Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Abolish All Prisons. Johnny you really managed to give them a show, and hell I was given a show too! This album is my first Johnny Cash album and although I know that this is his type of music, I found it very endearing to hear especially maybe because the crowd and audience is so palpable that the songs kinda take on this layered meaning for not just Johnny but all those imprisoned and me the one listening to this all almost sixty years later. Cash's songs are very much exposes about the society he finds around him, putting himself the shoes of boys named sue or a San Quentin prisoner, but he speaks to some sort of humility that is ultimately at the heart of country music. This is country music, this is music that is actually speaking for something, not for everyone of course as not everyone can relate or be in these same positions, but it is at least trying to relate to some sort of common occurrence of the law, government, business getting its legs up on the backs of people. These songs heard echoing then through a buildings who sole purpose is to subjugate, punish, and traumatize, is nothing more then what's right. The second playing of San Quentin has this tamper in Johnny Cash's playing where he's playing it for them, and he's playing it so they can wholeheartedly with their bodies and mind say this place is the deepest pits of hell, and we deserve nothing but scorn and hells wrath for creating this abomination. The songs are simple, but the impact lasts a lifetime.
Cool
Solid album! Johnny Cash might be best live. I love that he played "San Quentin" (the song) twice, back to back, LOL.
Always happy to get a Johnny Cash prison album. I love the easy formality with the audience (aww you don't really mean that). Crazy to imagine this happening nowadays.
Kinda funny having so many live albums lately. This is a classic. I do kinda think that live albums are generally special cases -- they're sort of compilation records while also giving us an impression of the stage manners of the performer(s). Anyway, Johnny Cash spends a half-hour concert with a room full of inmates eating out of the palm of his hand. They boo the guards and the warden once or twice (who can blame them) but they cheer The Man In Black. I think it's worth taking two things away from this album: first, Cash sounds no different live or recorded. Sometimes that's not praise (some kinds of music ought to be better live and I'll die on that hill) but for such stripped-down work, there's no ornament or studio wizardry to fret about when live. His guitars snap a little better in the studio but there's not an ounce of trickery in his canon. The second thing is that he's funny -- a real showman. Cash's charms and talents are all on display in this one album, bleeps and all. It's a particularly good rendition of 'A Boy Named Sue'. Anyway, it's not revelatory but it's a great live cut and a good introduction to Johnny Cash. Also probably a good demonstration of why he hated Columbia's attempts to gussy up his recordings in the 70s and 80s, and how Rick Rubin had such a straightforward approach to his revival in the 90s. Get some players in a room, set up some mics and get out of The Man's way.
Not quite as iconic as at Folsom, but this has A Boy Named Sue. It's still excellent. 4 Stars.
Mäktigt! Vilken närvaro. Kul att ha hört och blir en fyra även om jag nog inte kommer lyssna på det igen.
Mm mäktigt som fan! Undrar om hans snack gick hem lika mycket i Österåker.
epic
Such a cool performance. The back and forth with the inmates, filled with humor and empathy, adds to the greatness of the songs.
I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die
Lots of great songs and it's really cool to hear the reaction of the crowd and his banter with them. It's hard to imagine anything like this happening these days it seems so unique to the time and to Johnny. He flawlessly performs these songs in front of what I would assume is a very critical crowd but with a few words lets them know that he is on their side and is there for them. It's really a great listen.
4/5
Cash is King. This was brilliant and pretty darn funny too.
The interactions with prisoners between songs really get me, even if the country music does not. Though there were definitely some songs on here that I could vibe with
Enjoyable, a decent momentum and it felt like it flowed. Interludes made it feel authentic. Best : Walk the Line, Boy named Sue.
Stunning performance from a legend of legends! The dude is so funny and his talk between songs was so well controlled. Good tunes too. Boy named Sue is brilliant.
Great working of the crowd.
I really liked this. It has a great feel for being a live concert. I liked the songs, most of them I had not heard before. I would definitely own this album and would probably play it regularly
Nice unfiltered live performance.
Very very good.
Did not expect this album to be so good! I really enjoyed it. Usually hate live albums but damn... also yay to my first Johnny Cash exposure? Man is hella witty.
Good
Wanted Man - 5/5 Wreck of the Old 97 - 4/5 I Walk the Line - 5/5 Darling Companion - 4/5 Starkville City Jail - 3/5 San Quentin - 4/5 San Quentin (reprise) - 4/5 A Boy Named Sue - 5/5 (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley - 3/5 Folsom Prison Blues - 5/5 Average score: 4.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i don't think i loved this more than At Folsom Prison, but it's still got just as much charm and entertainment to it. he's one of the few country artists from this list i actually like
This live album is incredible. The energy from the crowd, Cash's charm, equals a rule engaging listening experience as he goes through a mix of his catalog. Great stuff.
Great album. Good story telling and good music.
One of the best live albums I've heard. Could tell he wanted to be there. The music was fun. It's Johnny Cash. Not much to it, but still worth listening to.
Klasični cash
excelente, me senti dentro del show. 9/10
It might not be the greatest Cash album, but even Cash on his very worst day is better than most on their very best. Not to say this is bad, its great! It just doesn't quite get to a 5 for me.
The guy had a serious presence to him. Great performance that made me laugh out loud.
Enjoyed the little monologuing in between songs, another one to revisit for sure
34 minutes of Rebellion. In front of hundreds of prisoners, Johnny sang to them as if he were one of them, with deep understanding and street smarts. The album captures the essence of respect with which the audience treated Johnny and his band. A historic album.
To be fair, I listened to the Legacy Edition of this, which is pretty much the whole concert. And what a concert! Self-assured and pro and recorded perfectly. Great snapshot of the era and what the Johnny Cash show was all about.
The vibe reminds me a bit of Elvis Presley it feels calming and nostalgic, like stepping into another era. The first song was strong and set a great tone, though the second felt a little boring. The third track stood out to me because it was upbeat, catchy, and fun to sing along to. I liked the romantic undertones throughout the album, even if they weren’t always very noticeable. The lyrics rhyme well and flow naturally, which makes them memorable. Since it’s a live album, the crowd noise sometimes caught me off guard, but it also adds a raw and authentic feeling. Overall, the songs have a similar vibe while still sounding different enough to stay interesting.
-No alcancé a escucharlo completo- pero me gusta mucho la voz de johnny cash, y su cercanía con el público
Que locura pensar que este tipo dónde mejor se sentía haciendo lo suyo era en las cárceles, porque sabía que ahí era dónde mejor le entenderían Mucho respeto, muy buen álbum, directo al grano, diciendo lo que tenía que decir Joya infravalorada San Quentin mi favorita
Easy listening with lyrics worth analyzing. A little boring for me but I respect what Johnny Cash stood for or at least what I've been told he stood for. I am intrigued that this album seems to be a recording for a live performance at a State Prison. It's heartwarming that he shared a mournful and jovial musical performance with prisoners deemed to be beneath the rest of society. The songs align with what could be imagined to be the experience of the audience members. So far the most striking to me were A boy Named Sue and Peace in the Valley. Instead of ending on a mellow note, they pick up the pace for a goodbye with Folsom Prison Blues. San Quentin is now SQ Rehabilitation Center. So the name changed but "As of July 31, 2022, San Quentin was incarcerating people at 105% of its design capacity, with 3,239 occupants." "As of 2001, San Quentin's death row was described as "the largest in the Western Hemisphere" BB King also performed at SQ in 1990.
I’m not a huge fan of live albums in general but I loved hearing Johnny riff off of the audience and the energy of the crowd.
Not normally a fan of live albums but Johnny Cash might just be the exception
Johnny has a lot of well written songs but in many cases the album versions feel tame. But when The Man in Black steps inside those prison walls these song come alive. All the songs seem up tempo and Johnny is singing like the rent is due. Highlights for me are a blistering version of Walk the Line and arguably the best version of Boy Named Sue. Lastly, that cover art is iconic.
Great Songs: I Walk the Line, San Quentin Good Songs: Wanted Man, Wreck of the Old '97, Darlin' Companion, Starkville City Jail, A Boy Named Sue, (There'll Be) Peace In the Valley (For Me), Folsom Prison Blues Mid Songs: Bad Songs:
This seems like something I wouldn't like, but the old country sound was really nice and there was an incredible amount of charisma that showed every time he talked to the crowd
This is a good album no matter how you slice it up. The music, the concept all good stuff -- maybe a little repetitive since this was his second live album from a prison but hey ---
I've been meaning to give Johnny Cash a few listens I wanna get more into old country. He's a pretty iconic place to start I think. His vibe is impeccable I think. You tell em Cash. Maybe I will see that wanted man. You never know. I'll lyk if he's in Australia. Oh fuck yeah it's only 30 minutes I'm a big fan Mr. Cash. But also if this is a concert why are you playing for 30 minutes. But this was also the 60s so the tickets probably cost a dime. Fuck old people. I like how they're all telling stories it's a treat to listen to. Good speeding song ngl. The rover would love this. I like that it's live he has an amazing stage presence from what I can hear but I also don't gaf what he's yapping about on stage unfortunately. Me when I walk the line. I really like the way you can hear the audience. Big fan of what's going on. Oh I'm not the biggest fan of June Carter's voice. Bro has mad beef with this place. Justice for Sue lowkey. I know Folsom Prison Blues of course. Favourite: Wanted Man Least favourite: Darlin' Companion.
I like him because i remember my mam!
Classic live album great songs and very funny
This was a good time.
Really fantastic playing and a great atmosphere but a bit too much faff and a repeated song stop it getting full marks. Still a classic though!
This may not be the best pure musical performance, even by Cash's standards, but the context elevates it to such an insane degree. Without getting on my soap box too much about how nice it is to hear outlaw country from a time when they were actually anti-establishment and not just a bunch of performative trope usage to familiar instrumentation and themes, the man brought his family band to perform in a prison. A lot of people cultivate or play up the outlaw image, but wouldn't be caught dead in a room with one of the thousand inmates Cash saw that day. A pretty limited track list and probably not the best acoustic environment (not to mention the mid-set re-tune), this isn't really the most outstanding and well executed album even in Cash's discography. But, the visceral human element is so absurdly gripping. From the famous middle finger picture to Cash's jokes with the crowd to a duet with his new wife June, it's just so much more than the music.
I am of the belief that all music sounds better live and this is not an exception. It can’t be understated how much I usually do not enjoy country music, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. The songs were fine, though they were definitely not anything special. The saving grace of this album is the atmosphere it creates, how the crowd interacts with the songs and the interactions with the artist on stage. Additionally, Johnny cash’s charisma really shines here. With that being said, this is definitely a one time listen for me, it’s nice but it just doesn’t have that repeatability. Still, such a charming album, and by the end I found myself growing quite fond of it.
Highlights: I Walk The Line, Starkville City Jail, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, Folsom City Blues Lowlights: ---------------------------------- Johnny Cash showing humanity still exists in inhumane places. Great performance and banter.
Same as the previous one - raw, down-to-earth and wholesome experience, definitely a masterpiece ❣️
Love Johnny Cash!!!!!
The live prison albums by Johnny Cash are very unique and this one is really good. The banter between the crowd and Johnny Cash is pretty funny and I like outlaw country from that era, making this a very good album.
Very effective stunt, singing prison tunes to prisoners, didn’t think I’d jive with the stunt. But it works, it’s ramshackle, loose, loud, sad, funny, visceral.
the British documentary can be found on YouTube. worth watching.
electric
Classic Johnny Cash. Good background listening music.
Maybe not his best performance but certainly an iconic one. We see Cash's audacious solidarity with the prisoners over and against the label and the guards while not alienating or othering anyone. And the reaction to Folsom Prison Blues, wch is of course about a different prison and comes after a song written for their prison, speaks to the way the universal shines through the particular.
Likes: Cash’s attitude, charisma, and banter; great shuffling rhythms; feedback loop and interplay with the crowd Dislikes: sound quality is rough; including both cuts of the song San Quentin if cool from the perspective of leaving the performance as it was, but isn’t necessary: shortened version of Folsom Prison Blues Overall, a great record that demonstrates Cash’s greatest talent - turning casual shuffles and talkative lyrics into definitive statements of truth that resonate with many different artists
4.8
It’s seldom a good idea to draw from the same well twice, but damn if the man in black doesn’t make it work.
Raw, rowdy, and basically Folsom Prison: Part II. Cash sounds great, the inmates are loud, and the whole thing crackles with energy. But as good as it is, it’s hard not to feel like the 1001 list didn’t need both this and Folsom when they cover such similar territory. A strong live record—just not a revelation if you’ve already done the first one.
# Album Name: At San Quentin # Artist: Cash # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Usual cash vibes Good live album Banger # Top Tunes: Walk the line / maybe sue / FPB # Would I listen to it again? Yes
4/5
4/5
Glad the list accommodates the occasional live album. This is another one that - like Sam Cooke's Live at the Harlem Square Club - feels like a fascinating little window into another moment.
Old Good Johnny
Great album, great live energy. Did not need “San Quentin” twice.
You know what, I actually really enjoyed listening to this album, I never normally like live albums but this one was quite good. Still think there doesn’t need to be as much cheering in the audio after songs but hey ho. Im sorry but Johnny Cash was that guy, I feel like he just was. I knew a few of his songs before today, walk the line being the only one I knew prior to listening to this album. However, I feel like I did enjoy listening to all the tracks, the overall performance was simple but very entertaining. A very charismatic performer, the songs make you feel like a cowboy roaming the wild west and who doesn’t want to be that. Standout songs ‘walk the line’, ‘a boy named sue’ and ‘San quentin’.
There was so much joy in this! Is this something I'd seek out on my own? No probably not. But am I glad I listened to it all? Yes, absolutely!
Great live album. And Johnny Cash is awesome.
No private session used for Spotify. Love his voice. Nice to hear these songs in a different recording. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, which is the point of live music. It's a classic for sure.
Mys pys. Lite insikt på nån konsert nån gång för länge sen
Good.
johnny cash has powerful stage presence, also seems like a fun man, loved his attitude and integrity. not really my usual type of music but the liveliness and context (prison performance and his open judgement of penal system) made it even better. his comments and laughs made it feel humane! he was the first of his kind so giving it a 3 seems low. also since my initial listen my favourites have been “I Walk the Line” and “(There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley”, honourable mention “Darlin’ Companion”
Great performance, great energy. I like that they kept the stage banter in there as part of the recording.
Very cool that it was recorded at San Quentin. Johnny Cash is true Americana
Amazing storytelling, Boy Named Sue is a classic. A bit same-y for me but he's so charismatic it doesn't matter
Excellent album, improved only by the reissue including a ton of extra tracks. Love Johnny’s prison albums. Probably slightly prefer Folsom overall but this is great. 4.5
Not as good as Folsom Prison.
Gotta love Johnny
A clear rapport with his audience makes this a very enjoyable album
I like Johnny Cash and this album is one of the iconic live albums made.
I've believed Johnny Cash is my favorite country artist for a while now, and this list has done nothing so far to change my mind about it. Even so, it's not like this piece of work is right up my alley. I respect the persona, the cadence, the energy. I think it's pretty cool how rowdy the crowd/inmates get. I'm not typically one to applaud censored music (I've been listening to the original release), but for this one it just puts you right in the middle of that historic moment. I'm from the other side of the world, but Johnny mentions this is being broadcast to England and I can just imagine myself in an English suburb watching this on a boxy tv. You can catch the full show on youtube, it's a different track list, feels just as raw as I'd hoped. This is the album that first features A Boy Named Sue, there's a lot of history here, Shel Silverstein being such a well known children's poet and making very adult poetry. If you're looking for a rabbit hole, go find the second part of that piece. It's amazing how far a good writer can go when they're not being held back. I think overall this isn't an album I'd listen to very often, but if I had a physical copy I'd give it an occasional spin. It puts you in a good mood, it's a fun listen. 3.6/5
His live commentary was entertaining. Not sure that it added to this album specifically, but I could see how it would impact his performances. He was a great live musician, and that comes through in this live album recording.
i’ve listened to this before
CLASSIC LOVE IT
I love Johnny Cash's voice and enjoy his guitar work. Not always big on live albums, but it's cool to hear his rapport and connection with the inmates.
Love it !! …. At San Quentin held my attention from the start, I was excited by this choice. I like live albums and this one feels direct and unpolished in a way I enjoy. I did not really know what to expect, but I stayed with it. I like hearing the reactions and the atmosphere. It sounds real. Cash sounds comfortable being there and that comes through. It is not slick and I would not want it to be. I enjoyed it because it feels honest and present. 4 stars 😊
Cash is King
The music was pretty decent but the entertainment value of the album itself bumps this up a notch.
Great man. Would've been awesome to have seen him live.
Fav: San Quentin (Reprise) Honorable mention: Darlin’ Companion 4/5
When to listen: Not sure I would again, not because it isn't amazing just because I don't need to. Great album, great music, but it just... is.
There’s something so epic about singing outlaw country live in a prison. Good stuff Johnny Cash
Imagine being arrested and when you are in the prison, Johnny Cash do a show for all the prisoners.... He was genius and he knew it.
Happy to get this album this morning. Didn't expect the "Legacy Edition" to be 2 albums. I'm actually enjoying this first album. I'd say this would normally get a 3, but given its a live album, recorded in a prison, gets it an extra star.
Actually so cool
Johnny Cash is always great! Ring of Fire!
Yeah, it’s a bop. I don’t know if I’ll ever not loathe pop country, but old timey country western like this? It’s all right. It certainly has its place.
Johnny Cash is a pretty cool cat and a great entertainer. Man, he's also proving himself to be a king of outlaw country. I knew he was an outlaw country kind of guy, but this is a whole other level. I'm not the biggest fan of live albums, but this one is definitely worth listening to. Cash has a great time interacting with the crowd and is clearly there for them and to have a good time. And the bits and moments between songs don't take away from the actual songs themselves. Favorite Song(s): I Walk the Line, Boy Named Sue
I liked it, would listen to again, and might even go listen to more Johnny Cash.
Great fun
This album is so charged with tension and emotion, anything could happen. Johnny Cash understands the prisoners so well, and has them so hooked they could riot any second. Love this album.
Album: At San Quentin Artists: Johnny Cash First spin mood: I was really excited when I saw his name pop up because I’ve never really listened to his music other than the popular songs (ring of fire lol). So it got me thinking that I can see what’s all the motion behind him. With this being a live album it exposed me to the great performer he is, the way he interacts and gets the crowd going. Feels like you have been life time friends. I enjoyed the music a lot especially a boy named sue, walk the line and wanted man. I felt like San Quentin the song was a bit of a milk from being arrested for picking some flowers haha What it stirred in me: curiosity and mystery One lyric or sound that stayed with me: definitely the plot twist in a boy named sue with that being his father, so wholesome yet fucked Where I was: working outside in the trenches on a snowy day, pretty shit weather but music always has a way of making things lighter What I felt: I felt cool to get an in on Johnny cash
bella, anche il fatto che sia in live in prigione, il fra mi sembra un tipo simpatico e in generale apprezzo questo genere e queste vibes
I usually hate live albums--I can't stand the artists' chatter and the audience reactions, but I quite like Johnny Cash's plain-spoken criticism of the prison system and law enforcement. His attitude backs up the music.
Listening session: january 9th, while fixing up a wooden cabinet at my parents house Listened to before: many times, mainly when my father listened to this when I was a child Thoughts: this album is such a classic and even though I’ve heard it many times before, it was nice to listen to it front to back again Favourite tracks: A Boy Named Sue, I Walk the Line & (There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley
Was really good. 4.1
Not as strong as At Fulsom, but can listen to it top to bottom. Would love to check out the film and full set list. Boy Named Sue
I really liked it, it was fun! The folk influences make everything feel so lively.
Johnny Cash's prison albums are great, but really feel kinda dated. However, they are still a fantastic listen, and better than most of his studio stuff.
4.0/5 - I like the personality of Cash, fun album, classic tunes. Liked the immediate encore of San Quentin.
A classic, easy 4 stars. I enjoyed the music as well as the banter throughout the album.
The vibe is spot on. Production quality is (perhaps understandably) a little meh, especially in the first leg of the record, but adds to the atmosphere. Curious to see the visuals now.
I don't normally enjoy live albums, as they are usually inferior to studio recordings of the same material, but this is a fantastic exception.
Incredibly good. All of it. The idea, the music, the fact that it’s live.
Throughly enjoyed the chatting and crowd work between the songs. You could tell this was Cash wanting to play the show on his terms and for the people.
love live sessions, not much a fan of country music
An iconic album in history due to being recorded inside San Quentin prison. Johnny Cash has one of the most recognizable voices and this album is full of popular songs that are supported all along the way by the cheers and laughs of the inmates. Cash is one of those unique artists that will never be duplicated.
The man in black commanding the stage and the audience in a way few performers ever could. Both Cash and the band were a little out of tune and out of sync in places but the overall effect was a fun, rollicking good time for all of the murders and rapists in the audience. Great sense of being there with this album.
really makes you realise how great country music can be. very remarkable live album i must say!
The second of Cash's live prison albums, following Folsom Blues. I only listened to the original release here (33 mins), not the full set, though I will have to do that too. Great live album, as expected and deserves the hype. I Walk The Line and A Boy Named Sue featured and he gets his Mrs and friends up on stage too. He's pretty funny and charming in the interludes, makes you want to hear more of this sort of shit.
Ignoring the 1 octave vocal range, this is a great live album. Humour and some great uptempo music.
I just can't make myself like it but I appreciate it
Second live Johnny Cash album I’ve been assigned in almost as many weeks. I’m becoming a Cash convert. The banter is as much as a star as the songs. 4/5
Not quite the album Folsom is - that one is more primal and Cash isn’t quite as off the rails. Certainly understandable as Luther had only been dead a few months. The legacy edition is the better version. A Boy Named Sue is hands down the draw to this almost as great great album.
It must have been a great day to be a serial killer in San Quentin that day. I mean, Johnny friggin’ Cash played a concert for them. Those lucky undeserving (BLEEP).
This is how you do a live album. The audience energy makes the whole thing better instead of being distracting. Cash's interactions with the audience might just be better than the music.
Iconic live album, delivered with authority, grace and humor and raucously appreciated by the captive audience. They had a ball. No scramble for tickets for this one!
liked it, was not my cup of tea but was still quite fun.
Me ha encantado.
great companion to 'Live at Folsom Prison' and some comedy skits inbetween
This is a full concert recorded that Johnny performed at San Quentin PRISON! It doesn't cut any of his interactions with the crowd; you can tell Johnny Cash is incredibly charismatic & likeable. I really enjoyed the music, his voice is so recognizable and consistent. The song Starkville City Jail was particularly memorable (& funny)—it's a true story about Johnny going on a peaceful walk, picking flowers, then getting arrested & thrown in jail. The crowd was laughing along to each line. San Quentin offered some interesting criticisms on prisons & how they "[do] no good." Really bold of Johnny to shit on San Quentin while performing there! It didn't register for me until now that he was performing at a prison. -> The crowd clearly resonated with this song, asking him to play it again & he immediately did! He also cheekily had the (prison) guards get him a cup of water in between. He got a ton of applause after the reprise. A Boy Named Sue was another memorable song—really strong storytelling. Apparently written by Shel Silverstein??? I do think I would be able to pick up more details about the music in a studio version, but I think hearing him live really brings me there and helps me get a better sense of the kind of person Johnny was.
Didn't realize this was actually recorded in the prison. Classic Cash, fun to have his interludes.
The album is an overall great listen, it has a consistent light mood and joyful beat through the 10 tracks and I like his lyricism all the songs on the album are pretty well written and I feel like he’s telling me a story each song. His vocals aren’t dramatic but he is a good singer and I would listen to the album again, I even added songs like wanted man, I walk the line, San Quentin, and wreck of the old ‘97
The songs are great, but the banter is greater. His talking ties everything together perfectly, although the censorship beeps are very abrasive. I would have Luigi Mangioned to get myself to that gig.
My quest to find a Country album that is actually worth listening to has so far been fruitless. But today we have Johnny Cash, the dude everyone who hates Country music, likes. I've heard plenty of Cash songs before - I don't dislike him, but I don't love him even as much as those other County haters do. Next up - I think only an exceptional Live album should ever be on this list, exceptional both because of the performances, the songs, and the surrounding circumstances. Unplugged In New York for example. Will this hit the spot? It gets off to a solid start, by bringing other artists and some of their hits. Thankfully the opening songs are not Country, so it gets me into a positive mood. There's good crowd noise, banter, interaction. June Carter brings the first Country song, and it isn't terrible. It's flirtatious and fun. She then raps out some farm-related poetry. You have to wait a while for Johnny to join. Cash is better than most Country vocalists because he doesn't sound Country - no whining, no hootin' and a hollerin'. He doesn't exactly have a voice for melody, but he gets his point across clearly. The up-tempo songs work because they boil with energy, and there's none of that dreary violin or steel guitar nonsense. A lot of the inherent garbage of the genre is here - the same melodies and rhythm which you can immediately pull from memory and instantly craft a new song from. It's the intensity and intent of the performance which makes that garbage tolerable. The majority of the songs aren't interesting in the slightest - the best ones are either the big Cash hitters or the Carl Perkins songs. But again, the performances are great and the banter is solid. Throw in the circumstances and it's worth the four stars. Normally this would be a three star album, but for cultural significance you have to throw in that extra star. I never need to hear the whole thing again, but I'll slap a couple of songs on my rotation.
Johnny Cash is a great unifying force and never disappoints
Really enjoyed the set list. I liked hearing Cash talk with the audience. It’s an easy listen and I can see myself listening to this album again
A classic recording.
can't believe i got country on day 1
cool album but not the type of music i'd listen to. Still very catchy and fun !
Deepe, rusty voice vs the first prison album. Seemed fun.
Pretty good overall. They literally played the same song twice in a row. Lots of fun banter.
I had always wondered what the point of a live album was, but this gave me an answer: it's something /kinda like/ attending the concert in person. The multiple pieces of banter and tangents give this album a presence that I haven't found in any other live albums I've heard (not that that is very many). Johnny Cash has a voice like a warm blanket. Maybe it's the Texas girl in me, but I could listen to him talk or sing for hours.
I'm usually wary of live albums, but this is rather good. It was entertaining, loved the storytelling within these songs, and Cash was engaging, with a voice I could listen to for hours. I found it uplifting, and it made me smile.
Lots of energy and atmosphere. Classic album.
music is so powerful. listening to the prisoners cheer and interact with cash is something really special. it makes me that much more aware that THIS is real country - not what the modern “country singer” posers are doing. so many moments gave me chill. favorite tracks: - folsom prison blues - san quentin - a boy named sue
Goes hard as ever
Great snapshot of our society at that time and good listen
i love these live johnny cash albums
legendarno, jako dobro i zabavno. ježio sam se od nekih reakcija publike
Always a good listen
love that he is singing about prison to a prison
I was introduced to this album when I was eleven years old, when it showed up as my folks Columbia record club selection for that particular month. I listened to it a lot more than they did, as I was really enamored with A Boy Named Sue. Listening to it today was a stroll down memory lane, and although the production quality isn’t great with it being a live album recorded in the sixties, I really enjoyed it, (and hey, it’s Johnny Cash!) Four easy stars.
Really fucking enjoyed this - the live aspect added to the album for me and it's so damn cool. Big fan.
rv/g
Johnny Cash is the man. An interesting listen even though it's live. I'd rather listen to one of his studio works then this again, but I'm still giving it a floor.
Incredible. Not sure how often I’ll come back to it but it felt so immersive.
Well, it's Johnny Cash. You know what you're going to get and this delivers. Honestly can't believe that the prison allowed him to sing anti-prison songs to prisoners in a prison, but I guess things were different back in the late 1960s!
I did not enjoy Johnny Cash's music very much (not much of a country fan personally), but what an absolutely incredible stage presence, even through a recording. Very few live recordings really improve music for me, but Johnny Cash really knew the vibe of the room at that prison and molded it. Listening to the crowd response to "San Quentin" literally from the San Quentin audience was a really cool experience, and the reprise was just plain funny. I'll never see Johnny Cash live, but I'm sure it would've been an incredible yet down to Earth show. 4/5
Historical event.
-he’s a master of stage banter and knowing his audience -wanted man rules -the train sounds he makes on old 97 -his voice is so haggard. cough after every song. -boy named sue is perfect. shel silverstein’s words, johnny’s delivery, and carl perkins’ lead guitar lines -we’re lucky to have documents like this and folsom. -4 because the one verse version of folsom blues at the end is bogus and always leaves me unfulfilled.
bad ass.
This was fun and respect to Johnny for doing this in a prison.
i listened to it twice!
Two songs in now and so far I like it. Good ole johnny cash stuff. Love the talking to the crowd. Got some staples of Johnny in here with Walk the Line, A Boy Named Sue, and Folsom Prison Blues. Definitely would recommend to people who are into country or Cash. San Quentin prison song is really cool coming from the viewpoint of an inmate and his hatred of the prison and how everyone thinks going to prison will make them automatically better when they leave. Great song. Solid record. 8/10 4 Stars
Love it
Iconic!
Again this was pretty good, I listened to Folsom Prison right before this and I liked the prison banter and the audience even though I'm not a country fan, 4 stars here.
87/100. So extremely good and fun to listen to. Packed with personality and charm, this live record captures Cash at his most raw and rebellious.
Incredible songs, amazing banter with the crowd, a legendary performer giving a legendary performance.
28/1089 интересно почему именно лайв, но все понравилось: ненавязчиво, уютно, весело
classic
This album is great, so raw and vibrant at the same time. I mean, Johnny Cash has a power when singing that is capable of resonating on the inside, of transmitting so many things. And the songs are great too. I won't say it's perfect, as I don't think so, this album is not one of the best live albums I've ever listened to but a very decent one, with a really good repertoire and a fantastic sound. But, well, it's Johnny Cash, of course the album is great.
Pretty classic Johnny Cash hits, all in one place. You'd hardly know he was barely familiar with half the tracks. The crowd banter and funny little asides that show Cash's charisma and character were also pretty fun and gave it a very intimate listening vibe, though I'd imagine it'd make it less re-listenable. June Carter's performance on Darling Companion was a surprising standout, making it my favourite track of the album (although hearing the reprise on San Quentin was pretty excellent too) fav tracks: Darling Companion, I Walk the Line, San Quentin
I’m sure the wardens benefitted financially from the Johnny Cash prison albums, but I have to imagine it wasn’t fun listening to a singer with an outlaw reputation get the inmates worked up with songs about how much prison sucks.
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but some of these songs are pretty dumb.
Fantastic album. The banter is almost as good as the music.
i generally don't love the presence of live albums on this list, but exceptions must be made, like for this one, or Dylan at Royal Albert, or Sam Cooke in Harlem. they are unique documents, infused with energy that was only possible at that moment, in that place.
I wasn't used to listening live music. But here, the music being played live is the core of the album. The interactions with the crowd - the shouts, applauses, laughs by the convicts in San Quentin - help us listeners understand how these songs resonate with the people who are actually experiencing life in a cage - not just as a metaphor. The lively, country rhythms evoke a homely atmosphere.
I really liked this, more so than the Fulsome prison one. That crowd is going fucking nuts, it's infectious.
Another fantastic one, its just really immersive and I love the comments and stories he adds in between songs and jokes and stuff. The songs are really fantastic, I get the sense that he had loads of songs stashed up over the years where he could just choose whichever ones he wanted to do. The songs themselves are also amazing. I obviously love his storytelling and songwriting ability to make such beautiful songs with often very dark themes, while also fusing in a lot of humourous or more throwaway lines. I feel like case and point is the Boy called Sue song, which really is incredible, and I feel like shows an element of abstractness and surrealism, like something the Lou Reed or some 60s psych rock band would sing. The song that he sings with (I think) his partner is amazing, the harmonies are great and also the female backing singers are amazing. Favourite songs: All, as I said with the last one it feels weird to pick out a certain one as being the best when it feels so complete as album. Overall around 8/10
Cómo que tocó en una prisión excuse me Iba a poner que dejen de salir lives pero este me encantó y johnny cash me cayó super bien. Se me hizo mas un performance de el con la gente mas que de él solo, desde por como los teseaba hasta por la canción de que literalmente los odia a todos lol Muy buen álbum y en mi opinión una pieza de historia musical, se gano mis respetos Favs: las dos primeras y las dos ultimas
Very interesting album. The way the recording equipment is set up makes it sound like we are listening to the album from within the audience itself. Mastering and engineering are not the focus of this album, instead it feels like it was meant as a personal experience rather than an audio testing album.
Me sentía reticente de escuchar este álbum en primera instancia. Ya sabía que se trataba de un álbum de country clásico, cosa que generalmente no me gusta y tenía cierta idea de la historia detrás del álbum en tanto a que fue una interpretación grabada en vivo en una prisión. Me costó conectar con los primeros temas, casi siempre siento que el country es todo igual, no me gusta el groove ni la sonoridad. Pero como es usual que pase con este tipo de música la riqueza está en la historia que la circunda y las letras. Lo especial de este álbum no solo es que fue grabado en una cárcel, sino que no excluyeron de la grabación los momentos en los que Johnny Cash interactúa con los prisioneros. Esto es para mí lo mejor del registro y hace que la música cobre vida y suene mucho más cool, ya que Cash tiene muchísimo carisma y se expresa con sinceridad y humor. No sé si escucharía el álbum de nuevo por su música, pero el valor de esta grabación es enorme.
Johnny Cash was one of the most based musicians to ever live actually
Ok, that was pretty cool. The atmosphere and crowd really makes this recording.
Such a great album. You can tell he is leaning into playing in a prison, the songs the banter, he is playing to the crowd and it works. It feels like a much larger concert than it was. This was apparently part of a series of shows he did at prisons and the famous picture of him giving the middle finger was from this show. He was upset the crew was blocking the view for the prisoners. You can also appreciate his songs about jail more because it wasn't just lip service. Great album...
Probably the best live Album ever recorded. JC owns this prison. Fav: A Boy named Sue
This was great. It's been a while since I listened to Folsom, but this one might be better.
a great album
I had so much fun listening to it, and it's definitely staying in my rotation. It feels like I'm listening to something truly historical and genuinely important.
Gritty, honest and fun
damn he was chill as fuck. never been a JC enjoyed but I understand why he was so big. not huge on the genre but yeah, I get it. 4/5
A concert and a show
I think Chief Keef should release a similar concept album
I feel like there really doesn't need to be two johnny cash albums in prison on this list, but this is barely music. It's pure attitude. It's good but not really an album of music per se.
Great pivotal point in Johnny cash career
4 out of 5 Such a great collection of live songs. Love this album. Getting those prisoners all riled up.
Really good
Great stuff. I like how he played San Quentin twice in a row, you can’t get away with that otherwise but Johnny Cash did. This is real music.
Nostalgia wins every time. Thanks dad, your skewing the results. Live music usually isn't my thing but these recordings are great! Everything is crystal clear.
This was delightful. The energy from the crowd is palpable. The album is not the songs, but the experience.
Really cool, very funny as well! It's really interesting how openly critical he is of the prison
Johnny cash igjen:) Lige an jo. Mye fengende. Like godt at me får med oss det han seie mellom sangene. Beste sang: A boy named Sue
Well its not Folsom but its still a hell of alot of fun. The crowd interactions are great and make me think back to some of the experiences I have with live music. The set list is very good, my only gripe being playing san Quentin and then reprising it immediately. The 1st version is messy but thats more my style. Its just a damn solid live record. Crazy thing to think of now but imagine Travis Scott doing a show on rikers island. You just cant. In the end, I had fun.
I'm sure that every performance this man has had has been such a delight to watch, as it was as delightful to listen to. You can tell that the audience is having a great time. Favourite Track(s): San Quentin, (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley Least Favourite Track(s): Wreck Of Old 97
Disfrutable Sr Cash
I've consistently really enjoyed the live albums on this generator, and this is no exception. Hearing the atmosphere of the concert makes you feel as if you are really there, listening to Johnny Cash sing in that prison. I'm not a tremendous Cash fan, but the songs that he performed here I really enjoyed. The song he sang with his wife was incredibly sweet, and I liked the song he wrote for the show as well.
A wonderful Cash-masterpiece.
Yeah. Good for a worn out train trip home. Probs more like a 3.6 but that gets it a 4.
1. Wanted Man - 9 Solid opening. Amazing opening in fact. Cash sounds amazing on this track. Lyrically it's brilliant and the guitar sounds excellent. The crowd play is also excellent given how this is a live album. 2. Wreck of the Old 97 - 7 The vocals get drowned out a little but the pace of the song is great and the guitars do so well in between the lyrics. Good track. 3. I Walk The Line - 7 Very simple yet fun song. Is over in a flash but it's a solid song. 4. Darlin' Companion - 6 It's a solid love song but I don't think it's lasted the test of time. I think it's a solid track but it's definitely overshadowed by the first three tracks on this album. 5. Starkville City Jail - 9 This is a fun track. Just overall a really fun track lyrically that tells quite an amusing story. Great track. 6. San Quentin - 10 Brilliant track, especially given the environment and the album. Absolutely fantastic crowd play as well from Cash on the track. 7. San Quentin (Reprise) - N/A It's a replay of San Quentin. 8. A Boy Named Sue - 8 Interesting song. At times it's just talking at other times singing and at some times pure comedy. It's brilliant. 9. (They'll Be) Peace in the Valley - 10 Excellent track with some incredibly strong background/supporting vocals. Superb track. 10. Folsom Prison Blues - N/A The actual singing part is only twenty seconds long so it is too short to be rated. Average Rating: 8.25 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 4.13 Rounded Down: 4 Stars
Man, I love these live albums. I also love old country (though if I was forced to choose Johnny Cash music for the time capsule, I’d have to say I prefer Cash’s American recordings to his old stuff). And I think him heading into the prison system was pretty great of him. So, all that plus the feeling is the crowd and the joy of being asked to sing the freshly written “San Quentin” again and then the roar of cheers transitioning into jeers after they pulled the power is untouchable by anything they could’ve planned. It left me wondering what might’ve transpired thereafter, both between Cash and the warden and also between the inmates and the guards. Outlaw country indeed.
One of favourite cash albums, just behind Folsom prison. I never understood why cash was so revered until I heard both of these albums. I went straight out and bought a the johnny cash autobiography, Cash by Johnny Cash, and I finally understood why Dylan was in awe of this man. Great energy on the album and cash commands the crowd perfectly.
Great music and great back and forth with the inmates
Plus court, plus sale et plus intime que le live at Folsom. Bon délire.
There's nobody more gangster than Johnny Cash, and he's near his best here. Unfortunately, the music isn't the star here - the record also makes a point of documenting the interactions with the inmates and chatter between songs. Although it's amusing, the pacing suffers some. 'At Folsom Prison' is a bit more balanced for my tastes. Regardless, this is a treasure and enjoyable to listen to.
8/10
What can I say? The man loves being in prison. And the prisoners love him back.
I’ll admit, I’ve never been a huge Johnny Cash fan, but I’ve always had a soft spot for live albums—and At San Quentin is one of his most famous. I went into this with curiosity, and I’m glad I did. Cash’s catalogue can feel overwhelming, with plenty of hits and misses scattered across it, but this record cuts straight to the good stuff. The energy of the crowd, the rawness of the performance, and the banter between Cash and the audience make it feel more like an experience than just an album. You can almost sense the tension and excitement in the prison setting, which adds so much weight to the songs. The setlist is packed with powerful performances, all delivered with that unmistakable Cash presence. For me, this has become the definitive Johnny Cash album—the one I’ll come back to. Favourite track: Wanted Man and, of course, the timeless I Walk the Line. Least favourite track: None—every song feels essential to the flow of the performance. Album artwork: A striking and iconic cover that perfectly matches the grit of the music.
Only Johnny Cash could pull off not one but two live albums in prison and make it work.
Another fine Johnny Cash live album recorded in a prison. I couldn't necessarily tell them apart or pick a favorite, but this one is good. The songs are good and memorable, featuring I Walk The Line and A Boy Named Sue. The track San Quentin was so well received, it was essentially played again as a reprise immediately after. The commentary between tracks was cool as well. Fun album!
Respect the hell out of this. It's fun, and it's old Johnny.
So real classics live.
It’s Cash in prison. Iconic.
These live prison albums are fascinating listens. I like the Folsom Prison album a little better, but this one is great too. 4/5 #197
"I listen to all music (except country)" Idk what to say on this one. This is the first piece of country I've not actively disliked, but it's also widely considered the greatest country album of all time. Cash's songwriting is obviously incredible and his interactions with the prisoners make this album so much fun. It's like an 8 or something
I like Johnny cash. As far as a live album goes, this was a pretty good one. They’re always hit or miss for me. This was most of the big hits and overall enjoyable
Worth getting thrown in prison for
Never heard this full album, I’ve always listened to the Folsom/San Quintin combo. The pennants of the statler bros and Carter family is great!
Nice
While not as well known as Live at Folsom, this is still an excellent live album in the Cash catalogue. His interaction with the prisoners and his self deprecating humor are signatures of Johnny almost as much as his voice. All this fighting over what’s “Outlaw” nowadays, and none of those pretty boys would be caught dead playing live for maximum penitentiary prisoners, not to mention have the compassion to do so. This album came out in 1969, twenty nine years before KISS released their overblown flop “Psycho Circus”, but it will continue to inspire singers, songwriters, and music lovers forever by providing an open window into an important slice of American history.
I love live albums of any genre.
Basically 50% spoken word. Same song is played twice. Slightly janky editing. Should be a total failure. But it really does make you feel like you’re there! And A Boy Named Sue is still one of the best Cash performances of all time.
Amazing album, not as good as Folsom but still up there. Really enjoyable listen
A really good live album, the songs by themselves are pretty good but it’s the context and the comedy act that make this so good, there’s few artists that can pull off a prison act like Johnny Cash, especially with some of his discography which just matches so well with the scenes he plays in. Favourites: wanted man and I walk the line. Overall, 7/10.
This is most of what I love about Cash. Only doesn't get 5 because of the truncated Folsom Prison Blues; could have used a few more songs in fact. "San Quentin" is amazing.
Irriterande sensurert versjon på Tidal.
Not as good as Folsom but still a good time. Cash sure does know how to play an audience. I love all the banter, it really adds to the charm. I do wish the curse words weren't bleeped out in such a disruptive way. I'm not sure if every version of the album is like that but its pretty annoying. Favorite track: A Boy Named Sue 3.5/5
What I like about this live recording is that it displays the raw feeling of the Man In Black. So raw in fact that it feels like an edited bootleg with songs mixed together to make 33 minutes of a historical snapshot. Bits spliced and words censored by that jarring bleep. Not to mention the songs are good too and he invited the whole gang with him. I love to hear June Carter Cash on vocals; she was the original country diva before Dolly, Tammy or anyone else. The banter may be too much, but what am I gonna do about it? *middle finger* (8/10, 5/5 on this scale) (Update: More like a 4 now, but still real good)
Cash songs are a great act, and the live performance at a prison for the inmates adds to the legend. I like the Boy named Sue.
Johnny Cash is one of those artists I always point to when I talk about the sort of country music I actually like, but I had admittedly never listened to a full album from him until today. The timing is quite interesting as well, as I listened to "Hurt" less than two weeks ago after hearing the original NIN record! Part of me is a little bummed that my first full Johnny Cash experience isn't a studio LP and that it's the second album in a tetralogy of live albums, but another part of me is happy that this was the one I got to hear first, because it's a good one. At San Quentin is a special album – not just for the music itself, but for everything that happens in between. The prisoners add so much atmosphere to the LP, from booing a guard bringing Johnny some water to laughing during relatable parts of the songs to shouting song requests up to him before he plays "I Walk the Line." It might sound corny, but I don't think I'll ever forget the reaction to Johnny telling the story of how he ended up getting arrested/fined in Starkville for picking some flowers or him playing through "San Quentin" (a song he wrote the day before the concert) twice in a row because the crowd loved it so much. This is an album that tells a story so effortlessly, cover to cover – it's no wonder why it made this list. One could probably make a case for this being a five star album, but the rough recordings and the occasional miss in the curation department does honestly hold the LP back (if only slightly). I also want to leave space for At Folsom Prison to blow me away even more, so I'll give At San Quentin a very respectful four stars! Highlights: Wanted Man, Darlin’ Companion, Starkville City Jail, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, (There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley
First one from prison is cool, second one is a little derivative for me. There are some really great ones on here, I mean, Boy Named Sue! But I’ll take Fulsom over this one. Still cool as hell to play a huge show in prison.
“$36 for picking flowers…” Johnny Cash is one of the great storytellers and his stage presence on this is electric, he has the prison eating out of his hand. The legacy version has a wider selection of tracks, and is most certainly better! I’m not the biggest fan of live albums, hence the rating, also I have no idea why this is censored. 4/5
I hate the bleep but I love the hate for prison-industrial complex
Good live album -3.5/5
Nice. But one Johnny Cash live prison album is probably enough for this list. And Folsom feels the better choice.
At San Quentin – Johnny Cash (1969) | Country / Rockabilly / Live Album | Avg: 8 | Favorite Song: I Walk the Line At San Quentin is clearly trying to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle energy of At Folsom Prison, and while it definitely has its moments, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights. The performance is strong, the crowd is electric, and Cash sounds fully committed, but something about it just doesn’t reel me in the same way. The rawness is still there, but the emotional gravity that made Folsom so compelling feels a bit more scattered here. That’s not to say this isn’t a quality live album; it absolutely is. There are standout moments and plenty of that rebellious spark you want from a Johnny Cash prison recording. But San Quentin feels more like a sequel trying to live up to a legacy rather than an experience carving out its own. It captures a lot of the surface energy, but doesn’t dig quite as deep. Still, it’s a powerful listen with undeniable historical weight. It just lives in the shadow of the album that came before it. All's that to say I'd still give it 4/5 stars.
Enjoyed it, the immediate reprise was great.
Quality recording of a very well-performed live show. Cash has a great voice and a great storytelling voice throughout the songs. Compact, with many great songs. 4/5
That was great, amazing to hear the prisoners reactions to the music. Nice banter by Cash too.
Such an innovative album (concept wise) not the best Cash songs on this album, but for a live album it cannot be beat. The banter alone throughout the album is amazing and this is truly one of a kind. I think I may enjoy it more than Folsom Prison.
It’s Johnny cash!
Fun album, interesting as Johnny Cash curses at points and is bleeped out. I honestly might enjoy this more than At Folsom Prison. Johnny was on his A game this night with playing but also being a entertainer.
It’s unfathomable that these shows even happened. How fast would Johnny Cash be cancelled in 2025? Celebs can’t even advertise jeans without causing national uproar. Anyway, the nice thing about this expanded version is you get the between songs banter, which highlights his humor and humanity. The Fulsom album was probably better production value, but this is worth listening to.
Playing a song about how much a prison sucks while you're doing a live show at that prison is definitely a flex.
An incredible live album that has that rare ability to transport you to a time and place. Cash is in peak form, with terrific performances in front of a raucous crowd, including the inaugural performance of “A Boy Name Sue”. Outlaw Country never felt so outlaw, and Cash’s ability to connect and empathize with the prisoners without instigating a riot is impressive. On the short list of great live, country, and Johnny Cash albums.
I'm not even a fan of country music or Johnny Cash, but this was a very entertaining listen. I find that too many live albums feature live tracks, but feature cuts between songs. Maybe that happens on At San Quentin, but by capturing Cash's playful banter, it opens up a new dimension of the album. Cash is damn charming, and quite funny, in addition to playing a good show. As a live performer, Cash sounds just like he does on record. Disregarding the album as a country album, this is just a flat-out solid live album. Kudos, Mr. Cash.
What can you say - he's a classic! Fun.
Country Live-Album, late 60s. He's fantastic at this. Loads of chatting.
A good album but not as good as the Folsom Prison one. Odd to have two prison albums on the list with an artist like Johnny Cash. 4 stars or B.
4/5. Tämä oli aukko sivistyksessä. Johnny Cash oli nimenä tuttu, mutta musiikki ei. Kivaa, reipasta musaa ja yllättävän hyvä äänenlaatu ollakseen livetaltiointi.
No ei todellakaan paras Cashin levy mutta Cash jokatapauksessa. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oli hyvä kuuntelu! Hyvä että olivat jättäneet kaikki välispiinit kommelluksineen mukaan.
You can tell he's a great perfomer. Every song was very lively, I loved the interactions with the crowd. He has a great voice too, the instrumentals were always really good and it was overrall a very enjoyable album.
I don’t know if we needed to hear both prison albums, but I like hearing cash’s dialogue and humor with the inmates. Less coughing than the other one.
Classic, especially if you like Johnny. And really, why wouldn't you?
Один з найкращих концертних альбомів, у першу чергу завдяки енергетиці яку можна відчути і на записі, що не часто буває з концертниками. Є на вінілі.
Highlight Song/s: Wanted Man, San Quentin and A Boy Named Sue What a nice country album. I love the twang the guitars have and that nice rhythm classic country songs tend to have. Johnny Cash does some good banter on this album especially in the second half of "Darlin' Companion," which he uses that to transition into the next track "Starkville City Jail" which is some nice comedy country. Another part I like from the album is where he plays "San Quentin" twice, right AFTER each other. That is straight baller, Johnny really sticking it to the prison authorities. It's nice to see that Johnny Cash debuted I think 3? songs. Very solid songs as well. I find "At San Quentin" a lot more sweet and comedic than "At Folsom Prison" which the latter exemplifies the Outlaw Country sub-genre, with murder, loneliness and anguish themes. I thought I wasn't going to like this album, because of other people's opinion, they made it seem very black and white. Just a reason why you shouldn't let those people corrupt your mind and instead experience it first-hand. Ranting over, this is a seriously solid album.
Johhny Cash is really funny 4
The Man is on top form here
4/5. Legendary performance from a legendary artist. As a live recording it does have a fair amount of talking which I can see getting old after a while.
Wildwood flower Sounds like prairie home companion
Love me some JR
Great album.
At only 34 minutes long this goes by pretty quickly. I liked it! I've heard that for one of Johnny Cash's songs they overlaid the sounds of the crowd cheering but I can't recall which. It kept coming to mind as I heard the cheers, I hope they were real! It added to the album and Johnny Cash's voice is so crisp. He reminds me of black coffee and burnt toast, in a good way.
Good solid country fare. Vibes from the crowd are quite enjoyable as well. Mr Cash employs a lot of nice simple but effective storytelling in his lyrics. Music has good vibes too.
An easily digestible album! I love live albums because you get a sense of how the music touched the people there plus Johnny Cash was a showman. And of course the music is undeniably!
I enjoyed this album much more than “American IV..” that I had earlier in the project, he was well past his prime in that one, but not here. Not usually a fan of live albums but the nature of being in a prison felt more authentic with the crowd noise. I’m having a hard time reconciling why albums like this are part of the project, as it’s more a compilation/hits record and I don’t particularly like that.. 4/5
Never really been one to like listening to live performances but this was so enjoyable. He's got such a good sense of humor haha, and obviously the songs are fire
Johnny Cash to był gość. Dzięki tej płycie można wyczuć, jak bardzo był charyzmatyczny na scenie. June też zawsze mile widziana. Nie bez powodu człowiek jest legendą. Ten folk/country/rock trafi niemal do każdego, a jeśli nie to chociaż posłuchają sobie jego dobrej gadki. 7.5/10
A fun way to see a bit of Johnny Cash’s personality. Music is good but surprising how basic all of his backing is. It’s all in the vocals.
Great performer, fun and joyful
4/8
Wanted man: 3 [Lyrics 3/10 + Instrumental 6/10] Wreck of the old 97: 4 [Lyrics 5/10 + Instrumental 8/10] I walk the line: 8 [Lyrics 8/10 + Instrumental 10/10] Darlin' companion: 8 [Lyrics 7/10 + Instrumental 10/10] Starkville city jail: 7 [Lyrics 8/10 + Instrumental 7/10] San Quentin: 9 [Lyrics 9/10 + Instrumental 10/10] A boy named Sue: 9 [Lyrics 8/10 + Instrumental 10/10] Peace in the valley: 9 [Lyrics 8/10 + Instrumental 10/10] Folsom prison blues: 6 [Lyrics 5/10 + Instrumental 10/10] I walk the line es una canción muy bonita, después de escuchar Wanted man no sabía qué esperar del álbum, para durar tan solo 34 minutos entre canción y canción hay una mini charla con el público, me parece muy bonito ya que esto se está perdiendo últimamente. La voz de la mujer en Darlin' Companion hace que sea maravillosa. Que se meta con San Quentin mientras el concierto sea en ese mismo lugar es muy gracioso, especialmente cuando dice San Quentin, I hate every inch of you y el público grita animado haha. Me gustó tanto que no me importó escuchar de nuevo la versión (reprise) aunque debo decir que escuchar la misma canción dos veces seguidas es un poco meh.. por eso no voy a puntuarla. A boy named Sue, yo te pongo un 9.. pobre, bastante con tener ese nombre hehe! Wow qué paz transmite Peace in the valley, puede que una de mis favoritas. Top 3: I walk the line, Peace in the valley, A boy named Sue Least Fav: Wanted man Me parece muy fuerte no haberme dado cuenta de que estaba cantando en una prisión hasta que escuché en Peace in the valley agradecerle a los guardas, es una pasada. Muy humano por su parte, entiendo porque son 10 canciones y el álbum dura 34 minutos. El único skip sería la canción repetida de San Quentin (Reprise). Score: 6.3 Lo recomendaría? Si y no, pese a que no soy fan del country os diría que le dierais una oportunidad, no es un álbum común por lo que vale la pena.. pero ten en cuenta que es un álbum de 1969 y para más inri, está grabado en una prisión, igual te molesta el ruido de fondo o sus comentarios. Supongo que si quieres escuchar su música como tal, lo mejor sería escuchar la versión estudio!
I like Johnny Cash's prison albums, and I love a June Carter feature! Great tunes and great banter! San Quentin inmates were lucky to get to enjoy this performance. It's some pretty good rock 'n' roll!
You got to hand it to Johnny Cash, for doing the same thing twice and killing it both times. At San Quentin is an energetic live album that features more rambling from Johnny Cash than at Folsom Prison, but he gets away with it, because it feels lik he's performing in your living room.
A great live set with a great crowd. I especially loved the medley at the end with all the country stars. Not as original or fresh as the Folsom Prison album, but still a great listen. I am unsure why the listmakers determined they needed two Johnny Cash live albums on the list. 4/5
4.5
This is one album that's really gone down in my ratings over the years. This album copy is my dad's so I've actually been listening to this as long as I can remember. I would have given it a full five stars back then. But when I finally first heard the Folsom Prison album I realized that that was a good head over this one and though I still absolutely loved this album it just was no longer a fiver for me after listening to Folsom Prison. Then when Columbia released the full San Quentin concert in 2006, that became my main version to listen, and has pretty much been the (9.6) 4½★ rating I've held for many years. This is probably the first time I've listened to the Lp version probably in 20 years and even though I still love it quite a bit some of the janky fade editing does kind of get in the way. But I guess what really stands out is that quite frankly there's really only five songs that kind of stand out as far as the performance, "Wanted Man", "Wreck of the Old '97", "Starksville City Jail", "San Quentin", and "A Boy Named Sue". The other four aren't really my favorite live renditions... And the ultra cut down version of Folsom Prison is downright heresy. Though it still brings back fond memories and for that it's always going to get a pretty high rating I just can't even give it the four and a half that I used to (8.85) ★★★★
Quite good song selection, too much joking. 4 stars
Good live set from Johnny Cash. Performing one song twice is a bit weird, but give the people what they want, apparently. 4 stars.
Cultural significant. Fun to listen to.
Tremendo álbum
Cash sounds great on this record, and the response from the audience, as well as Cash's banter with them really gives this a very different edge to his studio albums.
Wish I was there, sounded like a great time