At San Quentin

Old school Cash

Very solid album- Cash has a great style, powerful voice and captivating personality. The audience seemed to really enjoy the performance also, which made it fun.

This one deserves to be judged on its own apart from ‘Live at Folsom Prison’. The songs are great but the ad-libbing, the interplay between Cash and the audience, the telecast crew and his band are priceless. It must’ve driven the producers fits.

This is the live from prison I have, and so know it well. It's a shame there are two live from prison albums on this list - I've had Folsome - but I'd acknowledge both are powerful. His end of career threw up some really interesting albums and listening to the same vibe twice isn't as interesting as hearing a bit more of the texture of Cash's career. But, hey, it's a classic.

Love the repeat on San Quentin and the little bits of back and forth you get with the audience. Johnny Cash was such an original.

So... this is a 'legendary' album in 'country', a genre I don't much like, but I'll try and give it a proper go. First thing, the sound quality is awful. Echoey, remote sounding vocals and instruments, and it sounds dynamically flattened. Yes, it is live and yes the venue was probably less than ideal, even so... Getting onto the music. The arrangements are simplistic, nothing to hook onto there. I don't find Cash's voice particularly engaging. That leaves me with the lyrics... 'ditties' more than 'songs'; nothing lyrically engaging. No deep social content, nothing 'meaningful'. I'll admit I just don't 'get' Country. I'm expecting lots of 5/5 reviews but for me it is a 2.

important album! not totally for me ^^;;

Short and sweet. A great live album unlike any other

What a great live album. The banter and songs with the crowd were amazing. The fact he wrote a song just for them is amazing as well. I liked Folsom better but this was still very solid.

A legend with some fantastic songs

Johnny Cash is a legend for a reason. I mean who else records multiple live albums in prisons. And they're really, really good too. He is one of the rare artists that gain a lot from having a live album, it shows the versatility and the impact his songs have. Songwriting is great like usual. The crowd interactions are great too, add some nice flavor. Easy 5.

think Folsom is overall stronger album, but love that he debuted Boy Named Sue at San Quentin. the man was an absolute legend & I'm not a huge Cash fan. love that he went & did the concerts, love the banter between him & inmates. he was an amazing entertainer. 4.5 stars

Johnny’s great, but he’s not for me

I like Johnny Cash but struggle with live albums.

The only other Johnny Cash album that I've been served on this list was 'American IV: The Man Comes Around', which he released when he was about 70 (right before he croaked). That album wasn't very impressive, but this one is better. It's a shame that, as a live recording, the acoustics aren't always very good.

Why do people like this? It’s so old and bumbling and nothing he says is remotely funny.

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

A really nice and fun listening. I liked the way Johnny Cash interacted with the audience in a friendly way

Klassiker again. Wohl die beste Aufnahme von boy named sue

Johnny Cash, valeur sure

Oldies country, it's okay.

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

Fantastic.

Nice.

I want to like Johnny Cash, but the fact that he was let OUT of prison after this album upsets me.

This one is not as strong as At Folsom Prison, but it was cool to learn that this concert was the debut of A Boy Named Sue. I loved hearing the audience's reactions to Johnny's banter. He is always entertaining.

i don’t usually like music from the 60s but this album slaps

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

Really fun album! Johnny has great banter with the audience, which is worth the listen alone. Great performances as well.

I was familiar with Johnny Cash's infamous 'At Folsom Prison' live release before this, and thought it was an odd, yet impactful one-off thing. Yet here he was again, playing at another prison, "San Quentin", to another crowd of restless and rowdy prisoners. I went into this live album wondering why Johnny Cash played all these prisons, but I think I got all my answers this time around. I mean, here, Cash goes all in with the crowd work, more than 'At Folsom Prison' - even taking song requests from the audience, and enjoying the constant reactions and roars coming from the prison crowd whenever he mentions a warden, guards, or the establishment they were incarcerated in. Maybe the best part of this whole thing is that Cash clearly "sides" with the prisoners in the audience here and is empathetic toward them; he wasn't just there to use them as a punchline to his witty one-liners. I mean listen to the song "San Quentin" and how it riles the audience up, and then the subsequent "boos" the guards receive when Cash requests a glass of water. He even plays this one very combative song twice (and he promised a third time, but it wasn't on this album :(((). It made me realize just how rebellious Cash was when doing this - I mean, just the way he provokes the crowd while there are guards around, it's so fun to listen to. His other renditions and songs here are just really consistent Cash cuts. I liked the song 'Starkville City Jail', another moment where Cash ties himself to the prisoners he's playing to. Though the best song here is still, ironically enough, 'Folsom Prison Blues', it's just too good a song. Not your typical album experience, and really not even your typical *live* album experience. But I didn't expect it to be - what I got instead was something genuinely touching, captivating, and a recording that puts you at a very unique place in time. I'll say very few musicians throughout history have had a live album as interesting as this one and "At Folsom Prison" - recordings don't get more "real" than this.

Live albums suck. This one doesn't. That's twice on this list that Johnny Cash has managed that. I think we don't necessarily need both At San Quentin and Folsom Prison on the list, but I can't deny that they're both excellent.

The lore behind this album is too fucking cool man. Mr. John Cash is a man of the people through and through. And they loved him for it.

Only Johnny Cash could go to a prison and sing a song he just wrote about how much that prison sucks right in front of that prison’s guards. Twice.

Walk the line is ok, thats about it

Generally do not like 'live' versions of songs/albums, but this one absolutely benefits from it.

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

Classic album. Love Johnny Cash

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

I enjoyed it but not as much as live at Folsom.

This was a really interesting concept and I didn't know about Johnny Cash's prison concerts (being not a Johnny Cash fan). The man is a storyteller, and the fact that he did this, the way he interacts with the crowd, and just the vibe of the whole thing was fascinating to listen to and for that reason I'm giving this album a 4.

Not huge on country but usually love Johnny cash, if you’re gunna listen to a live album listen to Folsom prison it’s leagues ahead

Very good, just slightly below At Folsom Prison. Setlist is slightly worse and the stage banter-songs ratio is too unbalanced in the former's favour.

Fine.

LISTENED TO FURST THREE SONGS REALLY FUNNY I L9VED IT AJOULDVE LISTENED TO THE REST BUT MY SPOTIFY PREMIUM FUNIAHES AND IM BROKE

Great.

I don’t want live albums bru

Not a fan of live albums unless it’s Johnny Cash or Cheap Trick. This one captures the honesty of Johnny at his pinnacle. The banter is great and the songs sound amazing.

In my religion, this is a gospel album. Amen!

3 maybe 4

Listened to the original version. Really great live sound with a satisfying twang to the instruments. Loads of energy and plenty of hits. Wreck of the Old 97 is a highlight. There's some nice crowdwork leading into I Walk the Line. Then a duet with his wife, and more talking, but it's funny and I don't mind it. You feel like you're in the audience. The best part might be the song San Quentin, which is played twice in a row, and followed up by A Boy Named Sue. It ends a bit abruptly after a couple more tracks, but it's a tidy package and one I'd return to.

Прикольный дядька православно

beetje doorslag van Folsom Prison Blues, maar blijft toch goed... mede door de bindteksten

Pretty good. Id actually like to down grade the rating of the last album after hearing this one. Holds meaning and has good music what can I say, not my favorite but definitely enjoyed it.

Gøy med live album! Men selve musikken var ok.

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

solid

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

Cash is an absolute legend. He cannot be judged by mere stars. This particular album is not my favorite, but it's cool anyway, cause you can hear Cash actually talking with the crowd and his real thoughts and feelings. Will listen to it one more time in some time.

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

Favorite Song: A Boy Named Sue (Live)

Kinda remarkable I get to say this. Not nearly his best live album. I'm sure we'll come across it at some point, but for now, the list offers a solid prison visit. I truly adore Johnny Cash, but it is in these live albums that I found love for him as a person. There's witticism, romance, whimsy, and most importantly, compassion to be found throughout. I've said it plenty of times about plenty of people for plenty of different reasons; THIS is an artist. Johnny said get me to God's country, and he visited Him in prison. As I prefaced, this isn't exactly his best showing. However, who the fuck cares. As he says on the album, it was not for me and you. It was for the people languishing but cheering in San Quentin. That is why "he plays the same song twice" you stupid cunt. That is why it doesn't matter what my opinion of the album is. For a brief sliver of time the prisoners of San Quentin were free. The hoots, hollers, and boos of San Quentin produced a perfect song that only those in that cursed cage could hear. You listen to a shade of it on the recording, but in spirit, it is a pale imitation. Considering how much was taken from them, I for one am perfectly happy to let them keep the real thing. San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell May your walls fall and may I live to tell May all the world forget you ever stood And may all the world regret you did no good. 7.75/10 Favorite Song: San Quentin (There is like 50 years of future political theory baked into this song, so yeah, I'd love to hear it TWICE)

8/10 I love John. He is electric. This album is great and picks up where folsom lets off. However, Folsom whoops this one into submission imo. So an 8 feels more appropriate. Favorite Song: San Quentin

Experiência maneira. Tu se sente no show com o johnny

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

Mr. Cash is truly a good old boy. That was some natural crowd work. This guy is as American as apple pie. Apparently, he'll sing a song about how you and your city can go F yourself and you thank him for it. Loved it.

Felt like I was there. Johnny Cash is badass. I usually don't like live albums, but the beautiful simplicity of Cash and his songs makes it work. Great stuff.

Probably the best, most iconic live album ever

pretty interesting to listen to

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

I don’t think I’ve ever heard this full album before. Surprised there were a couple of songs I didn’t recognize (Wanted Man, Darlin’ Companion, Starkville City Jail). Also a bit surprised he played San Quentin twice back to back. Still, Johnny is Johnny.

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

I like when he takes requests. Very fun on the mic and everything sounds great recording wise (except June)

Didn’t get to listen but will!

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

The fact that you have Johnny Cash showcasing his incredible voice and talent on this album is enough to earn it 5 stars, but when you consider the context it just gets even more incredible. To the Man In Black I salute you.

4. I usually prefer studio albums to live albums, however this ones a little special being preformed in a prison. I like Johnny Cash a lot, but don't listen to his albums very often. Johnny Cash has some great songwriting and singing voice. This live performance has some bangers. I really enjoyed the whole album, it's just a nice listen. Favorite song: San Quentin Least Favorite song: N/A Overall Score: 8/10

10/10 energy. 10/10 advocacy. 10/10 talent. And this is why we got Merle Haggard. What is not to be wowed by?

Super interesting time capsule, not necessarily a record I needed

Iconic. Short but the crowd interaction is amazing.

I wish I were there

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

Didn’t work for me too. Not yet at least

Fun! Good songs funny banter

Oh man what a kick ass album! Not as good as live at folsom but still pretty good and it's great to hear how he was back then it was made! I love JC and this was a good album that is a classic and has some classic Johnny Cash songs!

Increíble. Escuché de jalón la versión Legacy. De una hora con cuarenta, que me pareció genial. Recomiendo escucharla al menos una vez y ya el resto de las ocasiones echarse el disco corto, pero al menos una vez escuchar las charlas y la cercanía que Cash logró con los presos en San Quentin. Esta hora y media, esas personas se sintieron libres, y me parece mágico que el álbum consiga transmitirlo.

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

Classic live album, still excellent

A live album is always fun

An sich schon eine richtig geile Idee, in einem Gefängnis vor Häftlingen ein Konzert zu spielen und das dann auch noch aufzunehmen. Wenn man die Reaktionen des Publikums hört, haben die es auf jeden Fall sehr gefeiert. Und es gab auch keine Smartphones, die die ganze Zeit hochgehalten wurden. ;-)

10/10, banger. Hab seit GTA SA eine Schwäche für Johnny Cash 🤘

Great live album. Love the interaction with the audience. But why the hell are the fucks and shits censored. ~.~

I’ve never taken up a full country album before, especially one that’s live, but it was a great experience. Though I haven’t listened to the full album yet, the songs I did listen to were very cheerful and somewhat comforting - Johnny Cash’s deep voice is really something special, especially the way he can sing so well live. The little texts in the middle brought a character to each song and overall, I really enjoyed it. The only reason I won’t give it 5 stars is because I’m not particularly into the country genre.

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

רוב השירים נשמעים אותו דבר אם זאת, האווירה מגניבה

נהדר מת על זה שזה מהופעה

As entertaining for the commentary and crowd interaction as it is for the classic songs. Awesome concept, great execution.

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

Lekker live album

Why did Johnny Cash go to prison so much?

he is a fun person and the songs are a fun listen. i am arrested by his charm

I always thought that the Folsom prison album was his best, but apparently not. I much prefer this one because it almost sounds like it was made in a recording studio. Great songs, fun interludes and a whole lot of attitude.

Certified hood classic

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

Amazing Record, one of the main reasons I love Johnny Cash

There are great albums ... and then there are a few an experience. This is both!

Great live album, atmospheric. Feels like you are there.

I don't normally like live albums at all. I wish they hadn't censored him. Compared to the Folsom Prison album, it's pretty similar in vibe. Really fun album, especially if you're a Johnny Cash fan. Man, I wish I could have seen him in concert. My Rating: 5/5. You really do need to listen to the whole album in order, you can't just shuffle it.

Really nice, he's just chatting too. The cheers of the crowd are loud, no phone in sight....

Pretty gold album in the jail series.

I really enjoyed listening to this short album where Johnny Cash performs at San Quentin Prison. While Johnny didn't spend any real time in jail, I feel like performing at a prison was sort of when he was really performing for "his people" if that makes sense? It's fun to hear him joking with the prisoners and being a little more crude than he was when he was on his tv show. I couldn't help but think about how these jailhouse performances by famous musicians has all but stopped, I wonder if there would be a jail that would do it now? The band is killing it. I love the drummer he has here and the guitar is amazing. The prisoners are eating out of the palm of his hand. I guess, even though Johnny didn't spend time in jail, they also felt that he was theirs. Johnny is funny and he's singing so happy. You can almost hear in his voice how much he was enjoying being able to perform there. On this album is the debut for the song "San Quentin" which I enjoyed about as much as the prisoners (which was a lot). But the highlights for me were two moments where he brought a Carter or two on stage with him. Although June was thought of as on the less talented end of the spectrum as her siblings and parents, I really loved her voice on "Darlin' Companion." Her harmonizing is perfect. The song is sweet. I can see why he loved her so much. The second highlight for me was when they sang "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley" with the Carter family singing chorus and background. Beautiful. I'll at some point have to compare this record to the concert he recorded at Folsom, but that day is not today. I enjoyed listening to Johnny and I'm better for having listened to it today.

4 estrelas

Sjukt bra album, sjukt bra konsept, fin fyr???

I got the first Johnny Cash prison album, At Folsom Prison, not too long ago. This is shorter and tighter, but another masterpiece.

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

I love the songs, but especially the interaction with the audience.

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.

ja, country. und doch: irgenwie ein tolles live-album, mit charme und humor.

Ein grossartiges Album mit besonderen Zuschauer. Und natürlich Johnny Cash!

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

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

Classic Johnny Cash obviously. Odd how every song sounded almost the same whenever it’s in a live performance.

Johnny Cash does a great set for the lads at San Quentin, and there's a clear feeling of 'but for the grace of God' in the way he speaks to the prisoners between songs. I enjoyed listening to this very much.

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

Fine performance all round. Glad not to have been in the audience.

What else can I say? Johnny Cash already rocks, and for him to rock like this in front of an audience of prisoners is so powerful. Writing San Quentin and performing it to give these prisoners a voice when they feel they don't have one is just something else. The cheering from them must have been so cathartic. Perfect live album. The whole performance stood out, I can't pick just a few tracks.

A remarkable piece of history. Even though from reading about it, this isn't the full recording, it's well put together and has a real feel of being in the room and a slight air of menace even all these years later. Playing San Quentin and then San Quentin again straight after and positioning it as improvised is a masterstroke

great

A new favorite!! Love love love it!!!

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

For me, the ultimate Johnny Cash recording was his live (recorded at a prison) album, At Folsom Prison, until I heard At San Quentin. I don't know what it is about Cash, but in his performance and (excellent) banter he really relates to his "captive" audience, in this case inmates at the prisons. This raw performance surpasses any studio album Cash recorded (ok, arguably in my opinion) and he delivers a wild and crazy and oh so, interesting concert that really showcases what a showman Cash truly was. You youngins out there should take note on how to properly win over an audience.

A career-defining performance (with a slight, slight edge over Folsom) where Cash manages to make his allegiances with the prisoner cohort apparent very quickly. He mocks the quality of the water between two iterations of his purpose-built song condemning the prison to hell. Cash is earnest in his mission to bring music to the most down-and-out. You'd be kidding yourself if you didn't think a decent share of the inmates in a 60s US Prison probably shouldn't have been there in the first place, some maybe never to have drawn breath in the free world ever again. My only wish is that he'd interpolated the lyrics of Folsom Prison to San Quentin for the closing track. Special mention of course for A Boy Named Sue being the best example of Cash's supreme storytelling and penmanship. I adore this album.

That was fun!

There’s a specialist newspaper – magazine, political pamphlet, rag – here in Australia that’s distributed exclusively through pop up stands in independent cafes and brunch spots. That’s my experience, anyway (and as the paper would allay, there’s nothing more powerful than a single person’s undiluted perspective). As The Light proudly declares, it heels to no single ideology. For something to run in its pages, it need only be “the truth”. Helpfully, theirs is a world where the question like “whose truth?” has no situational bearing. It is a brave and uncomplicated world view, which is why it feels so remarkable that its content often feels cowardly and confused. The grifts that grip these groups are often completely gutless. Aeronautical science is fake (where precisely in the plane’s chassis does all the fuel go?). Sunscreen is a conspiracy (you don’t need it, they’re lying). Sunglasses impede the skin’s ability to adapt to vitamin D (seriously put that sunscreen down). The world is flat. The banks are trying to control you. The so-called “Cashless society” is one of their key targets. Take away the physical fact of money and you’re left transacting your way across the SWIFT network and directly into a commercial servitude. They can see everything you do, stitch it together, and through those big data farming predictive algorithms be back in front of you with your desires before you’ve even bothered to have them. Where cash offers anonymity, card means only control. If where they’re coming from is a depressed sort of realisation – anagnorisis – that nothing we ever do, feel, think is novel or interesting then I can see where they’re coming from. It isn’t where they’re coming from, though. Instead it’s something about elites and personal liberty that’s never more than a hop away from something hateful about the opposite of elites and personal liberty (e.g. violent distrust of disempowered minorities). The whole enterprise, belief system, ideology, whatever is built on porous and cruel hypocrisies. Deeply held contradictions. Johnny Cash was never more creatively free than when he was performing from inside a jail. I guess knowing you can leave any time does that to a person. But that’s not what stands out to me about this record; rather, it’s how old – to the point of ancient – it feels. How what’s talked about, the attitudes presented, the set pieces described feel so far away from the now that the stuff is coming from another world entirely. To the extent that what resonates here does so based on what can be imagined about its world – which is a lot, Cash is the curator of masterfully coherent and consistent story universes – rather than anything that can be seen in today’s world … we can say that ours is a Cashless society. There’s plenty to lament about that, maybe. I don’t really see it, but I’m not trying too hard.

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

Not really a country fan, but Cash is clearly passionate and talented. Album is really excellent.

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

JC, one of a kind...

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

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

Oh no. I listened. That’s it.

I only know Cash’s later period—dark, even haunted—which I kind of like. Here, it’s about lighthearted tunes, relatively basic country music. Still, it’s hard not to be impressed by the charisma and voice of Johnny Cash, his humor, and the surprisingly fluid rhymes. I usually don’t enjoy this type of music, but I had pleasure listening to this live recording, punctuated by “beeps” for every swear word, where Cash holds the prison audience in the palm of his hand.

cool

This was almost five stars for me, but I got a little bogged down toward the end. I really enjoyed getting to hear Cash talk through, and hear the San Quentin inmates’ incredibly enthusiastic response. I wish it wasn’t censored. 4/5

the guy that makes country a country himself, a legend

It's not live at Folsom Prison but it's good

What an absolute gem of a recording.

Running back san quentin is wild

Excellent and great fun. The man in black at his best.

not for me

I can't believe there are so many live albums on this list. "At Saint Quentin" is one of the better ones. I liked the first track a lot. I can't believe I'm getting many albums from 1970 or earlier. Better yet, the banter isn't too annoying. 4 stars for "At St. Quentin".

I generally like Johnny Cash, but I feel like this album is a step down from Live at Folsom Prison. I was surprised, at 35 minutes, it felt like most of this album was stage banter instead of songs (which really limits the re-listen potential), and it doesn't help that they play San Quentin twice. I tend to give this list the benefit of the doubt even when a live album comes up, and this might have been a hit for Johnny Cash (weirdly), but I feel like this is honestly a pretty sub-par live album.

No refleja la potencia que Johnny Cash llegó a desarrollar en sus presentaciones en las cárceles de su país.. pero los que estuvieron ahí seguramente les fascinó

Good music, fun playing off the crowd, really good album overall

Johnny got those convicts rocking! A nice highlight of a great selection of Johnny Cash songs with quality bantter and comments between songs.

This is awesome. I really enjoyed this. This is the gritty tough guy country I can get behind.

For me, country music has always stood for "bad" music since I was a young child. The same goes for German pop music. Country glorifies America, stands for nationalism and rather conservative, backwards values for racism. Instruments are often fiddles, banjos and harmonicas, awful! For me, Johnny Cash was always synonymous with country music and that naturally shaped my view of him. If I'm doing him an injustice, I'm sorry. I only know one song from the live album and that is "I walk the line". The rest sounds almost the same to me. And then this pathetic "western rhythm". I keep feeling like I'm about to go to a saloon or ride in a stagecoach. Awful, just awful. Finally, a note about Johnny Cash's voice. I never liked it, this deep spoken singing, not for me. Rest in peace Johnny, but please be quiet. No stars.

Johnny's showmanship is great. 😊

First time I've heard this one in full, definitely a fun listen. Johnny Cash is so charismatic and the crowd is rambuctious, it's great. Wish we can get a cleaner sounding version of this record with AI and everything now, but we'll see. Favorite tracks: Darling Companion, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue 4/5

no no no

Nice crowd work. Good listen for a bit of talk and some songs relating to the audience

Bem divertido e gostosinho, o Cash sabia fazer um show

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

loved the banter and the crowd reactions were tingling …san quentin was a highlight

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

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

Great concert but I like the live at folsom prison better

The tracks on this album are enough to justify a 5, but I absolutely cannot get into live albums on this list. I don't care about the crowd work, and I don't want a repeat track - that's the beauty of albums, you get to repeat the things you want.

Another one in a long line of great live albums I have listened to. Cash's interaction with the audience and vice versa, his energetic and joyful performance, intertwined with humorous intermezzos make the experience of listening to this performance more than enjoyable.

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

Grew up with my daddy singing with Johnny on the radio

Love Johnny Cash, and there's not a single bad song on this live album. My only issue is that the whole thing feels oddly Frankensteined together. Like he talks about playing "A Boy Named Sue" and then doesn't until a couple songs later. Or the fact that they kept in both performances of "San Quentin" instead of picking just one of them. Or the way "Folsom Prison Blues" cuts off early for no apparent reason. These quirky things make for a less rewarding and cohesive listening experience than At Folsom Prison. Maybe I should listen to another version of this album, and I likely will, but this version didn't impress me much. It's saved by the fact the songs are great regardless of the presentation. Bonus points awarded for the part where he talks about people telling him how to behave and act during the recording.

Good

At San Quentin is an album you can't help but love. First - it shows that it is full of soul, that Cash is singing from the bottom of his soul and that he is fully committed to the audience. But mostly, on Cash's country sounds, no matter how hard you try, you just can't get all parts of your body to stay calm, so you'll find yourself tapping your foot, or snapping your fingers, moving your head... An album that shows the true love for music in a raw way, and no matter how much you're not a fan of this sound, you just can't help but like it.

Overall: 7/10 I've mentioned before not enjoying live albums, but I'm trying to judge these albums fairly. Johnny had a way of capturing an audience that feels magnetic and his energy is the best thing about this album. He was a wonderful live performer and I would have loved the chance to see him live at this time. Fav Song: San Quentin 1 Least Fav Song: Starkville City Jail

Great energy. A wonderful live performance by Johnny Cash and an ensemble of other talent where he debuts one of his classics. Johhny Cash at his best though some of the mixing is lost in the live format. 7/10

Great album.

Tangible!

Not my favorite Johnny Cash album and generally not a live album fan, but this one is legendary and tells an incredible story. Musically I'd say its a 3 but the added lore makes it better. Boy Named Sue is my favorite track, although Shel Silverstein should get more credit.

-pretty good -thought it was lowk weird he was singing in a prison and like sympathizing with them...like some of them might be rapists and murderers??? hello?? -fav song: I walk the line, a boy named sue, or folsom prison blues

Pretty classic Johnny Cash.

Love all the banter in the live recording

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

Sooo gut

Best live album ever?

As country goes, this is about as good as it gets. And by that I mean it still sounds like music composed by a four year old who is afraid of anything that includes a minor key.

Love anything from the Cash man

13/02/2025

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

8.5/10. I think I am just a sucker for live albums but this was great. The way Cash connected with the crowd and he them won over from start to finish was amazing. And that fact that he was so funny even within the songs themselves was so refreshing. As the for the actual music, it was not overly complicated allowing for Cash's deep, gravitus voice to do the work. It is definitely something to listen to as whole rather than individual tracks but the fantastic storytelling and humour really won me over.

Music is fine, but as an album, man, what an experience. Can't believe I've given two Johnny Cash albums 5s, but they're both (the same) great taste, and definitely one to hit on at least once. No wonder other artists love to put out mediocre live albums, they all want them to be like this.

Johnny Cash is the ultimate OUTLAW badass. I'm not a huge Country music fan, and though he recorded primarily as a Country music artist, Johnny's passion and charisma was always pure Rock N Roll. This is why he remains my favourite 'Country' star. (I absolutely adore his American Recording albums with Rick Rubin in the late 1990's/early 2000's but that's another story!). I remember listening to A Boy Named Sue in early elementary school on a '45 (the song playing over sides 1 and 2). Listening to it as an adult, I'm blown away that my baby ears heard such a 'killer' song. At San Quentin captures Johnny Cash and band in peak form in front an enraptured audience. Johnny's distinct deep voice is in mighty form and his banter is casual and funny, never condensing, always inviting and charming. I laugh every time I hear some of the ‘foul language’ bleeped out! The band is tight and supportive. Johnny's shout to Luther, who had died not long before recording, is pure class. I believe that A Boy Named Sue was a last minute surprise and the band was playing off music charts! What a rebel! Admittedly, outside of the American Recording records, I don't often listen to early Johnny Cash 'albums', except for 2 of his live ones (this and Folsom). The Legacy version of At San Quentin adds over an hour of material and really is the best way to listen to the whole concert! Not a concert that "I wish I was there" but one I'm happy to listen to in the comforts in my own home. A pleasure from start to finish. My Favourite Songs? (mostly his hits, but that's why they're hits!): I Walk the Line Folsom Prison Blues Jackson A Boy Named Sue San Quentin

This album is more about the crowd work than the songs. Johnny says what he wants, plays what he wants and the crowd loves it. One of the best examples of capturing the energy of being there. Every moment feels like it’s right on the edge of chaos.

Bored soz

Johnny Cash forever <3

tässäkin kiihotetaan vankikansaa nousemaan kapinaan. yksi ongelma: LIIKAA PÄLÄTTÄMISTÄ. miksi vaimo tuotiin lavalle... huoh... no löytyy huumoria, naurattaa ja hekottaa, vähän tummempaa huumoria.. pakko taputtaa hyvän vitsin jälkeen ei pirskutti heh.. vankiparat, selleissä lusitaan lasketaan päiviä.. anna mull' kolpakko.. ja saaaat rahaa takaisiin. anna mull' kolpakko... ja kolme tonnia hiivaaa.. anna mull' kolpakko...jea... anna mull' kolpakko. they camm me the finland jonathan cash. they call me joonatan raha. joni käteinen. a boy named sue

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

Another easy 5. Even covers/performances of him are top tier. In the recent Dylan biopic Cash and the Tennessee 3 have a shirt musical cameo (not even a full song) and it blows all the other music performances out the water. I enjoy when he plays a song about how shit life in that prison is, gets thunderous applause, has a laugh at the guards expense, then plays the same song again.

как на концерте побывал

It doesn’t quite have the magic in a bottle of the Folsom prison album but it’s not far off at all

Great live album, Johnny Cash is very charismatic and shows how to interact with an audience while playing with lyrics and rhythm

Didn’t like all the talking. Just sing damit!

only man i will listen to talk for practically the same amount of time that he actually plays songs johnny cash i love you

I've not listened to many live albums, but most of them that I have, have nothing like as unique an audience. It's a brilliant idea, and the choice of songs that are played along with crowd interaction is quite brilliant.

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

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

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

One of the best live albums I've ever heard

I love Johnny Cash. He's amazing. He's iconic. But did we really need both this and "At Folsom Prison" on the same list? Is there not another Johnny Cash studio album we could've replaced this with? Is this here only because it has "A Boy Named Sue" and "Folsom Prison" doesn't? Someone please explain to me why both are here? You can pretty much read my "At Folsom Prison" review to know what I think about this. The only differences being that A: This one has a little more banter than "At Folsom Prison" and B: A different track list. That being said, this was great. I actually liked the track list a little more than "At Folsom Prison." But I thin that's kind of the problem. Having these two on the list means they're going to be compared to each other. And that's disappointing. But as it is, four stars. Standout Tracks: Wanted Man, I Walk the Line, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue

-1 for bleeping the rude words.

Якщо я не помиляюсь, то це вже 4-й Live альбом який я слухаю в рамках цієї рубрики. І що хочу сказати, мене приємно дивує наскільки всі вони цікаві та кожен має свою "магію", хоча раніше, я б і не подумав слухати саме живий альбом, аби ознайомитись з чиєюсь творчістю. І цей альбом Johnny Cash не є вийнятком. Цей запис, який Джонні давав у в'язниці San Quentin, є послідовником попереднього, більш відомого, концертного альбому At Folsom Prison (1968). Як і попередник, цей альбом цікавий не стільки самою музикою, яка, між іншим, чудово виконана та записана, скільки відчуттям "живої енергії" та щирості яку випромінює Джонні. І по реакції публіки, ми відчуваємо, що вона насправді його люблять. Навіть не дивлячись на те, що публіка на цьому концерті є "доволі специфічною", навіть з ними Cash знаходить спільну мову. І особливо гарно це відчувається у промовах між піснями. Особливим моментом на цьому концерті, безумовно є виконання пісні San Quentin, в який іде мова про те наскільки це лайняне місце та як герой пісні його ненавидить. Якщо говорити про чисто "музичну сторону", то головною, на мою думку, причиною чому ці два "в'язничних" альбоми Кеша так сильно цінуються, є настрій та душевність з яким виконані самі пісні. Саме це робить їх унікальними та особливими, адже відтворити "це саме відчуття" просто неможливо, його можна тільки закарбувати. Просто послухайте виконання A Boy Named Sue і зрозумієте про що я говорю.

what a guy

Johnny cash got some jokes

Not quite my speed of country but undoubtedly important and impactful. Such empathy for those who have found themselves in troubled circumstances. I especially love how the recording quality emphasizes the uproar of the crowd- the crowd mic is constantly peaking and it’s so killer. The title track is an absolute riot.

This is Outlaw. I'm a sucker for any of these Live from Prison albums. It's raw, Cash sounds amazing and he's got the inmates eating out the palm of his hand. I'm kind of surprised how short this is, the abrupt ending and having a song twice, even if it's a good song. Looking at the Legacy Edition I feel like this album could be a little better, but still pretty solid.

I liked this a lot. He really controlled the crowd. The banter was great. He sounded great too. I think if this was a studio album, I would’ve given it 4 stars. I enjoyed the feel so much, I bumped it up to 5.

I’m not a big Country & Western guy, but I am a sucker for a good live album. The man in black did not disappoint here. Mad respect to the older country singers who would throw up the middle finger and spit in the face of the authorities, as opposed to the boot licking conformist pussies we got these days.

Johnny Cash rules. This album is a great album. I like the banter in between songs. It actually gives you the feel of being there. It's strange to me that they would include both takes of "San Quentin", even making them track one and two of Side B. "Folsom Prison Blues" unfortunately cuts off....did the warden shut the concert down? I'm surprised this was the final release. Looking at the reissue and legacy edition, it seems like they had a lot more material they could include. This is pretty minor nitpicking, but something about this just won't let me give it 5.

great man

Good stuff

I am not sure why Johnny Cash performed for prison audiences, but it was a thing for him and I am not going to judge that. What is impressive is how he connected with the crowd. In his banter he spoke to them and they responded. Even though I am not a Cash fan per se, I still think a 4 is warranted for this recording.

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

Good

The man in black at his finest….

Banter is the best

Literally best shit ever

Few have done it better than Johnny Cash.

I listened to a '"live" album version on spotify, I swear this guy talked more than he sang whether there was music or not. Really old and slow music too, not my favorite

They’ll never let anybody do anything like this again. A little messier than the Folsom version, it’s a bit all over the place, trying to do too many things in too many ways. Despite this, it’s both a lovely historical document and a terrific collection of performances in its own right.

wanted man- dont censor him. 7 wreck of the old 97- 8. eatin it up. thats cool he asked them what they wanted to hear i walk the line- 8 or 9 darlin companion- he loved june so much, dude. 6. hes so silly. i wish he was my dad✌️ starkville city jail- 6 san quentin- the prisoners cheering is so funny. 7 or 8. san quentin reprise- 7 a boy named sue- 7 peace in the valley- 6 or 7 folsom prison blues- LETS FUCKING GOOO. 8 or 9 i love him <3<3<3

Really really fun album. I really enjoyed listening to this album, Johnny Cash interacting with the audience, telling stories, just being Johnny Cash is definitely the best part of the album. It would be a 5, but I think the music itself could've been abit more interesting.

This is the second live album performed at a prison by Johnny Cash I've generated, and it looks like for the first time, I have to give consecutive 5-star ratings. I thoroughly enjoyed almost every song, and the comedic routines in between the songs were gold. When the audience begged for him to play "San Quentin" again, and Cash joked about the prison ward, I was sold. Johnny Cash remains the only Country Music artist whose music I like. Favorite Song: "San Quentin"

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

short and classic Cash

This one surprised me. Not that I don't like Johnny Cash, I just went into it thinking it'd be just fine, a solid 3/5. Ended up finding myself enjoying it quite a bit though to the point I put it on for a second spin. Guess it just hit the spot.

Hard

I had no idea Johnny Cash had such a sense of humor! His stoic presentation doesn't lend itself to someone who would frequently joke, but I was pleasantly surprised. And his jokes are so easy and forthcoming. More than once bleeps occur (it was still 1969), and Cash sure is swearing. I feel such intimacy too, though I don't know how many inmates were in the audience. I'm sure Cash's outlaw persona helped in that regard. All this makes him so personable and genuine to the audience--and even to remote listeners--which in turn makes At San Quentin quite the unique album. Add to that his low baritone vocals and the prison concert venue, and you've got yourself a hit live album.

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

Really enjoyed it. Great banter and great songs.

A true classic! Johnny Cash was one hell of a man! He was my father’s favourite. If he was home, which wasn’t often due to his worklife, we would listen to this together. My father passed away when I was very young, so this album was quite nostalgic for me in a way. Rest in Peace Dad! And Mr. Cash as well!

nice storytelling kinda format. old man has a great voice

Country doesn't do anything for me. The comedic interludes where funny, though.

It was ok

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

Classic, and unique that it's live, at a prison. Thoughts on prison reform and the need for it, and for art in social change.

Oh fuck yes! I have had a lifelong antipathy to country music (largely due to the racist fake cowboys I went to high school with) but this album absolutely fucks and is a big part of what got me to give some country music a chance.

3.5

Country music performed at a prison, I can imagine Johnny strumming his guitar in front of a group of inmates - Live music aspect is unique and adds some flavor, but detracts from the listenability - Deep voice and funny vocals are standouts - More of a show than music I would listen to

Æggene, og væggene album. Jeg endte med at se optagelserne fra fængslet også. Det var en super fin Cash oplevelse!

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

Great fun, low quality live audio

This is the type of Live album that should be on the list in comparison to some of the other ones I have so far listened to on this list. Solid banter, amazing control over the audience along with just a great performance!

My name is Sue! How do you do?

Crowd pleasing album With charming Aesop like tales On rebel ditties

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

Johnny Cash has never appealed to me. San Quentin is cool to hear when he’s singing it to the inmates.

I usually don't like live albums because I find the applause/cheering/comments from the audience to be distracting, so I was a little disappointed this was on here. But then I realized that it was a live recording of him performing at a prison and I immediately became intrigued. He sounded amazing, but I think I was mostly taken aback at how this was such a big moment in music history and I'm listening to people cheering that were actual inmates at San Quentin at the time. This was a fantastic listen - I'm so glad I gave it a chance.

very enjoyable live album

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

wonderful voice

It's giving the same feelings I had when listening to At Folsom Prison, simply enjoyable entirely off the fact that Cash was such a charismastic performer and a great songwriter, I swear there's barely a dull moment when listening to him sing about hating the prison he prison he is performing at, only to then ask for water It's just great fun

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

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

Hello! Okay so I'm going to rate it a 3.8/10! I really liked the live. I felt I was with them and like laughing about his story. I loved the lyrics and the break part of interesting stories. My favorite song was Darling when he brought his wife up and they both sang. It was very wholesome, and his wife got amazing vocals. I rate it 8.6 because I really don't like live songs due to the background sound, but it was actually great and it's like a country songs or vibes, never really was a big fan of country. Even though I do listen to country but not a lot like the other genres! I really like his thick voice; it was interesting and again loves his wife's voice! So, yea! Can't wait for the second song tomorrow! :3

A Boy Named Sue was quite good and the interactions with the crowd were entertaining but unfortunately Johnny sounded bored and so was I.

Live. I listened to the shortened album (around 30 minutes) and it was a good length. At one point Johnny sends the guards out to get him water and then replays the song with more risque lyrics. 5/5

What a voice. What a performer. Wish I could've seen him live

Simple yet poetic lyrics carried by Cash's baritone voice makes a real treat for the inmates at San Quentin Prison. The crowd's cheers shows life in the hearts of the imprisoned, a small reprieve from the terrible life in prison.

The way this man treats the inmates with such respect and honesty while doing a great live show makes this one of the best live albums in my opinion. And this from somebody who neither is American, nor close to a boomer nor listens to jonny cash outside of this list.

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

Johnny Cash will always be legendary, and so will his live albums.

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

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. 3.5.

Love Johnny Cash

It's a bit slow picking up and not as song heavy as At Folsom Prison. However, the high points here are really great. The debut of A Boy Named Sue and San Quentin, both classic songs in his catalogue are here. Less songs also means there's more room to pick up on Johnny Cash's conversations with the live crowd and his humor. Johnny Cash is a real badass and does pretty much all the heavy lifting for country musics reputation.

Huh. I was mighty impressed with Live at Folsom Prison, but seeing another of JC's subsequent prison albums pop up on the list seems superfluous. This is very much more of the same - you don't *need* to hear both before you die. That said, I enjoyed At San Quentin very much. It reminded me of what was great about ‘Folsom’: Cash’s masterful command of an audience; how easy on the ears the tunes are; and how the energy of the prison gig setting really elevates the whole thing. There’s a little more spotlight on his own songwriting too this time, which is nice.

Prefer live at Folsom

Absolutnke uwielbiam, gruby klasyk i ciągle mnie wciąga, czuć energię i same melodie też całkiem dobre. Ale po wielu przesluchaniach troszkę zamulilo.

WHEEEEEE

Cash was such a dude

what are the odds of getting two albums by the same artist in two consecutive days? I should go play the lottery. I, like many music listeners, was first exposed to classic country music through the more well-known live recording At Folsom Prison, which Cash released the year prior to At San Quentin. Cash was famous for his regular performances in prisons for crowds of inmates, a gesture of goodwill which just one small part of the many ways he stood up for the downtrodden in his music and his life. an earlier (1958) concert by Cash at San Quentin actually had a young Merle Haggard in the audience, and it partially inspired Haggard to pursue a career in music! it's amazing to think that Cash was able to give experiences like that to a population that often goes unspoken about in polite society. not only are these some great performances of some deeply witty and excellent songs, but Cash's command of his audience is impeccable. his ability to communicate so directly to the experience of his audience, and show his empathy for their plight, is tremendous to hear on record. not only is he hilarious, but he has a rebellious nature about him which the inmates listening are highly responsive to! I loved when Cash asked them what they wanted to hear his band play, rather than being worried about what his production crew might have wanted him to play. but the highlight of the whole thing is when they play his anti-prison anthem "San Quentin" twice in a row; after the first go, during which his audience uproariously received his commentary on how hellish the place is, he asks, "if any of the guards are still speaking to me, can I get a glass of water?" light 9/10.

This was a wildly interesting listen. While the album was running its course, I was happily researching all the references. It's a great piece of artwork. I understand why it had the immediate impact, commercially and socially, that it did. Fav song: I Walk the Line

5/5*

Live album with a lot of energy captured. Fun fun, more swearing than I thought. Can he tune his guitar?

Johnny Cash is just flat compelling. His music is storytelling at its finest, and this album shines because of where and how he tells them with his own powerful narration. Enjoy!

Not the first Johnny Cash live album we have heard for this game, his personality really carries this. I am still anti-live albums being included though.

Excellent live recording. I really felt like I was there and that I was getting to know a relaxed, friendly Cash, that made it his mission to minister to the forgotten in prison. The songs are good writing with a signature style.

Normally Johnny Cash can be joined track by track or off a 'Best of' album, but this record should be listened to in one go. Everything's great, you can hear the atmosphere, the banter and jokes in between the songs, a song written just for this show ('San Quentin') and of course some great versions of classic Cash tunes such as I walk the line and A boy named Sue.

DAY 1: At San Quentin - Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash delivered a very respectable performance at San Quentin State Prison, and the performance was made into a live album. While his live album At Folsom Prison is more notable, it does not discredit the importance of this album. Performing a free concert for incarcerated individuals is a very commendable act to do. You never really know what somebody may be going through. The incarcerated deserve to be treated with dignity, and respect. Based on the sounds of the audience, they seem to have greatly appreciated Johnny Cash's commendable action of performing a prison concert. Performing a prison concert once is already very respectable, but doing it twice is even more so. Johnny Cash resonated with the incarcerated, and he remains one of the most important figures of country music even to this day, over two decades after his death. Personal Enjoyment: 3/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 5/5.

A surprise to hear this old chestnut but a great listen. I don't think I'll be re-listening very often but I thoroughly enjoyed remembering this album.

Maybe not quite as good as the Folsom one but still...

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

Nice

Favorite song: San Quentin Least Favorite: Wreck of the Old ‘97 The best part of this was Cash’s obvious presence and the crowd’s great reaction.

God, this guy was the coolest. 4/5

Amazing album that is only amplified by the fact that this was performed and recorded in front of people incarcerated. Maybe Johnny Cash was a prison reformer???

Great live album

Incredible listening experience, love the way johnny cash interacts and riffs with the inmates, feels alive

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

I hate country but this album gets my approval. All songs have the same rythym and sound but the environment and the prisoners reaction gives it another feel. I have heard the folsom prison one amd I actually like it as well cause it true country rock from Johnny Cash his voice and delivery of this genere are unique.

Flott, litt repetitivt kanskje men det er utrolig stemning å høre på.