At San Quentin

Playing in prisons feels innovative and creative so hats off for this. Not a Johnny Cash fan, not a country and western fan, not a live album fan. Listened to the whole album to give it a chance. Mercifully it was just 30 minutes. Its a no from me.

Country music or rock n roll aren’t really my thing

He has always been great country singer. Not a big C fan but he is an American Icon. Boy named Sue was fun for such a serious guy! Definitely knows how to rhythm his words.

no soy americano

Disliking the live version 1.5/5

Not my forte. Didn’t finish 😢

Having just explored the low depths of country with George Jones "The Grand Tour", getting this as the next album was such a wonderful contrast. A spectacular album, fun, catchy, irreverent. I'd listen to this all day long.

I have never listened to Johnny Cash beyond watching the biopic with Joaquin Phoenix. Listening to this, with it being outside my general genre choice, was surprisingly enjoyable to me. I miss this sort of simplicity in music with live acoustic instruments and nothing digital.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Masterpiece - This shows what a brilliant storyteller Cash was. The sections with him talking to the audience without music are just as entertaining as the songs themselves. Wanted Man is brilliant, you can hear Dylan quite clearly in the lyrics. The lead guitar breaks on Wreck Of The Old 97 are razor sharp and the energy is fantastic. The story about being arrested picking flowers in Mississippi going right into Starkville City Jail is incredible. San Quentin is great and A Boy Named Sue is wonderfully fun. This is as good as Folsom Prison and one of the all time great live albums.

Legendary Album. This is how you show your appreciation to your listeners. Extraordinary Artist and an unforgettable evening.

Better than Folsom... perhaps my favourite live album ever. Thrilling

Fucking electric. I love you big daddy Johnny Cash. Listened first, now I am going to watch the concert!

Johnny Cash’s *At San Quentin* is a compelling live album that thrives on the Man in Black’s raw, charismatic connection with his audience. Cash masterfully balances high-energy, relatable storytelling in tracks like "Wreck of the Old 97" and "Starkville City Jail" with iconic staples such as "I Walk the Line" and a powerful rendition of "Folsom Prison Blues." While some tracks like "A Boy Named Sue" and "Peace in the Valley" feel more like standard inclusions, the record succeeds because it captures Cash as an incredibly approachable figure; his genuine interaction with the prisoners adds a layer of authenticity that elevates the performance beyond just a concert. Ultimately, the album stands as a gritty, honest testament to his ability to humanize the incarcerated, making for a listening experience that feels both musically solid and deeply personal.

I think I know this one. I know I had At Folsom Prison. And I think I had this at on point too. I wish it wasn’t censored.

Johnny Cash is one of the best to ever do it, and I don’t think anyone in history could have brought the personality to these performances that he did. Easiest 5 stars of my life. The man just don’t miss

Best thing about this album is that it's both a look into what Johnny Cash as a stand up comedian and a good representation of his hits live.

Johnny rules at crowd banter. You can tell he had fun here. Do people still do prison concerts? I feel like we should bring those back.

This album makes me sad that I'll never get to see Johnny Cash live. This is one of the recordings from his legendary tour of prison shows, and while this isn't quite as legendary as his Folsom Prison album, it's just about as good. The recording does an excellent job of capturing Cash's incredible command of the audience. His between-song banter showcases his distinctly off-the-cuff sense of humor, and the raucous cheers from the crowd during San Quentin, a song detailing how terrible prison is, demonstrates his instinct for knowing what songs will appeal to what audience. The setlist is a perfect mix of some of his most famous songs and covers of artists of a similar stripe. Him and his band maintain a sense of infectious fun thanks to the live setting, but their musicianship and the recording quality make it sound just as good as a studio recording. That mix of professionalism and looseness perfectly capture what made Cash such a compelling artist, and make this the gold standard of live albums.

If I'm going to listen to country this is what I want to hear. This man absolutely was the real deal. We were lucky to have him.

Pink pony club, I wanna

More holy scrip. We could argue about which is better - this or Folsom Prison. But what would be the point. No notes.

I like JC and this album is good.

I like it b/c he is good at singiing. My peraerents now him.

My last week ended with Johnny at Folsom, and the new week begins with Johnny at San Quentin. Not a bad series of albums. One thing that strikes new about both albums is his crowd work. The music is fantastic, and his vocals are on point. But the crowd work is something else. He plays so well to the prisoners and seems to even get along with the guards.

Beautiful

I have a serious soft spot for Johnny Cash and this album, as well as At Folsom Prison. His story telling is unparalleled, the live aspect of this album only adds, where so many others take away from quality and energy, he is clearly tailoring his performance to the inmates, and even plays At San Quentin twice to piss off the guards even more. I can’t think of anyone else that has done anything quite like this, bringing in personal experiences and relating them to the men through the interludes and lyrics. A legend for a very good reason.

Johnny Cash at his most show-bizzy. (slagging off the screws, playing the same song twice and saying it's popular request). But despite the stage craft it retains a sense that things could go wrong. Crowd earn it an extra star they're raging and (on the vinyl at least) high in the mix and as important to the feel of this record as the drummer. At my first job after school my and this Goth girl used to go for a pint and a chip bap in the pool room of a local pub and play the jukebox. Rise by Public Image Limited, Iggy's Wild One and Johnny Cash's Boy Named Sue were played until they wore out. Johnny Cash and AbbA being the only act your parents liked that goths could stomach. It was the version from this lp and I'm pretty sure it's the humour and rage in the performer and crowd that made it so powerful.

i was sad, and listening to this, i got happy. Basically because Johnny Cash was hilarious, and i didn't expect that. I find these prison concerts really engaging and meaningful. Knowing a bit from his story, you can see how authentic and genuine what he does, is and how deeply he can connect with the inmates. And the country songs, the stories, are good stories, parables even. A great artist.

Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: Raw, funny, rebellious, and surprisingly compassionate. This isn’t just a live album. It’s Johnny Cash connecting directly with people society had written off. Favorite Track: “San Quentin” The moment Cash sings: “San Quentin, you’ve been livin’ hell to me” and the crowd erupts. That’s not a performance. That’s a room full of people hearing someone say exactly what they’re thinking.

Solid live album. Much more candid and relaxed than Folsom try one year earlier. So many years ago, and he sounds sick as he banters with the prisoners. Surprised he lived for another 40 years. This is Cash at his best. Outlaw Country… bad ass!

If you can listen to this and not get a smile on your face, I think you are made of stone. Wonderful songs, wonderful man.

🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗 (rounded up because come on) I was not expecting this to be my first five stars—like, at all—but I'll qualify it by saying this five stars is different from any I've anticipated. I am not a live album guy, but this feels like the difference between judging a painting and a photo, or music vs. a documentary about music. The fact that the album is live IS why it's so good, and the energy between Johnny and his audience takes a great set and makes it an experience, which sounds like ChatGPT but it's just true. I was like, "why I am moved by this Christian stuff," but it's because Christianity only hits when there's persecution it's resisting, and that's what makes this so great, you know? I think if this had caught me in a worse mood, I would've felt Cash's prison references were heavy-handed pandering (especially considering he'd never been to jail) and that turning "Folsom Prison Blues" into like a cheerful theme song sours the whole thing, but in whatever bout of sentimentality I'm in the midst of, it felt sincere and sincerely moving. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing

the best

Absolutely legendary. Johny Cash is an absolute legend. Not just a musician, but an artiste, performer. I did even realize that he is per forming in the jail, until watched video version on YouTube lol — what a level of engagment with an audience ahah

Hello. One of the most formative and important albums of my life.

"San Quentin I hate every inch of you" audience reaction is great

Really enjoyed it. Proper showman and great storytelling. His interactions with the crowd are great. Everything you want out of a live album.

Johnny was not a great role model of a man for how he led his life. But he also recognized that and was open and honest about his troubles. If gave him understanding of the men in that prison and what they lived through. He was unafraid to speak his mind to those in authority and that I respect. Certainly one of the great storytellers through song of my lifetime. Hate him or love him this is an iconic album of his work crossing several genres of musical style.

Very enjoyable album

Favorite Track: San Qunetin

So fun, so much fun crowd work, the constant cursing is also so funny. Hes so authentic and in the moment in this performance and is doing very well. 4/5 or higher

Perfectly charming. A best example of what a live album can be

Awesome album! Loved it

Great live

Really great album. Showcases him as a true entertainer, the band are super tight and you can really feel the atmosphere from the crowd

So much fun. Catchy songs. Johnny is hilarious. The prisoners booing the guards and the warden at the end. Fantastic listen

9/10

It's impossible to fault either this recording, or the TV programme of it.

The connection, and mutual respect, between artist and audience is absolutely palpable throughout this album. I loved every minute, and found myself crying for more at the end just like the audience did.

A fun album, although I think I prefer At Folsom Prison more.

Music with a heartfelt message and his famous middle finger. Protest music at its best

One hell of a performance, Cash at one point makes 5 minutes of getting a guitar tuned entertaining. A real nice companion to At Folsom Prison on this list, I'm glad both are included. The echo off the prison walls was haunting

Legendary performance. Its a bit silly to have both san quentin and folsom prison on the list, as both recordings are pretty similar and either one will easily showcase Cash's talent and the message he was trying to share. But both are very enjoyable listens

What a fantastic album! Great songs, vocals and some funny parts in there too Loved it 5 ⭐️

Again I'm feeling _dragged_ by this project... I barely listened to Johnny Cash, I'm 28 and I say I love music, and never got around to listen to this moving artist. I have to admit my first exposure to Johnny Cash was the video from The One That Got Away by Katy Perry. I know, I'm Italian, my parents listened to completely different genres and they were more into Pink Floyd and David Bowie than into Johnny Cash, clearly. Anyways, back to this album, it was moving, and fun, and loved the intermissions where he's talking about the tour, and writing songs, and the crowd going crazy when he gets to the last songs. Beautiful beautiful beautiful, this is gonna get a full ass 5.

First time listening to a live album and I loved it. Great songs and very funny interaction with the audience. Aged really well too.

Gran disco, sobre todo con las conversacines que tiene con los presos, buena selección de canciones, gran disco!

Was wondering if it was as good as his first prison album then in comes the back to back San Quentin

Amaze amaze! I love it.

Peak live album fav track: Every song

fantastic five stars

Love albums have become a new obsession for me. This one always was since first hearing it.

echt heel leuk, ook delen die niet leuk zijn maakt het verhaal af.

Viiskauttaviis vankilahassuttelua, mukavan letkeää

Nice

What a great live album. It's vintage Cash, in a setting fit for his persona. The songs sound great, and the banter in between is top notch. I could listen to this over and over.

Too tired to say anything but this is so essential. Cash is the coolest.

es como elvis amoooo

One of the greatest performances ever. A man unleashed. He sings his guts out before the company of sinners.

Yah Johnny rile up the crowd and play a song about how the jail sucks multiple times. Love u

5 de 5 Legendario en vivo grabado en la mencionada prisión de San Quintín, Cash se muestra como un intérprete crudo y desafiante, pero a la vez, también deja ver compasión y humor, siendo su voz y pasión, una imagen o estandarte de esperanza y rebeldía.

This is a GOAT. But much else to be said

The songs are great, the singing is great, the banters are fun and the vibe of the show is mindblowing. When he sings San Quentin twice, it's feels electric.

What a great album!! Loved it!

Superb. Brilliant songs and very funny in between

This was so fun, I loved how much crowd interaction was captured on this.

Classic Johnny Cash.

Seems like a cool hang

Cash fucking rules, I can only think of one current country/americana artist who’s played a prison in the last decade. No skips.

Hann er sjarmerandi kallinn

En redkih live albumov, k mi je smiselno, da so kle gor. Njegov banter vmes in pogovarjanje z zaporniki je top, izbira komadov je dbest (Odpre z "Wanted Man", ha! Omg, pozabila sem, da je June bla zraven! Sm glih pri "Darlin' Companion" + kok ma ona primeren glas za country!). "I Walk the Line" je bil itak amazing (prejšnji komad glih). Škoda edin, da mi cenzurira k Cash preklinja. (Ok, njegov banter je res top notch, the prisoners love it.) "A Boy Named Sue" je odličen. Pa zaključek s "Folsom Prison Blues", uh. I loved it.

Top notch. No really

Very good songs. Too much talking.

I've never listened to this album, but it is a fantastic album that has so much personality and humanity in it. I found my self smiling while listening to this on my drive to campus. The way Johnny Cash talks reminds me of how my grandpa talks and makes jokes. Truly a wonderful album that just makes you happy as you listen to it.

Old Jonny Cash is amazing. old Johnny Cash and singing for and talking to convicts is another level. He knew his crowd, captive as it was, and played to them. Doing a song about getting arrested was great, but to follow it up with San Quintin IN San Quintin (twice!) is the stuff of legends. I recommend following this up with At Folsom Prison. Just as good if not better.

The whole album has a lively vibe to it! I mean, it takes you that era seamlessly.

Another great one. I prefer this over Folsom because it’s brighter. 3 5 stars in a row oh boy

I'm usually not a country person but who could ever dislike Johnny Cash! Nobody does it like him anymore. He oozes charm and charisma on this live record.

First album I ever bought. Cash at his best.

Love it. Such a great album, and also just nostalgic since dad loved this (& the Folsom prison album). Listened to the longer version that included more songs and the Carter family. Such good crowd banter, hearing the crown reaction to the San Quentin song. Kinda nuts how many tracks he is like “I just wrote this yesterday”

If you only own Cash record…

Johnny Cash At San Quentin captures a country legend at the height of his powers, returning to a prison setting for another raw, electrifying live performance. Compared to At Folsom Prison, this album feels less stark and more reflective—offering a clearer window into where Cash stood personally and artistically at that moment in his life. The original release is a tight, 10-track set running just over 37 minutes—focused, impactful, and exactly how audiences first experienced it. If that’s all you have time for, it absolutely holds up on its own. But the Legacy Edition, stretching past an hour and a half, opens things up into something far more expansive. With opening sets from Carl Perkins, The Statler Brothers, and The Carter Family, it presents the full scope of the event—looser, less polished, but richer for it. If the original album feels like a perfectly framed photograph of Cash alone, the Legacy Edition is a wide, lived-in family portrait—full of texture, context, and life beyond the spotlight.

"I'm here to do what you want me to and what I wanna do" Dette oppsummerer godt utstrålingen til At San Quentin. Man hører sjeldent så entusiastiske publikum som på fengselsplatene til Johnny Cash, og han gir virkelig alt. Dessuten er han utrolig vittig og har publikumet helt på sitt lag, og publikum vet jo at han er på deres lag også. Det er Johnny Cash sin peak som artist helt fram til American-skivene, men det er også et av tidenes konsertalbum. Jeg har hørt LEgacy-utgaven mange ganger og det er også opptredener av Carl Perkins, Statler Brothers og flere, og de er proffe og koser seg på scenen, men Johnny Cash utstråler en helt annen trygghet. Utvalget låter som er på originalalbumet, de 10 (hvor 2 av dem er "San Quentin) gir egentlig et ganske godt bilde av hvordan hele konserten var. Det går frysninger nedover ryggen på meg når riffet på "Wanted Man" starter, og igjen på "San Quentin" 1 og 2. Å spille så langt mot broa på gitaren er jeg ganske sikker på at jeg startet med pga denne plata. Det låter så mektig. Og energien på "Wreck of the Old 97" og "Folsom Prison Blues". Uansett hvor glad jeg er i John Sebastian og Lovin' Spoonful så er og blir "Darlin' Companion" en Johnny og June-låt. Cash har hele karrieren hatt en evne til å ta låter og gjøre de helt sine egne, akkurat som Elvis, og det helt fram til American-platene. Johnny Cash oppsummerte livsprosjektet sitt fint med låta "Man in Black": Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back Up front there ought to be a man in black Det står seg.

Denne skiva er nesten like mye prat som musikk, og godt er det! Johnny er kul ass

Great live album. Singing witty songs to a roaring crowd in a prison is genius. The songs are really good, and some of the best country ever. While they do kind of sound the same, they're still great to listen to.

OK, dat andere album kwam eerder uit, maar dit is natuurlijk dé bajesplaat van Johnny Cash. Misschien is er in de hele popgeschiedenis geen ander album dat zó goed de sfeer van een live-optreden vastlegt. De losse spielerei van Cash (hij kondigt een nummer aan, en besluit dan toch wat anders te gaan spelen), het geïmproviseerde gekeuvel tussendoor, waarbij hij feilloos aanvoelt dat het bij deze zaal allemaal wel wat grover mag. En bij succes gewoon een nummer nóg een keer spelen, wat kan jou het ook spelen. Geniaal om een nummer over die gevangenis te maken natuurlijk. En de hilarische hit Boy named Sue, waarbij ze de tent helemaal afbreken. Geheel terzijde: Jan Rot heeft er een leuke vertaling van gemaakt, maar helemaal luisterwaardig is de versie van Kommil Foo ('Man genaamd Marianne'), waar ze aan het eind de clou nog een fantastische absurdistische twist hebben gegeven.

This has got to be one of the best love albums of all time. Better than Folsom imo

hani vor me johr mol glost nochdemi s theater rigiblick über ihn gseh han. glaub nonie sone rowdy publikum gseh. uuultra geil. ersti zwei songs sind sehr ähnlich aber super geil d band folgt ihm afoch. walk the line halt riese banger. sini asproche sind au super er isch huere gern döt und singt für d insasse? ja san quentin isch de grund wiso dases das album git. wie er uf d criwd reaktion wartet sooo geil. well er will dass sie sin song ghöred woner für sie gschriebe het. soo geil. "if any of the guards are still speaking to me can i have a glass of water?" wie geil würkli. ich check nöd wo er politisch gstande isch. und d backgroundgsäng bi san quentin sind au huere cool. boy named sue au super song. er het so sass irgendwie. ich mues e füfi geh. wie er mit de crowd interagiert isch sooo cool. und d songs sind ultra cool d band reagiert konstant.

ommggg geiiiil und leider muss ich halt ah nickelback denke BRO HENDS GAD ZENSIERT ich hasse amis jöö wie alli freud hend wreck of the old 97 macht soo e gueti stimmig soooo en coole ES JSCH SOOO HERZIG starkville city jail isch soo funny woaaah d reaktion bi san quentin isch sooo cool und de song ah sich isch au sehr cool hahahaha boy named sue hueree funny peace in the valley isch auu schön!! au de hindergrundgsang hett das würkli nöd denkt aber ich glaub es isch es 5i. d lieder findi au sehr schön aber wär nur es 4i. abrr die ganzi atmosphäre und sis gschwätz und d reaktion vode lüt hend mi so berüehrt

Incredible.

Man. What a heavy hitter of an album. This one really proves that complexity doesn't make something better. The simplicity here isn't really anything bad. Cash kills it. The band kills it. Hell, even the audience kills it. Great atmosphere. Great sound. Great songs.

Incredible recording. The friction between Cash, the crowd and the wardens is palpable. Wanted Man is a great roaring opening and the cameo from June fabulous.

Bland det hårdaste som någonsin släppts. Första tagningen av ”San Quentin” kan vara ett av musikhistoriens absolut starkaste ögonblick. Vilken jävla stämning!

The man in black! Vilken laddning samtidigt som han låter extremt sliten. Det bidrar ju bara till närvaron. Rätt in i vebon

I wanted to take the time to listen to these stories carefully, so I marked this "did not listen" last night and picked it back up again today. And this is a great record. It's the emotional intensity of how much the inmates loved this concert, the sincerity and simplicity of the music itself, and how kind Johnny Cash sounds when addressing the audience. Absolutely marvelous. 5 stars

Fantastic- classic Johnny Cash “ San Quentin you’ve been living hell to me” what a great little album, with JC and June at the top of their game🙌

Is this the most ballsy country album of all time? Possibly, possibly.

One of the great live albums of all time. However, you don't want this version. You need the whole concert that can be found on Spotify. Cash fulfills his role as the man in black and the persona is perfect. The band are tight, the lyrics are dark and Cash owns it all. I get goosebumps listening to this album. 100% needs to be on this list. Best Tracks: Wanted Man; San Quentin; A Boy Named Sue

"You're in the wrong place to bend over" within the first 5 min was wild LMAOOO I watched the TV Special of the concert so the setlist wasn't the exact same as the album tracklist, but it was moving in its own right. The testimonies of the inmates and guards between the songs really added a whole new layer to the album. I was in tears a whole lot. Hearing the prison abolition adjacent views/sentiments being expressed even at this time by those actively incarcerated was deeply interesting. I also appreciated the systemic failures that result in mass incarceration being so openly discussed by those most impacted. Like "Peace in the Valley" cut between the discussion of the death penalty?? I'm not even religious, but god. Overall, I fucking love Johnny Cash flaws and all! Top 3: 1) Boy Named Sue 2) San Quentin 3) Wanted Man

Unlike any live recording you're bound to hear. Sharper than hell. Johnny has such warmth not associated with him

I sorted wanted to give this a lower score because I had already given Folsom Prison a 5, but there is just no denying Johnny Cash.

Loved to hear another live JC album - great voice, funny jokes, and wonderful energy.

music is love

9/10

Disco com a alma de Johnny Cash

Listen to the Legacy Edition

Cash at his best

Amazing record, very good songs and Cash's interactions with the inmates are priceless. That being said, I still prefer At Folsom Prison by a margin

Music giving power to the 'have-nots'

Sublime. An absolute delight. It's so lovely how much Johnny Cash really seems to value and care about these inmates. What a treat.

Can’t go wrong Johnny Cash

Its a five from me

i love that he sings 'san quentin' twice. the editing on this one is kind of insane (not just the bleeps, but hard cuts left and right. this thing has been chopped and screwed every which way) but despite all that, it is a truly great live album.

Feels like a time capsule. Great live recording, whatever happened during Folsom Prison Blues?

Not a country fan but very much enjoy this record

All Johnny Cash songs sound the same but he made that style legendary. I enjoyed listening to the album and is interaction with the audience very old-timey in a good way.

This was a really cool listen. Hadn’t heard any of the songs before (I don’t think), or certainly not the live versions. The cheers and jeering of the audience completely adds to it.

I really enjoyed listening to the legacy version with all the other musicians playing and the extra banter between songs. Wild to think in the US nowadays you could put on a show like this in a prison. Johnny sounded great, loved the banter, audio was pretty tidy and June's banter was of the chain

Fantastic stuff. A quintessential live album, Cash at his best both musically and bantering with the crowd. Must have been a hoot to watch on TV. Standouts: San Quentin, Darling Companion, A Boy Named Sue

Mfs used to walk into a prison and play 34 minutes of straight bangers

Really cool album with some Cash staples. I love hearing the interactions between Cash and the inmates.

Ooh nice

What a great album, the fact it was recorded live really helps, given the genuine reactions from the audience. Would listen to the whole album again

With all due respect to Live at Folsom Prison, this shows so much more of who Johnny Cash was, while also just being excellent musically.

Det e så gøy (det e helt klart feil ord, men det e det eneste ordet æ har akkurat nu), men så e det så veldig for kort. Skulle ønske det va lengre, men alt som e der e gode greier.

One of country musics GOAT. Great voice, and music. His sound does and will span generations.

Absolutely amazing!

One of the greatest live albums ever recorded. It’s impossible to listen to this and not feel how special this moment was to the men who were there.

Full disclosure, I am, and always will be a sucker for Cash, driving lonesome Southwestern highways in a car packed full of my family and pets listening to CDs of classic country punctuated my childhood at regular and memorable intervals. I have a particular penchant for his live albums, especially the great "At Folsom Prison". There is something about their exemplary status in showing the effect of music as a form of connection and communication, and in a prison with the purported dregs of society, an attempt by an artist very conscious of class to use it to reach and share a moment with those outcast, forgotten, and locked away from greater society. On "At San Quentin", recorded solely a year later, and missing a recently deceased member of Cash's band- guitarist Luther Perkins, Cash sounds older, more tired, and more disillusioned than on "Folsom". This isn't to knock the performance, as it's all still top notch, outside of a few small snafus vocally from Cash. It's really more of note to see how the outlaw country legend of Cash himself was formed- the infamous "middle finger" photo was taken at this set- and it's all the more iconic for it. A lean 35 minute album, with several tracks from the live performance omitted, and somewhat erroneously including both the first performance of and audience requested encore of "San Quentin", a two covers in "Wanted Man" and "Darlin' Companion", and some of his classics, the album stands out in its firsts of previewing newly written material - "San Quentin", "Starkville County Jail" and the first ever recording of the great "A Boy Named Sue"- with all the grit, beer suds, blood and brooding Cash is known for. An all-time great live country album, even if it pales in comparison to the kinetic social statement of "Folsom". Favorite Track: "A Boy Named Sue" Least Favorite Track: "San Quentin (Reprise)" - An unnecessary inclusion. "You put the screws on me, I'll screw right out from under ya... I'm tired of all that shit."

Amazing. What an absolute legend. Love, love, love the live element - chatting, joking with the inmates. His voice. His storytelling. It's all near perfection. Can't pick a favorite! I listened to this a few times back-to-back and it's now in my collection. Thank you, Mr. Cash for gracing us with your brilliance.

Clearly this is one where the relationship with the audience is the point, more than the songs or the performance itself, and it is extremely moving. Hard to believe that Nixon invited him to play at the White House after this.

What a classic piece of history. A country star playing in prisons and recording it, all in the 1960s. What a fucking legend. The noises from the crowd and the dialogue in between is just so authentic and the old mics just give this record an incredible, nostalgic analogue warmth that can never be replicated.

I really liked this one

excellent album, often absurd and surrealist in the content

Heard Before? I knew all the songs but not this recording. Notes: - started off with the original release, then thanks to Allmusic, heard the legacy edition. - the revue format of the show is exciting. stellar performances from all the supporting acts. - some of the rawest, most thrilling versions of any of these songs. - production suited the material perfectly, gritty and almost overdriven. - one of the only live albums where I was happy to hear the crowd noise. - even the stage banter has replay value. I was riveted. - June Carter blew me away. Verdict: Original album: ho hum redux of "at Folsom Prison". Legacy edition: essential. Easily one of my favorite country albums and one of my favorite live albums. How did I not hear this before? Listen Again? Yes yes yes.

What an album to start on! I’m a sucker for live albums and this might just be the best one I’ve heard. Cash is funny as hell, the crowd is lively, a guard gets booed! I haven’t listened to much Johnny Cash before this and I feel like I’ve been missing out. The music is so energetic, I can’t get enough of those drums and oo the guitar is to die for. I love this album so much.

Very enjoyable. Would listen again.

No notes.

What a great performer. What a legend.

Another classic by the best

One of the most special live performances I've ever heard. His personality shines through in every song and segueway too.

Imagine today’s version of this. It would suck. This didn’t.

Excellent stuff.

This was such a fun listen. I've never been one to think I'd like Johnny Cash, but every track was so enjoyable. It definitely helped that it felt like I was at a concert. It was fun to hear him talking to the crowd and them responding. This album was amazing.

wow that entire album put a big smile on my face. listening to all the chatter and happiness amongst Johnny and crowd - amazing. What a treat that they recorded this and released it.

Very good. Haven’t ever listened to it before! Amazed at how this ever came about

What an awesome and intimate performance by Johnny Cash. 5/5

I think a 5? Quintessential live record that is enjoyable more because of the performance than necessarily the music

What an album!! That was just enjoyable to listen too

Loved it, no notes.

A classic live performance. Great music and great dialogue between songs. What an atmosphere.

There's probably an argument that if you've got the Folsom Prison live album on the list, you don't need this too. However, they're both fantastic – and if I have to give one the edge, it's San Quentin. (Cash is pretty funny here, but the real comedy genius might be the prisoner who shouts "get on with it!" during the intro to Walk the Line. Did he have somewhere better to be?)

So much love was put into this performance. A true classic.

Completely incredible. Cash's voice is divine, the humour between songs and the honesty of the prison system. Wow wow wow.

Listened to the OG release and had a few criticisms about brevity, but then realised this is for the Legacy Edition which captures pretty much the whole gig! Straight off the bat, this is a much better edition. June comes across as a fierce performer in her own right, not just John's wife. The warm up tracks by Carl Perkins and the Statler brothers are a fantastic addition. Overall this pitches it up into "one of the greatest live albums ever" territory. Very atmospheric.

I'd love more live albums from prisons. What an absolute legend. I love Johnny Cash. I hadn't listened to him in a while and this hit just right.

Its incredible this and all of the other prison albums ever got recorded, let alone performed. Truly incredible. This is such a classic live album, the way that he plays into and for the audience. He gets them. He plays songs for them, shows empathy for their condition and creates a truly human experience for them. Brilliant. His band is tight, the songs are perfect. The lyrics hit home. He plays his big songs, he plays new songs and old timey classics. He blew it out of the park with this one.

This was awesome, I'd never listened before. A live album like this really put you there.

Classic! Favorite track: boy named sue other picks: wreck of the old, I walk the line

Huge album. There won’t be many folk/country albums I am rating five stars, but the songs, the banter…it’s all gold

Singular voice that somehow matches the content of the songs perfectly. And although the sharp, steady guitar playing evokes dusty, spare, empty places, the angry warmth of Cash's singular, authentic voice is strange comforting company. Although I appreciate it, I've never really connected with it, and so have never put it on.

great album

Johnny Cash is Johnny Cash. You won’t be surprised at what you hear when you listen to one of his albums. The biggest thing for me with a live album is the artist and crowd interactions. If there is no interactions then there’s no quality to the album. Plain and simple. This is an album that makes you feel like you are there . Choice cut: A Boy Named Sue

Another re-listen for me. This one is somewhat (rightfully) overshadowed by the Folsom Prison album but Cash was electric in both musical performance and commentary.

Great sound. Unique voice. Recording a live performance at a prison should be a requirement for all musicians.

This was great! I think the only thing I had heard off here prior was the "Boy Named Sue" rendition, but this whole things was awesome!

Essential piece of country music history, I grew up on many of these songs and the electricity and chaos of hearing them at a show like that really just makes them all that much more dear. This album is though, more importantly, an invaluable anti-carceral document. The degree to which we have dehumanized incarcerated people is brought into harsh focus by evidence of when it didn’t use to be like that. Not that prison has been good or effective at any point, but whoa holy shit what do you mean this abolitionist artist was doing shows IN PRISONS? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?? Listening to him talk to them like peers, like they’re just playing in a bar? Bringing music and levity and respect to these people who are being very explicitly denied those things? That made me cry hard a couple times in and of itself, culminating in his performing San Quentin (which I forgot he had written the night before?!) the cheering is so loud and they play it twice in a row :’) I just think we could all stand to be reminded more frequently of our history. We consider the past barbaric in a way we’ve improved on, but that’s just not the case. As the technology to punish people has advanced, we have applied it to our carceral system at every turn, and we’ve lost the plot of our humanity entirely. People have always been people. And everyone alive deserves dignity.

The Man in Black Challenging the system!

Absolute classic Johnny Cash. At the peak of his creative period.

One of my favorite live albums

It's a great live album. Johnny's music is a remedy for the soul. It's a great sounding album, for the fact it's from the 60s and recorded in a prison. The only bad thing I can say is the fact that there aren't more songs. 5/5

Classic. Haven’t listened to it in forever.

A true classic.

i loved this, maybe country really is my thing. god bless john cash indeed, this was such a cool album and wow when he sang san quentin... so electric.

Track 1 - 9/10 Track 2 - 8/10 Track 3 - 10/10 Track 4 - 10/10 Track 5 - 9/10 Track 6 - 8/10 Track 7 - 8/10 Track 8 - 9/10 Track 9 - 9/10 Track 10 - 10/10 Overall - 9/10

Grandios!

The best of Johnny Cash live. You almost feel like one of the prisoners watching the show! Contains the best recording of Walk the Line.

Alright, I’ll walk the line. An iconic album.

Really good classic country. You can feel the energy from the inmates as Cash not only delivers an excellent performance, but also chats and jokes around with them between songs.

I had this version as a teenager and then I bought deluxe edition. Way superior! I Still Miss Someone is an absolute banger! How could they leave this off the abridged version?! In fact, it took me a little while to adjust to the deluxe version, so perhaps it's just that I got too used to something. Anyway: Cash is on fire here, his banter is great, he sings with heart and is joined by a series of special guests (Carl Perkins barely gets a mention on this version!). A boy named Sue is famous in its own right and San Quentin is a well thought out song (both versions, yet they couldn't chuck in 'I don't know where I'm bound'!?). Love the shout out to the warden at the end! Yet. Still, I want the deluxe. 5 stars!

A great live album. That set the standard high for how to do a live album. A classic

Loved it. Even better than the other prison album. Personality for days and great performances of great songs. Love how rowdy the prisoners get. "Aww, you don't really mean that....." Great Cover Art.

Fun to listen to the crowd noise and Cash is king

My 6th grade teacher rolled this album out to us and introduced us to A Boy Named Sue. I was excited to listen to this one again

A piece of history.

His best work in my opinion

listening when: after pilates during journaling in the morning thoughts: fuck i love this man rating: 12/10 no notes

Muy bueno

I rolled my eyes a little yesterday when I saw the Doors come up again, but I was legitimately excited to get this album today even though I just had Johnny Cash's "American IV" the day before yesterday. "At Folsom Prison" was a great album, and this recording is even more energizing. There's a lot going for this album, from Cash's music to the rowdy atmosphere. If there's one complaint I have, it's that Cash seems to be acting a little too hard to be relatable to the inmates (He was a very charismatic man, but I've never found him to be a very convincing actor - even though he is in one of my favorite episodes of "Columbo"). Favorite track: "A Boy Named Sue." Do yourself a favor and listen to the version performed by the writer, Shel Silverstein.

Classic. Not a huge country fan but this is great

Great

Such a rebelious and cultural album.

Loved the Netflix Special, Johnny!

Återigen en mänsklig skiva. Kanske aningen naivt, men sammanhanget, med dömda brottslingar som också är människor. Och Cashs röst är inte på topp, men vilka låtar!

Best Track - "I Walk The Line"

The energy, the recognition, the playfulness. Legendary live album.

What I love about this performance is Johnny's interaction with the crowd. To get to see a show like this was more than just entertainment for them. They got to feel like human beings again, not just jailbirds. Even when they started playing San Quentin for the second time, it made me smile because I knew they were loving it so much.

A-

I'm not quite sure how to explain it other than this album made me feel so whole. I found myself wishing that each song was longer...though I should consider myself lucky just to have these 33 minutes of pure joy. I've never listened to Cash much before this. It's definitely a certain type of mood, but I really really like it. That outlaw country spirit. Obviously "I Walk The Line" is great, but I really loved "Wanted Man" and "San Quentin" (and indeed, we got the reprise!!). "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley" started playing. It coupled perfectly with "Folsom Prison Blues" to end out the album. AND. THEN. I. REALIZED. This was part of a program where he played for inmates. How interesting is that? Really made me realize that behind all of these albums, there's a deeper story. This one was immediately a ten out of ten, from the very first note.

Classic outlaw country in a unique live environment that makes for an entertaining listen.

Good album. The whole atmosphere really makes it.

Cool vibes from the cellblock

Even better than Folsom, 5 stars from start to finish

Phenomenal

Nothing makes me go crazy go stupid like a Johnny Cash live from prison album.

Legend. No notes.

This is the second conceptual live album after the Folsom and i find it genius to say the least to select an audience like this for a live.It definately saved the atmosphere of that particular day in 1969 and that makes it timeless.Albums like this comes out in once in a lifetime so i can fully understand why it's on the list.I saw the official release had 10 songs but i found in youtube an 18 songs version so i'll go with that.There is also a video version with some footage which by the way you should also see.Extra respect for Johnny Cash for not playing what he was allowed to in this.Like he would.I mean this guy was fearless,and every single song had a meaning,the tracklist in this version was the best ever made.And for you to know San Quentin was one of the toughest prisons out there so there was real danger!But then again music has no boundaries.And i think JC contributed more with his music and by showing real respect and humanity to make those prisoners weight more to the good side than the system. Still Miss Someone legendary I Walk The Line Darlin' Companion cover with his wife June Carter! I Don't Know Where I'm Bound for it's meaning Starkville City Jail for sharing his experience,the storytelling that totally resonated with the audience, in video version asks the guards for water and after drinking some,he kicks the tin cup,iconic, San Quentin which is a fantastic follow-up from Starkville and the audience felt important enough to be part of the song,The lyrics made the crowd go wild!And extra credit for the second time! Wanted Man,the Dylan cover which was perfect for the situation,he reffers to Dylan as the greatest song-writer,another historic moment, The Boy Named Sue was also a cover that Silverstein wrote about a friend being bullied for his name which by the way wasn't actually Sue,the title itself though can have so many meanings for each person,genius song,i think JC won a Grammy for this performance,i mean you need to have guts to say the word kill and describe violence in a prison!But in the end is a enpowering song, the Dorsey cover (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley along with the female choir was the perfect song to calm down the crowd sweetly,genius move as well Folsom Prison Blues is the perfect song,the perfect connection to the previous album which also resonated as hell with the crowd, Ring Of Fire was also a courageous move since you literally play with fire when you say fire in a prison, He Turned The Water Into Water although it's a biomatic piece it was so acurate since JC was drinking only water and the crowd was allowed to some tea i think and although he was describing a jesus miracle everybody in this room were kinda wishing they could drink something else,wine perhaps? Daddy Sang Bass for his homage to Carl Perkins that i think had recently passed away,and is a joy to the ears, Closing Medley: Folsom Prison Blues/I Walk the Line/Ring of Fire/The Rebel-Johnny Yuma,although i was a bit dissapointed that San Quentin was excluded this time. 5/5.If this is not 5 stars then what is it? Great vibe,great songs! Just realised in the video version that had already selected songs were some songs i didn't listen to,so make sure you do both versions.

How to make a live album, 35 minutes of pure attitude. 5 Star.

Johnny Cash 🥰 En ollut kuunnellut putkeen tätä legendaarista livelevyä. Nyt kuuntelin ja pidin kuulemastani.

4.5+/5

Classic and listening to this should be a part of any decent American grade school curriculum.

I generally don't like live albums, but can you imagine a high profile artist in 2025 singing songs for prisoners in a prison about how much it sucks in there? I can't see something like this happen anymore. That reason alone makes it far more interesting than a standard concert album or even a studio album.

Probably one of the most fun (live) albums I’ve listened to.

Absolutely phenomenal Album from a Legend

Bloody great album, I enjoyed this a lot more than Folsom Prison. In fact I think if I had heard this first I would’ve marked Folsom a bit lower. Can’t really fault this, no bad tracks on it and for a live album the energy definitely comes across. Top Track - A Boy Named Sue

What makes this album a must-hear transcends all of the popularity-based bullshit that seems to qualify the excess of britpop or experimental wanking. This album represents in some senses a journalism piece on Johnny Cash's role in, and impact on, American music and society. It offers a transparent lens for Cash's commentary on the underbelly of the American dream. I can't imagine a better setting for his performance than an institution within which America locks away its problems. 5/5, must-hear.

At first I thought this didn’t have the edge of the live at Folsom but it really took off after San Quentin. More originals than Folsom too. Great listen!

Just brilliant.

malade

Must

A v worthy first 5*, I loved it - Reece and Joaquin forever

Another 5 star from me

At San Quentin>At Folsom

Johnny Cash is 100% on the country western Mt. Rushmore. We aren’t here to talk about the other three, so let’s dig into JC. In the mid to late 60s, Cash was on a comeback. Seems crazy since it’s still toward to beginning of a long career. Live at Folsom had come out and was doing well, so he and a slough of other rockabilly types toured other prisons and venues throughout the country singing about drink, drug, murder, love, prison, and god, and they made pretty good legendary careers for themselves. I will preface this by saying I listened to the Legacy Edition of the album to get the full show experience and it was superb. Carl Perkins, Statlers, Carter Family, and Johnny all putting on a show. The best parts are the little imperfections in rhythm or forgetting a lyric or vamping to give the audience time to react to a lyric. JC and band are tight. They bust out a brand new “San Quentin,” June joins them on “Jackson” and we get an amazing performance of “A Boy Named Sue.” Not to mention a grip of classic Cash Golden Country Greats.

Honestly great live album. Loved this.

01) Wanted Man - 9,0 02) Wreck of the Old 97 - 8,5 03) I Walk the Line - 10,0 04) Darling Companion - 9,0 05) Starkville City Jail - 9,0 06) San Quentin - 9,5 07) San Quentin (Reprise) - 10,0 08) A Boy Named Sue - 10,0 09) (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley - 9,0 10) Folsom Prison Blues - 8,5 TOTAL: 9,25 (93/100) Current ranking: 30/676

4.5/5 just beating out cheap trick bc of the length and rawness of the performance great stuff johnny cash

A really nice listen, not the greatest writing ever heard but a lot of the songs were really good and got the message across. Was definitely good as a live album despite this causing slightly subpar recording quality compared to the likes of studio album but added to the atmosphere and story of it so think that was definitely a plus.

Brilliant album. I know it gets knocked as not as good as folsom, but I love it.

One of the best Americana (NOT C&W) of the 20th century.

Great

Honestly Johnny is such a don. Love his tunes and the audacity of playing at prison is incredible. It adds to the raw appeal of the songs and also to his persona. Hell of a dude and I’m one hell of a fan

That’s another 5. Classic again.

Just great. Never listened to this one!

Solid 5 stars. All day every day.

I remember my dad showing me this album. It is historical. Favorites: San Quentin (both times) and Folsom Prison Blues

Amazing

a classic

Exactly what I'd want in a Cash album.

10/10

great, love his personality and the songs aswell.

I knew Johnny Cash sang at San Quentin—I’d seen Walk the Line. But hearing this album, I felt how much he truly cared for the prisoners. He didn’t see himself as better than them, and that made a damn deep impression on me this morning. Anything less than five stars would be too low. Thank you, Johnny.

Johnny Cash is always a great musician and storyteller. This performance is no exception. I'm not usually a fan of live albums, but the fact that Cash recorded this at the San Quentin State Prison is pretty ballsy.

This is one of those must hear albums that boggles the mind. I don't really care too much for Johnny Cash regarding genre or listen too often. I love some aspects of his music and his life. He IS a cultural icon. I love LOVE how he interpreted some more contemporary hard rock/ alt songs before he died. It literally changed the way I view music, how I interpret it. Anyhow, this album... a performance in a prison with little hope and diminished spirits... Some of these songs must have meant so much to some of these hapless souls... Incredible!

Didn't listen on this day, but I know it well.

This is as Johnny Cash as Johnny Cash can get.

Fucking great. Laughed my ass off. What a storyteller

Own It. Love It.

One of the finest Live Albums in Country Music. The audience was "captive" throughout the performance.

I think Cash’s “prison series” of live albums demonstrates one can have empathy and still be a “tough guy.” The deference he shows to his audience should remind us of the humanity people in jail deserve even if they have done wrong.

Johnny don't miss

Енергетика топова

Wow! Cash would have been investigated by the FBI in a hot minute today if he had released this album. The era of prison albums reflected a dissatisfaction the law and order agenda of the Nixon presidency. The fact that is was tolerated seemed just fine. Boy have we changed our attitudes since then. Law and order rules the day, constitutional protections be damned.

absolutely classic

Johnny F'ing Cash. Hell yeah.

All bangers. Great crowd work.

Not many live albums generate so much electricity from their exact location and interaction with the audience, but this one definitely does

Classic songs. Folsom is better but still a great live album. Some songs just have to much lull however.

Johnny cash is just SO COOL

Oozes charm and soo much audience interaction and banter

I was running around a hotel and a beach. I could breathe in but not out

I'm not a big fan of country, but Johnny Cash is something else. Like a lot of people of my generation, I was introduced to his music via the Walk the Line film. Since then, I haven't delved too deeply into his catalogue, but usually enjoy listening to whatever songs of his I come across. This is one of the best live albums I've ever heard, and a great compilation of his best songs. I enjoyed the short version so much that I went and listened to the 90+ minute Legacy version, which flows better and has more songs from the other artists. Some of the songs are a bit ordinary, and the recording is a bit rough in places, but Cash's rapport with the crowd is incredible. He had them in the palm of his hand. It's very transportative as well, a great window into that time and place. Really glad to have finally listened to this, and looking forward to getting the Folsom prison album.

Love JC

I moved to the Nashville area in 1999. While I knew of Johnny Cash before I moved, I really learned what a legend he was in this town! You can't help but start to like his music while living in Nashville! I certainly became a fan! What a great live record that really showcases his personality and some of his biggest hits! R.I.P. Johnny!

Might have to rethink my “I’m not really a live album fan stance”. This truly was like listening to a slice of history. When again will an artist ever perform outlaw hits to actual prisoners? And it’s FUNNY! I was giggling like crazy when Johnny Cash asked the crowd what “rotgut” they were drinking and someone shouts back “TEA!”

Great album. Raw, authentic, and lots of great energy into a 35 minute package. I don’t listen to Johnny Cash a lot, and hadn’t listened to this album, before, but I always enjoy him. No wasted energy here. 5

This is a wonderful album. the whole experience was raw and listenable. Loved it

I respect 30 minutes albums.

CLASSIC!

This is wild stuff, JC is on top form, it's just so far removed from other mainstream country artists of the time. A real rebel, still feels electric hearing this in 2025.

A classic

9.7/10

A classic from Mr. Cash! I remember this album as a kid. Made me respect him as a human being. Original Soringsteen

Better live album than Folsom for the simple fact that “A Boy Named Sue” nearly starts a riot. Cash is in fine voice once again and the backing band brings it.

Outstanding

papal infallibility, impossible gig, benchmark

Noe av det råeste som noen gang er tatt opp. Cash is indeed king!

4.5 round up

Loose and rowdy. They sure don't make prison shows the way they used to.

Brilliant. Johnny just never lets me down! Can’t help but sing along and laugh along to his live chat here as well as consider how kind of revolutionary his prison visits etc. were and still feel today.

A beautiful album, in many ways. Great set up with many of Cash most listenable sengs.

Already own and love this album. One of Johnny Cash's finest and a pleasure to listen at any time.

How do you make a live album with an infectious atmosphere and is actually good? Get an audience that few other options to do, apparently.

Love it! I know about this one!

A short listen, but I couldn't imagine a better introduction to Johnny Cash. What an incredible performer, and what an incredible album. The wit, charm and empathy on display sell the record and make the great songs so much more enjoyable. If it isn't a masterpiece then it is close, I am torn between rating this a 4 or a 5. We will see how I feel tomorrow. I've decided to rate it 5, to reflect that it is amazing and not simply really good. I doubt we'll find albums I'd call a 10/10 anyway, so a 9 will be rounded up to 5 stars.

Even better than I'd always heard.

Real fun album with songs that were very, very enjoyable and so fun to listen to, it's also amazing that the whole album is recorded live, it's not easy to sing that well live. Real fun experience that I'll for sure listen to again

I don't believe live albums should be on this list aside from Nirvana......ok add 1 more to exception list. Come for the music stay for the comedy between songs

Listened to the standard edition twice on my commute today. Now I'm listening to the Legacy Edition that's got another hour of recordings from the San Quentin session. Love Johnny Cash.

I have a theory that Johnny Cash was the original punk. Two albums recorded in prisons. Punk. Singing San Quentin in San Quentin - twice. Punk. Getting the prisoners to boo the warden. Punk. Debuting A Boy Named Sue. Punk. At Folsom Prison may have a stronger track list and may be more famous, but At San Quentin is really the side by side companion, double album if you will, and deserves every bit of accolades as the predecessor.