny. I would love to watch a live show on YouTube and see Johnny Cash’s reaction to the crowd, and how he talks with them.

Not really into country, but i make an excepetion for them man in black.

Good live album

★★★½

isn't laid down in the order it was recorded. some of the story's are disjointed. as for the music, exactly what you would expect from Johnny.

For a “country pop” album that I definitely thought I was going to hate… I didn’t hate it. It was nice, it was calming, never really thought about skipping any songs.

Begrijp mij niet verkeerd, ik houd van Johnny Cash, maar tijdens deze liveshow wordt er meer gepraat dan muziek gemaakt, ik snap daarom ook niet dat dit album een must listen is. Echter, de momenten waarop de muziek wel wordt gemaakt is genieten, met I walk the Line, A Boy Named Sue en Folsom Prison Blues. Daarom kom ik op 3 reten uit.

Fun

I really appreciate the storytelling, but it all fell a bit flatter than I remembered hearing. Maybe because I was recalling at Folsom. The presence of hard censoring bleeps was disappointing but also a capsule to the time. Cash is incredible, but I'd rather pick up folsom

(65/100)

I enjoyed it. I don't think I'd listen to it regularly, but it was a nice experience. The audience interaction added to the experience.

I'm not shy about the fact I dislike live albums. Cash's prison concerts were special. But they're still live. It has it all: sections that are just Cash talking for minutes straight; people whistling and hollering during the music; we even get an immediate reprise of San Quentin. The album has its charm, but the live aspect is too much of a distraction for me. Ends up sounding more like a comedy act with music than an album. So even though I like the music itself, it's no better than a 3.

Vangeilla ollut kivaa. Mulla ei hirveen...

Enjoying

Very raw, can see why Johnny Cash performed in Prisons, he clearly has a lot of sympathy, though the album doesn't really follow much, though the addition of San Quentin as a bespoke song was interesting

3 Stars (8/15)

Am I Arthur Morgan? Siento que tiene mas ritmillo por ser un directo pero tambien creo que eso le ha aportado y quitado encanto por igual a algunas canciones, se acaban haciendo repetitivas la mayoria, pero esta guapo para tenerlo de fondo. La que mas me ha gustado creo que "San Quintin" y "(There´ll Be) Peace in the Valley", la segunda se va para la lista de Agosto 2025.

Lol making a song on how shitty prison is then asking thr guards for water

Fine. Too much live.

Conflicting biases going in Don't like live albums generally but do like Cash quite a bit. So torn on this one

More ladsy than expected. Music bit cringe but guess he was the original!

If you are compiling a list of 1001 albums that should be heard, then this album needs to be included, if for no other reason than the uniqueness of recording it in a prison with prisoners as the audience. Apparently this also was filmed for TV, which is another story. The music itself is average, although the interaction between Cash and the audience was interesting and something you rarely hear on other live albums.

OK, some real talk here: I've had an irrational dislike of Johnny Cash ever since his cover of 'Hurt' came out and 500000 people said "this is so much better and more meaningful than the original!", which of course I disagreed with because the original was super meaningful to ME and Johnny Cash, a guy I never heard of until then, meant nothing to me. Now I understand that (a) most people don't like Nine Inch Nails, so the cover was more accessible and (b) Johnny Cash dying soon afterwards added a lot of emotional heft to the song, especially if you already knew who Johnny Cash was (or maybe were a bit older than I was). Nevertheless, country music isn't my genre of choice, and I think it's natural to dislike covers of songs you imprinted on, especially covers that are more lauded/successful than the original (see also: 'The Book of Love'). Now, should I have carried this grudge with me for 20+ years? Maybe not. So, I'll try to give this album a fair shake. But wait, it's a live album. How can I give it a fair shake!? Live albums are for people who already like the artist (or maybe for jazz). I like that they over-the-top bleeped the swears though. So... is it cool that he recorded this at a prison and sang 'Wanted Man'? It seems kind of insensitive, but the crowd is clapping, so I guess they're into it. That's OK then. Unless they're being forced to clap. How does this prison concert thing even work? Can anyone do a concert at a prison? If so, shouldn't more artists be doing that? Maybe things were different in the 60s. Or maybe the prisoners would boo other artists who didn't have as many prison-themed songs. But they should play through the booing! The crowd clapping for the country of England was funny. Cash's got that Hank Hill accent in the talking bits, which is fun. But also his whole "I'm not gonna do what they tell me to do, man" isn't winning me over, I tell you hwhat. Maybe I'm misreading the vibe, but it feels performatively "tough". There's a cool study (Kiesling 1996) of how frat guys swear(&etc) more in their frat meetings than in the rest of their dealings in order to demonstrate masculinity/power, and this feels a bit like that. I do like 'I Walk the Line' though. It's a bop. Having the same song twice in a row on an album is crazy. 'A Boy Named Sue' is quite a rich text. Sue shoulda just gone by his initials or middle name or something. Something tells me this version of 'Folsom Prison Blues' isn't the complete version, which is unsatisfying. Anyway, the songs were OK to listen to, but not good enough for me to start liking Johnny Cash. Maybe if he has a non-live album later. Highlight: 'I Walk the Line' Lowlights: Johnny Cash, prison

Great album but the skits really kill the flow

Normally I find banter in a live album kind of annoying but this was pretty charming

Enjoyable if dated. My version was censored. 🤬

Fine. Not fussed either way about Johnny Cash.

Should have stick to the shorter version. Half this thing wasn't even Johnny Cash.

Not sure I like live albums.

Brilliant but live albums are cheating

Slightly generous rating. A fan of his music generally but a lot of these songs have better versions elsewhere and not many of the extra songs with the other musicians on it were particularly memorable

Standout Songs: Wreck of the Old 97 I Walk the Line A Boy Named Sue

Has some grand performances in the shape of A Boy Named Sue and Lovin’ Spoonful cover Darlin Companion as well as some top class bants in front of the prison folk. Overall package is a bit slapdash and unsatisfying though and it unravels a bit too abruptly with the last track. It could well be his best live prison album because the other one doesn’t have Boy Named Sue or any Lovin Spoonful songs. Light 3.5.

I like Cash, I have never liked live albums

Great sounds from the live crowd, country with a smoothie voice

A classy live country album, sounded a bit samey throughout

Cash's voice is definitely a force of nature. Much respect for him to do a concert in a prison. The "San Quentin" song was definitely something to hear. The cheers in the background felt intense.

• 3/5 • A fun listen and Boy Named Sue is great • I liked Folsom better

Not bad at all, but did we really need another live in a prison album from Johnny Cash on this list? And this one doesn't even have the memorable crowd of that record. Redundant.

the spoken word sections were really fun to listen to and the music was fun as well

Fint

The very first album I started this project with was Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison. Before even beginning At San Quentin I have this to say: I know that some artists are more influential than others. Better than others. I know that some artists have careers which span styles and decades. But also there are a limited number of entries on this list. With this in mind, do we REALLY need two albums of live Johnny Cash concerts recorded at prisons in the last 2 years of the 1960s? Are these albums SO different, SO influential, SO good that their inclusion is absolutely necessary? I think from my tone you can probably tell what my opinion before starting to listen is, but to give it a fair shout I am going to listen to both, back-to-back. I only gave At Folsom Prison a rating, no written review, so here is my second chance. Right, so, San Quentin is the better album, in my opinion, with more of Cash's famous songs and a better sound. Folsom Prison came earlier so I guess they made improvements. But these albums are very, very similar, I can't believe that both are must-haves. Cut Folsom Prison, guys, put in another Cash album if you have to, but we don't need both. A few observations about San Quentin: Did we need the song San Quentin twice? I get why he did it twice live, but for inclusion on this list it does seem like a waste of precious listening time getting your audience to hear it again in case they missed something the first time. Also Wanted Man was a genuinely interesting choice, a Dylan / Cash collaboration I never knew existed, and it was a fun song too, liked it a lot. Better than At Folsom Prison, but I can't find it in my heart to give it a whole extra star.

More a time capsule than an album…capturing the moment when a country singer eclipsed every rock star for title of coolest musician on the planet. The post-performance censoring of naughty words doesn’t mask the slight tension between Cash and the prisoners, but both sides also clearly respect each other. Even today it’s hard to imagine anyone else pulling this type of ‘concert’ off successfully. RIP Johnny Cash - The Country Badass. 5/5 for creating rock history at this venue. 3/5 for what we’ll loosely call an album

This just ain’t my thing. But I’m going to be neutral on this one for its significance. Even if it is a live album, which I should certainly dock a point just for that. I will still remain neutral.

Geht für country sogar klar

I respect the cultural weight of this album and I love the raw production, but as much as I admire Cash's grit, it's more fascinating historically than it is something I'd put on repeat.

Live demonstration of Cash's kinship with prison inmates

Overall, this was a pretty alright album for playing in the background, but really nothing too exciting. It is a live recording, so not a proper studio recording, but real Johnny Cash fans would probably enjoy it just as much.

Solid not a lot of replay value

Fun Johnny Cash

Why so many concerts at prisons

Okay!!!

It’s a solid album but I don’t think live albums should be on here: they’re like greatest hits albums … live. Also Live at Folsom is also on here and just a year before (and better known). Granted, the track list is much different but still feels odd to have two live prison albums here …

Another live prison performance. I struggle to see how the setting itself enhances the musical merit or offers any unique cultural innovation. To me, it's no more inherently exciting or noteworthy than performing in a public park or even for a large-scale charity concert like Band Aid. We don't typically assume that playing Band Aid grants extra artistic credibility, nor should we automatically attribute a sense of 'giving back' to the artist in this context. I just don't find it remarkable, and I can't see how this environment meaningfully elevates the music. That said it was kinda interesting how he was engaging with the prisoners and the guards and his song selection was amusing and considered for the context. A boy named sue for example went down well and his "living hell San Quentin...I hate very inch of you!" I personally think better than last prison album I listened to by him and would undoubtedly be amazing to have experianced. That said as music middle of the road but would not stop me exploring Johnny cash more.

Not better than live at Fulton?

OG

-wow this was actually really cool to listen to. one of the more interesting live recordings i’ve heard, I love the way Johnny interacts with the prisoners, lol -after only listening to American IV, it was nice to hear a more upbeat side of his music. i honestly prefer it. really good record all around, i’d say it’s coasting the line between 3.5 and 4 for me -Favorites are Wanted Man and San Quentin

a live album featuring recordings of the openers too!! very interesting, but not my cup of tea unfortunately. cool to see music that existed in a time before synths and overproduction

3.5

That's not my taste in music - But ok

Nice rhythm and tune but lyrics are meh Johnny cash has better albums

Ce qui ressort pour moi ici c’est l’humanité de Johnny Cash

Here comes the man in black. Not Will Smith. Not the other one either (Tommy Lee Jones?). It's Cash. I'll say this about ol' J Cash - I admire him a whole lot more than I actually want to listen to his music. It's not bad at all, and occasionally it's pretty good, but it would be completely standard fare if you didn't know he was the kind of legend standing firmly on the right side of history.

What to say, the concept is one of the most famous concerts of all time. Cash and his classic outlaw country. Best track - A Boy Named Sue/ I Walk The Line

People with this man's level of character and integrity literally don't exist anymore. What happened to the type of conservative, traditional man who was actually anti-government, anti-institution, pro-family? They all seem to have evolved into misogynist, hyper-individualist, capitalist, anti-labour-rights, anti-mother and anti-human maga consumers. Cash, please come back and lead us into the fascist-defying labour movement we so desperately need.

Entertaining great storytelling more than anything

Solid effort from Johnny.

Good and short live concert in the prison of San Quentin. Concept album with lots of songs related to violence and jails. Like the concept could be a 4

Das Livealbum Johnny Cash At San Quentin wurde am 24. Februar 1969 im gleichnamigen Staatsgefängnis in Kalifornien aufgenommen. Die Aufnahme fand unter der Leitung von Produzent Bob Johnston statt und wurde von Columbia Records veröffentlicht. Neben Johnny Cash, der aus den USA stammt, waren auch Musiker seiner Begleitband, die Tennessee Three, beteiligt. Das Album enthält eine Mischung aus Country, Folk und Rockabilly. Besonders auffällig ist die direkte und reduzierte Atmosphäre der Darbietung, was vor allem durch das Publikum – bestehend aus Insassen – beeinflusst wird. Zu den bekanntesten Songs zählen „A Boy Named Sue“, der an diesem Abend erstmals öffentlich aufgeführt wurde, sowie „San Quentin“, das sogar zweimal hintereinander gespielt wurde. Ebenfalls vertreten sind Stücke wie „Wanted Man“ und „I Walk the Line“, die stilistisch für Cashs Werk stehen. Die Liedauswahl und die rohe Präsentation geben einen ungeschönten Einblick in die künstlerische Haltung des Interpreten. Die Kombination aus Live-Aufnahmeort, Repertoire und Stimmung hebt sich klar von Studioalben ab. Das Album dokumentiert einen Abschnitt in Johnny Cashs Karriere, in dem er gesellschaftliche Themen mit Nachdruck adressierte. Insgesamt bietet At San Quentin eine unmittelbare und fokussierte Momentaufnahme, die musikalisch wie inhaltlich konsequent umgesetzt ist.

I like the great songs and Johnny's banter, but prob. prefer the Folsom prison album.

Al ser un LIVE hace que me guste....normal tirando a meh pero obvio es un album puro country. Para mí es un 4/10 de wow

cool

Odd to include this and Folsom, which is definitely better. This isn't bad, but Folsom is iconic.

Classic but it's like being listening the same song over and over

Cool live album. Killer energy in some spots, drags in others.

first ever live recording af a boy named sue. blev spillet for et fængsel hvor han også disser dem lidt og sådan noget, det er meget sjovt. inspirerede andre in prison performances. hjalp med at forme the outlaw country bevægelse senere.

Wel entertainend, maar eentonig

The other Johnny Cash prison album on this list; we got At Folsom Prison (1968) earlier this month. He deserves a lot of credit for shining a light into America's prisons, and he has just a perfect grasp of what it means to be a prisoner as well as a performer. It's good music and he handles his band and the inmates so well. (I’m uncomfortable with the outlaw folk hero archetype. At this point it’s been appropriated too often by vigilantes, mafiosi, and corrupt politicians.) The film crew that caught Cash's ire (that middle finger picture) was from Granada Television, which made working class content for the industrial north of England. They were just trying their best, man.

#595. Was that it? Even with one song played twice and a lot of banter in between, this was super short. For some reason I was expecting more. 3/5: still pretty good, but surely you've got more

5/10 - I don’t love Johnny cash but the songs aren’t bad

Great storytelling and simple guitar. He’s one of a kind. You can hear how rowdy the crowd is and the intimate interplay. He does what he wants. Refreshing to see an artist true to himself and his audience.

Ah yes, another Johnny Cash live album from a prison. Quick little album. Still as enjoyable as the one from Folsom prison but not sure why we need multiple on here. I do wish there was a version that isn't edited to remove swearing. 6/10 (3/5)

Definitely belongs on the list for the historical interest, but nothing especially compelling about the music or specific recording to listen to very often.

Great live voice. Overall though, not really my thing. The San Quentin and Boy named Sue songs were very entertaining. Would I revisit: no

Great musician solid album 3.5

Like everyone, I know the Folsom Prison album. I don't think I had heard this one other than this version of "Sue," which I think is the most famous version. Lot of crowd interaction on this one. That had to be a surreal environment for a show. It was anticlimactic to have a clipped version of "Folsom" as a closer. I think this is important as a historical document but doesn't work that great as an album start-to-finish.

Not really my genre but I do appreciate the energy of a live album. I bet it was a hell of a show.

A little light on content, but a cool artifact of Music History! Great live sound, unique atmosphere

Johnny Cash drinks a glass of water and plays the same song twice

Som en uppväxt Jimmy Larsson

5 Stars if I'm a prisoner at San Quentin and get to attend this concert. 3 Stars if I'm just a listener at home.

Cash goes electric! I know it's not the case, but this one has a lot more life than Live at Folsom. Both albums are a fun time.

I really like Cash, more than the music

Meh

I like Johnny Cash, and this album shows that he was a real showman. Good performance but as an album I thought it was a little messy with maybe a little too much crowd interaction. Was a good listen though. 6/10

Going into this, I think I knew two Johnny Cash songs. I'd like to hear some more studio recordings as I like his voice. He seems to have fun with his music as well.

The man certainly knows how to play up a crowd, doesn't he? I'm not a fan of country particularly, but I can appreciate the work that's gone into this. Not going to listen again, and probably not as good as At Folsom, but I'm not sad I've heard it.

Recorded live at San Quentin prison for UK TV, this album features some of the Man In Black's best known songs, including "I Walk the Line", "San Quentin", "A Boy Named Sue", and "Folsom Prison Blues".

I've heard this many times as part of compilations but am more familiar with At Folsom. Cash is an all timer but this album is not on the same level as "Live at Folsom Prison" or some.of his other albums. I love "America" and the majority of the American recordings. I can't go below 3 because it's Johnny Cash. 3/5

lowkey the same as Folsom Prison but just as good!

Hopefully Johnny only visited 2 prisons. I need a break

No it as good as Live at Folsom Prison. Some good songs, but a lot of chit-chat

Enjoyed it, not many songs but got to hear some of his personality.

Didn't we already have a live Johnny Cash album on here? This one isn't as good as Folsom Prison, for which I gave a 4. This one gets a 3, because fuck San Quentin.

No surprises - Johnny being Johnny

I like Johnny Cash but struggle with live albums.

the man in black is incredible, but live albums not so much. a lot of talk and not great sound quality

In my opinion, it’s hard to not like the man in black. No matter your music taste some Johnny Cash in it just makes it better. A real man of the people. And the fact that he would go and play at these prisons was such an interesting concept. Now, I’d never heard At San Quentin before this listen and thought it was pretty good. Johnny was funny in between songs. The highlight for me is A Boy Named Sue. There were a few instances where I felt like he might lose the crowd. But then Johnny would ask for requests or do his song about San Quentin and bring them back. It just felt tense a few times and that’s just from the audio. I like this album and appreciate it, but I’m not sure it’s something I would put on a lot. As much as I do adore Johnny Cash, I just feel the best I can give At San Quentin is a 3 rating. 3/5

Johnny Cash is one of those rare performers who sounds just as good live as he does in the studio.

Walk the line is ok, thats about it

I'm not a huge fan of Johnny Cash but I don't dislike his music either. I really enjoy his speaking voice, and the interstitials where he's chatting with the guards or prisoners are my favorite part.

I was in college with a guy who would play nothing but Johnny Cash which killed my enthusiasm for him, but this is alright. I enjoy his patter with the audience, and I do have to admit he has the stuff, but for me it’s merely okay.

Fine.

3 maybe 4

Gøy med live album! Men selve musikken var ok.

Songs are quite simple, but the simplicity is where your imagination can go wild with what is being said. Theres also this unspoken swagger that hes got while performing, I can't quite identify it, but he just sounds so cool.

Johnny's crowd interactions are very fun, but musically I much prefer his Folsom Prison album.

A good album. Johnny Cash, as usual, feeling right at home in a prison setting, sharing his and their favorite tunes.

Experiência maneira. Tu se sente no show com o johnny

If I had a $1 for every Johnny Cash album recorded live at a prison that this website recommended to me, well I have two dollars, which isn't very much, but it is kind of funny, isn't it? I like Johnny Cash, and this album was fine, but after listening to Folsom, I didn't really feel like I needed this one. It's just more of the same.

I liked this. Though not a huge Johnny Cash fan, this worked.

pretty good. kinda fun to listen some classic era Johnny Cash that I haven't actually heard before. the live aspect is fun as well, good showman

fínt, kass syngur og trallar. fangarnir fagna. hef alveg heyrt þetta nóg. 3.

I wish I were there

Not necessarily my cup of tea, but very good at what it does. The atmosphere for a live album is undeniable. The audience is electric. Johnny Cash is certainly iconic, and this or Folsom are the live peaks. For me, though, too many songs have the same train track beat. Johnny's a legend, though, and that voice is why.

The appeal of this album comes almost completely in the form of what Johnny Cash is saying between the songs, not singing. He was clearly very engaging and had a super attentive crowd. My highlight is the midway point through “A Boy Named Sue” where he gets super riled up about the part where Sue meets his dad. Not much else to say for this short live album. If there’s the Folsom county live performance on the list, then I don’t really see a need for this record to be here.

A live album is always fun

Was an okay album, one song got sang twice which wasn't too exciting Interesting part of country history tho

נהדר מת על זה שזה מהופעה

The stage presence was great too evidence but it was mediocre music unless you’re a Johnny cash die hard

Why did Johnny Cash go to prison so much?

1. uuanted - 2 2. uureck - 1.5 3. line - 2 4. darlin - 1.5 5. ztarkville - 2 6. zan - 2 7. quentin - 2 8. zue - 2 9. valley - 1.5 10. bluez - 2.5

Pretty gold album in the jail series.

Johnny Cash is a cool dude and a music legend - no question - but it seems redundant to have this on the list since it came out after and is not as captivating a performance as At Folsom Prison. I’m not even really into the title track and he plays it twice back to back lol.

I love Johnny Cash. And this album really shows how big his heart and soul were. The connection he makes with his audience is intimate & empathetic. Musically, this is not his best work -/ it’s hard to get the best in any live venue performance, let alone in a prison hall. Also, the dialogue is all interesting and touching, but, if you’re listening for music, the talking becomes a distraction (think of listening to this album twice in a row). It’s a 3. I hope there are other Johnny Cash albums to review on this list.

Who's listening in 2025???? I'm usually not a big fan of live albums, it's ok.

Better than the Folsom Prison live album we had awhile back. Better songs, and generally enjoyed the repartee with the audience. The novelty song A Boy Named Sue (by She’ll Silverstein) was his highest charting pop Top 40 hit at #2, a far better novelty song than Chuck Berry’s only #1 hit My Ding-A-Ling, which we had in Heardle the other day.

Not a huge fan of a live album, but as far a Johnny Cash goes - Folsom Prison is the better. Not sure why this one was chosen (assuming FP isn’t also in the list). Great set list, recording quality comes and goes, it’s ok.

What makes this album unique is the banter from Johnny between songs. He's a heck of an entertainer, not just musician. I like the songs better on Folsom Prison Live, but this is a fun listen as well. 3.5/5.

Trop bien. Je ne connaissais ni ce live ni le premier du même genre at folsom prison en 1968. Et je réalise que l'excellent film Walk the line à déjà 20 ans.

Mixed feeling. I like the guy, I like his overall work but clearly this album doesn't do him justice. It's very short for a start, with a song that is played twice. Not the best material from Cash, a part from the famous "walk the line", but then again, the audio is crap. It's interesting though that he chose to do concerts in these tough prisons, long before Bertrand Cantat ;-p. I love the speech with sentences like "can you pass me the book with all the songs I stole" or a bit far fetched :"you kow they wanted me to do this songs aand that.. but no, Me, I want t do wat I want and what you want so.. Walk the line". Wanted man is Quite a nice song St Quentin. It's a nice touch to make a song specialy for them and it was ppreciated. But twice the same short song... A Boy named Sue, Great story, it coyld be made in a short moovie or a comic. The song was first sang on this concert, reading the lyrics on a paper as the band improvised. At the end what I was most disapointed about was that we can't hear - as often lives by the likes of the Beatles at the same period - the girls screaming. ;-p

Nice music, easy listening and what an atmosphere for this live in jail

cool

no no no

I like Johnny Cash. He's earned his place in the pantheon of great Country artists. His performances at Folsom and San Quentin are legendary. But on a fundamental level these recordings are only mildly enjoyable as a listener in 2025.

I guess we're doing the Cali prison tour. It's a weird album, he does one song twice and an abbreviated Folsom Prison Blues.

Not quite my tempo, vocal style is perhaps too twangy and not graceful enough for me.

He and his musicians had great energy at this concert, and the music is great as always. The talking parts were a bit too excessive, though, and the mixing wasn't the greatest either - I preferred At Folsom Prison to this.

Pretty classic Johnny Cash.

Pretty sure ive listened to that one a few times before. The awful sound distracts me quite a bit. But A boy named Sue alone is worth it.

13/02/2025

Неплохо, люди в восторге, но слушать я это не буду

Entertaining record of historical concert, but I wouldn't listen to it again as a complete package, except for "San Quentin" and "Boy Named Sue". Generally too much chatter and audience noise. Loses a star for bleeping out "rude" words.

shout out to the person who posted about this on Reddit the same day I had it generated Really solid live album although not as iconique as Folsom

I wasn't sure if we needed two Johnny Cash prison albums, and I was right. Totally fine, but not essential.

I found the album kinda boring, especially the repetitive base and Johnny's weird demeanor.

-1 for bleeping the rude words.

1. "Wanted Man" 3,4 2. "Wreck of the Old 97" 3,2 3. "I Walk the Line" 3,8 4. "Darling Companion" 3 5. "Starkville City Jail" 2,6 1. "San Quentin" 4 2. "San Quentin" (performed a second time at the audience's request) 3. "A Boy Named Sue" 4 4. "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley" 3,7 5. "Folsom Prison Blues" 3,4 Average 3,46

Good

Timeless 👌🏼 Loved it, easy listening even with two kids in the background telling me I have terrible taste in music

short and classic Cash

Johnny Cash sure does like to perform at prisons, doesn't he? This is the third album of his (that I know of) that was recorded at a prison. I guess it's befitting of an "outlaw country" artist. I've never been much of a Johnny Cash fan, but I certainly agree with his inclusion on this project. And while I have certainly had my fill of live albums on this project, I think there is something special about Johnny Cash singing live, at a prison. He seems to come alive in this setting; it adds and enhances the imposing air that was already a core part of his persona. There is a lot of funny and interesting interaction between him and the prisoners, as well. Anyway, not a fave, but certainly enjoyable.

nice storytelling kinda format. old man has a great voice

It was ok

I haven't listened to Johnny Cash before and I'm not a big fan of country music, but this album was actually alright. I love the banter between the songs. He had a great sense of humor

3.5

Cash er en af de få der kan tilføre country den nerve der gør at jeg syntes det bliver interessant. Langt fra alle hans sange, heller ikke på dette album, har det. Men når de har det, som Sam Quantin og A Boy Named Sue, så kan de noget helt særligt.

Great fun, low quality live audio

Wreck of the Old 97 reminds me of Charlie on the MTA Songs all kind of sound the same to me. Nothing that I love. Folsom Prison Blues is very good.

very enjoyable live album

A couple of stand outs, I ended up listening to the live version (37 min). Not really my thing but I can tell he was a great performer

wonderful voice

When this album arrived this morning my immediate thought was that I’ve had this one. But checking back that was the Folsom Prison album I’d had previously. Listening through I think there is very little difference between the two. But that is a good thing as the fun, banter, gallows humour etc just carries on. Even has Boy Named Sue on it which I covered when I reviewed Folsom Prison. My reservations about entertaining hardened criminals when they are in clink for a reason still remains but as this album as now reached historical value who am I to argue (and probably most of the participants be they goodies or baddies are now probably dead) 3/5 13/1/25

A classic sounding album. It doesn't really move me personally, but I appreciate it.

Great classic album and really cool that it was live at san Quentin. I've heard a lot of Cash before so not much more to write than that I really like it!

Schönes Album. Auch, wenn ich Livealben sind so zugetan bin.

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. 3.5.

Prefer live at Folsom

I hate live albums. I really hate live albums. I love JC, and really enjoy his interactions with the crowd, and some songs just sound right with him infront of inmates. I want to like this more than I do :(

Nice

More ragged than “Folsom,” seems to better capture a live event. Music otherwise the same.

Ja oké, goed live album, maar dan vooral voor de live versie van A Boy Named Sue. At Folsom Prison is tijdlozer. 3.1

As much as I love Johnny Cash, this record is just way too short on content, with long breaks between every song and one song being played twice.

Sam Quentin is a good album, but falls in the shadow of Folsom Prison. It just lacks a certain energy that Folsom had. I did still enjoy the album, however, and songs like A Boy Named Sue and San Quentin are certainly highlights. Best Songs: San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, Peace in the Valley Worst Songs: Wreck of the Old 97

It feels more like an important historical document than an great album.

Johnny Cash. It must be good. Coming from someone who doesn’t love country music.

I can generally leave or take Johnny. I don't care much for live albums ... but this is good fun. It captures what must be a weirdly giddy atmosphere really well.

I mean I can see how this was important and maybe even ground breaking at the time, but I don't think I'll ever have to hear that again. Though I remember my Dad playing "A Boy Named Sue" for me years ago... So that has a fun nostalgia for me.

Enjoyed his interactions with audience.

Obviously a huge event (I’ve seen walk the line) and great voice, but music is more interesting for historical value than things I’d listen to again

Dude passed at 71 twenty-one years ago and his 72nd record came out this year. Respect! Great record, tense but also serene

Not a huge fan. Cash is obviously charming and his crowd work is exceptional. I think the songs are alright though they don't stick with me particularly.

Didn't we already listen to this? It's Cash. It's great. It's still not my thing. Once again surprised by the acoustics in the prison cafeteria.

most of this albums half hour runtime is just Cash speaking to the audience. He's good at it sure but I dont have any connection to him so Im mostly interested in the music, which is decent but far too short. Also the fact that there is a reprise of a song immediately after it is played just feels cheap. Maybe I would like this more if I was a big fan of Cash but Im not. I did enjoy a few songs but as a whole Im not very enthralled by this.

It was a good listen. 3*

Probably a little too short, and that includes the song San Quentin being played twice in a row, on the other hand it's a nice quick listen and Cash's interactions with the crowd is very funny at times

One of the better country singers with some very recognizable tunes. Still not a fan of the genre but he was a decent singer.

I mean it’s fun and it sounds like they are all having a blast. This is one album where the live part actually enhances the listening experience. It’s not something I’d listen to on the regular though. And as others have said, why are there two of his prison albums on this?

I need to be in a certain mood for this record, which I know well. On it’s day, it really hits the spot. Today maybe not that day, which is perhaps a general reflection of how I feel about it.

Another prison concert album? Did this man tour exclusively at prisons or something? I don't know a thing about Folsom or San Quentin prisons but why are criminals treated to a show and why was it recorded not once but twice and at two separate prisons? I have so many questions and not enough answers. Anyways, this one is fine I guess. Folsom was better. Any other prison concert albums I should know about?

A great artist and a great piece of history. The track list is pretty strong, but honestly I just don’t really like live albums.

I LOVE Johnny Cash. I remember listening to it on 8 track tapes in my dad’s car as a kid. To have a musician tour prisons to perform is so mind blowingly awesome. Imagining what those gigs must have felt like for inmates. Johnny Cash was such a proper bloke that understood the misadventures of men. Great to hear

3.5 good

Good. I think melodically a lot of the songs of carbon copies of one another, but man could he hold a room. And really hold his own in a room of hardened criminals. Really impressive charisma. My top 3: 3. Wanted Man 2. Starkville City Jail 1. San Quentin

I really like this album. The banter between Cash and the audience is the classic concert experience, but I must wonder does this list need two Johnny Cash prison albums? I can think of at least one or two Cash albums that could fit in here. 3.5/5

Classic, but live at Folsom Prison has ruined this one for me. Because that one is way better energy than this one.

not as good as the other one, but maybe im just in a bad mood

Americans getting boners - live

I think the talking between songs is the highlight of this live album. I don't know anything about Johnny Cash but that gives me a peek into his personality as a performer. Also what an interesting place for an album recording! Unfortunately the music was just alright, so this gets a 3.

That was such a cool conceptual live album. I don't like country music at all, but because Johnny was constantly engaging and interacting with the crowd, it felt more like I was listening to a western movie rather than a country album.

Boomer prison country

Bro chats a lot

Not a fan of live albums. Some great songs though

Felt historical, might not revisit but felt significant. 6.5/10

I'm not a big JC fan, but I enjoyed the between-song chat, captures the atmosphere so well.

This album was good fun and I really enjoyed listening. I much preferred it to the Folsom Prison album which popped up on here recently mainly because there were a few songs I knew already. Favourite song, Starkville City Jail..... $36 for picking dandelions 🤣

back in prison AGAIN! JK, this is good.

Great live album. Cash knows how to play to a crowd. 3.5/5

Liked the banter and can see why this had had the impact it did at the time

I had the Folsom Prison one just 5 days ago, and with that, I'm now done with all of the two Johnny Cash albums in the current edition of 1001AYMHBYD. Okay. Seems like Cash's music is only considered an essential listen with the help of a prison live concert's spectacle ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Which, frankly, I'm not going to disagree with.

Good album for sure, feels historic, but not my cup of tea.

Suspect this album is on the list because of the novelty of it's recording rather than the quality of the actual songs. Only a couple of these I'd class as Cash's best work. That being said I was impressed with the quality given it's a live album.

Je kunt er niet om heen om dit album te vergelijken met zijn voorganger, ''At Folsom Prison''. En om met de deur in huis te vallen, die is gewoon wat iconischer. Het assortiment aan nummers op die plaat is legendarisch, en bevat een aantal van mijn favoriete Cash songs. Deze is wat fletser, maar desalniettemin druipt het charisma van Johnny en de chemie tussen hem en de bajesklanten er vanaf. En zeg nou zelf, zou er iemand anders zo goed klikken met een zootje schurken en bandieten? Ik vind dat June Cash wel wat meer aanwezig mocht zijn, want die country ballads met haar zijn altijd wel speciaal. Desalniettemin staan er best wat sterke solo efforts op met 'Starkville City Jail' - die me deed denken aan John Prine -, 'San Quentin', en het hoogtepunt 'A Boy Named Sue'. Niet een onvergetelijke luisterbeurt, maar wat moest dit een lijpe ervaring zijn geweest voor het gevangenisvolk dat weinig had om naar uit te kijken. 6,5/10 Highlights: Starkville City Jail San Quentin A Boy Named Sue

Iconisch concert van Cash in zijn prison-reeks. Uniek idee en ook gewoon erg vermakelijk album. Zijn stem is natuurlijk fantastisch en hij windt de gevangenen met een paar kleine brom-grapjes om zijn vingers. Mooi om te horen, pure klasse. De nummertjes op het album zijn verder vrij simpel en niet super boeiend. Ik zal dit niet vaak voor de lol opzetten, maar krijgt een prima score. 7/10 Highlights Wanted Man Boy named Sue

more fun for his stage banter than for the songs necessarily, good tho

first: you pretentious boring **ck. then: ok, actually, you're quite funny and charismatic. and you play in a prison...

Great voice

This album is very unique and I can see why it's on this list. I enjoyed the live performance. Only wished they didn't bleep out all the cuss words lol

Cash had obvious charisma neutered by the variety show feel of this too-brief recording.

3.5 a classic if a little contrived.

More of a cultural artifact than a stunning musical performance.

The concept is a bold one and it teeters on the edge of acceptability for this list. But it is still a live album regardless of the location. Nonetheless this is more than fine example of the artist as a musician and a performer. It is clear that the audience are in thrall and it is down to the man.

Interesting to listen once probably not a repeat

Its mid 5/10

No soy fan del country, pero Juanito Dineros lo hace serio.

Pretty great.

Good for the grill party

Nice, but I think you should've been there

Historic gig but I much prefer Cash when he was old and broken

Love Johnny Cash, great songs but giving this album a 3 because I can’t get my head round the different versions so I have no idea which one I was supposed to listen to.

Another Johnny cash album and similar to the others , it's just ok . I don't feel it's either good or bad , though it is better than my last one, At Folsom Prison.

Sehr Johnny Cash, mir zu eintönig auf die Länge. ***

Seems even more radical now to release a series of live albums recorded in prisons.

Nobody does it like Johnny Cash straight up. I think I both love and hate live albums it's cool to hear the snippets between tracks of Johnny talking to the crowd. Though it'll hurt any relistens or playlist additions. honestly though. These are not definitive editions of these songs he has studio recordings of all of them so. Doesn't really matter I think. Was a cool album just wish it was a little more polished.

The crowd work done by Cash really carries this album. The vibe is almost haunting to me

7/8/24. Really fun live album that showcases Johnny Cash's unique sound and presence, among the signature backdrop of a prison crowd.

San Quentin

As someone who is very much not fan of live albums, this one at least has an argument for why it should exist. And the Johnny Cash Prison Album definitely has earned its place in history. Outside of all that, if you're going to make a live album, it has to mean something as a live performance, include improvisation, or be arranged and performed so that a live version on record still sounds good. This clearly hits two of those, so I'm putting it in the group of live albums that "work." I don't think any of the individual recordings can supplant his studio records, though. Which makes it pretty difficult to score.

he's cool, should check out other albums

Really cool to see an insight into these prison live shows. There’s something very real and raw, yet it also feels quite staged and somehow cinematic. The music itself is ok, but I guess the Folsom Prison recording is the more iconic and seminal piece of musical history. Fave Tracks: Wanted Man, San Quentin, Folsom Prison Blues 3.3/5

I love Johnny Cash, but somehow his live albums are not my favourite. It’s not bad tho

Decent romp, never been a huge fan of live albums but Cash sounds great on this.

first listen. I mean I've known all these songs before but this is the first time I listened to this record. It was ok but I'm not the biggest fan of live albums.

Very good

This project is making me appreciate country music. Mr. Cash is such a quintessential country sound and makes for an entertaining night. This record has me feeling as if I’m part of the audience. His charisma and candor are charming and irreplaceable. Great record.

I like Johnny Cash. This is ok.

This was interesting. More about his banter than the actual performance or the songs. I get he’s an icon but his music is pretty boring.

Good album. Really enjoyed the causal realness of Cash’s stage presence. Songs were mostly good. 3.5/5 Might listen again

3.5

johnny cash's older stuff seems so simple to me i dont understand what makes it so respected. its fun, sure, but every song has the exact same structure and rhythm. 6/10

live jonny chase rahhhhh

Favourite song - A boy named sue

"I wrote a new song that doesn't have any substance and could be about any prison really but you're going to like it anyway because I wrote it for you. Also despite it clearly being the weakest song in the set I'm going to play it twice." I don't know. The man has a few good off-the-cuff lines between songs, but the crowd seems to be feeding on an energy that isn't being brought by Cash, who sounds like he's just going through the motions. Maybe you just had to be there.

50% music, 50% yap

Half live record / half comedy record

This asshole out here pandering like he’s runnin’ for office.

Live album.

the first few songs werent that good but i liked his stage presence and how cheerful the prisoners were

Sooo good, loved the insight into his life when he was talking inbetween songs. I listened to it on the way home from work, and before going out with savanna and ellie, ellie requested we listen to A Boy Named Sue....magical coincidence. I'd never heard that song before Friday.

Un vivo de Johnny. Ameno, charlita, corta la bocha.

DNF. Es war nett aber ich glaube nach dem anderen Prison Album hittet das nicht mehr so doll

Not one of his best, but, not a bad album at all from Johnny Cash. His live albums are always fun.

Some good ole yeehaw! I am still not a country fan but Johnny Cash is alright - he is actually hilarious and my favourite parts were his audience interaction.

I've never listened to this album and enjoyed it quite a bit. It's well done, varied, if a little long.