At San Quentin

Johnny Cash is such a likeable guy. The way he banters and works with the audience is so personable and genuine, and it makes him really sound like he's having a ton of fun recording this record. Love the man, love the music.

Fairly similar to At Folsom Prison. Good banter between songs and I like that he played San Quentin twice in a row. A like country music when it tells a story and Johnny Cash is a great storyteller. Favorites were Wanted Man, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, and Folsom Prison Blues.

There's something about this you can't quantify. He's so good with the crowd and giving it to the prison industry. His style at this time makes the songs sound a bit too similar, but the standouts make this a 4.

Ahhh cudowny album ;-; Świetnie się bawiłam słuchając go. Jest bardzo ludzki. Uwielbiam reakcje widowni, szczególnie na piosenkę San Quentin - te śmiechy i wiwatowanie. Johnny cudownie tworzy atmosferę. Historia opowiadana w A Boy Named Sue jest bardzo fun. Ogólnie wszystkie piosenki są utrzymywane w beztroskim tonie. Mocne 4/5

If this was only Johnny Cash singing 9 of his lesser known songs, this wouldn't have been a very appealing album to me. Not a big fan of country music. But this is a prime example of an album being grater than the sum of its parts. Okay songs and a solid performance, but the interaction with and reactions from a room full of prisoners elevate the whole experience. Not a single song saved, but I might listen to the whole thing again sometime.

Loved it. Knowledge of JC limited to greatest hits and the American IV album - particularly Hurt. He has a powerfully honest and lyrical voice that tells great stories with real empathy. I don't know much about country music but JC is the benchmark for me - and I have yet to hear anybody better. A great live set with real energy and chemistry with the crowd - loved the brief gospel interlude - will defn listen to the extended recording.

Cash is so effortlessly charming and funny. you just never want it to end

Fantastic live album from the country God!

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

5 fuckin’ stars

Has anyone ever been cooler than Johnny Cash in 1969? He's certainly in his element here. What a blast, raucous and riotous, with an anti-authoritarian message that still hits hard.

Not really my regular listening vibe but pretty nostalgic and classic.

Not a fan of live albums, but the prison banter and music are great.

Great live album, up there with the best. Glad I found it through this list.

One of my favs...classic

Johnny Cash live in a prison. Hard to beat. 4/5

Good but not for me

++: Wreck of the Old 97, I Walk the Line, Starkville City Jail, San Quentin, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley, Folsom Prison Blues +: Wanted Man, Darling Companion 8,5/10

I love all the bits where he's trying to make the prisoners think he's cool, and he's going like 'some guy from England tried to tell me what to do... but i don't want to 😎'

So did Mr Cash only release albums from prison? As both albums I've heard have been the same.

Not quite as good as folsom. Still dug

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

own

Good cause I like Johnny cash and seemed like a cool show, but why is it on the list

Before listening - I hope this is good because having two Johnny Cash prison albums is a bit much. After listening - Good but not sure it's distinct enough to include on the list.

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

норм, но не для меня. слишком по-американски, но прикольно что это концерт в тюрьме

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

7.5/10 Kinda hard to judge. As a collection of songs this wouldn't be worth four stars, but the interaction with the audience and Cash showing his skill as an entertainer elevate it to a different level. Highlights: A Boy Named Sue Peace in the Valley

my bad, i didn't know the story of Johnny Cash's live concerts in prisons (and apparently there are other concert albums of his on this list). it was interesting to learn about it. Love the energy of the crowd but tbh I don't really care and... I hate country.

Honestly liked this better than Folsom

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

8/10

Great live album. Standout songs: Starkville city jail San Quintin

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

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

Phenomenal. Love Johnny cash. At first I had trouble thinking why this album was picked instead of his many others. A Boy Named Sue was his top most hit in his career and that debuted on this album though (had to look that one up). The infamous Johnny Cash shooting a bird was from this show. I know that one because I had that poster in high school because I thought I was cool and my mom allowed it. Also - can you imagine the blowback if a musician tried to play in prisons today? Wild.

Zitten leuke nummers tussen, maar wel erg veel praten, ook best veel saaie nummers en schelden wordt gebleept wat echt heel irritant is. 7/10.

An authentic and legendary performance in a unique location.

Crazy recording.

Not as good as Folsom Prison but still a banger

What a performance by one of the best singers of all time. While I think his Folsom live album is a touch better, this one still has a ton to offer. The energy coming off both Cash and the audience is electric, and a couple of the new songs here (San Quentin and especially Boy Named Sue) are instance classics.

Enjoyed his interactions with audience.

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

Johnny Cash is great. The problem is this music, it sounds like the music that MAGA people will listen to. Anyway, artistically it was very good.

Johnny Cash is one of the few country music artists I don't hate and while this is a live albums which are generally not my favorite it has energy and authenticity. So like At Folsom Prison I do like this.

2,5

Little ripper of an outlaw country live album. Great stuff.

Nutted

johnny cash, just had a cover act play at my venue and didn't go, not the biggest johnny cash fan :( 5/10

Short album, but I liked the raucousness of it.

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

Tbh less of an album and more an incredible capture of a very specific moment in time - there’s probably as much talking on this album as there is music - but it’s fascinating seeing the Johnny Cash “character” (because it was a bit of a character) do his thing at the height of his powers. For those confused as to why he plays the same song twice in a row - did you actually listen to the album? It’s not like he did it for fun. It’s because it’s a song about how much the prison HE’S PERFORMING IN sucks ass, and the prisoners basically scream that he has to play it again immediately after he finishes the first time. That’s kinda amazing and really shows the power of music.

This was a great listen, I love Johnny’s genuine relaxed interaction with the crowd. I’m a little more partial to the energy on the first prison album in the series, “Live at Folsom”. Side note: Joaquin Phoenix was robbed for best actor (2006) in “Walk the line”, IMO. 3.5/5

Although I’m a bigger fan of the At Folsom live album, this one was still enjoyable. Johnny’s effortless banter with the inmates was great, and the fact that he wrote and debuted a title song for this event was an even better touch. It was also this event that produced the now famous middle-finger photo which is just great.

A little surprised to see this one and not Live at Folsom (hey but maybe we will), but still a fun listen. Am guessing the inclusion is based on Boy Named Sue on this one (written by Shel Silverstein btw), which I get.

Man, talk about charisma and knowing your audience. I’d say a natural entertainer but will give Cash credit for mastering his craft. Great songs and very authentically performed. I can only handle so much of the “bom-bom bom-bom” beat but respect for Johnny.

It's hard to describe this album...it is fine, but not great IMO. It feels more like a historical artifact to me. More interesting than amazing. And interesting enough to get a 4* from me. Really cool to hear Johnny interacting with the crowd and his quick wit. 3.75/5

Easy five. Zero zastanowienia. Nie słucham country, na co dzień nie lubię tego amerykańskiego akcentu, który ma Johnny Cash, zazwyczaj ciężko mi się też przebić przez tragiczne jakości nagrań występów na żywo z dawniejszych czasów. A jednak ten album wciągnął mnie od początku do końca. Piosenki są chwytliwe, a jednocześnie świetnie pasują do miejsca, w którym zostały wykonane. Cash jest zajmujący jako prowadzący, zabawny, /witty/. Świetnie czuje publiczność i zwyczajnie rezonuje z tymi mężczyznami. Wydaje mi się, że więźniowie, trochę jak dzieci, muszą być jedną z najtrudniejszych widowni. Z jednej strony taki występ to na pewno święto, zwłaszcza w latach siedemdziesiątych, ale z drugiej strony to ludzie, którzy na kilometr wyczują fałsz i strach. A Cash w sekundę burzy jakikolwiek mur. Jak w wielu przypadkach kontekst odgrywa kluczową rolę. Gdyby to był zwykły live to wciąż byłoby to mocne 4,5 - coś, co buja i czego chętnie posłucham jeszcze w przyszłości. Ale za same nagrania tej interakcji z publicznością i kontekst to jest mega pewne 5.

Muy guay la interacción con el publico. Canciones chill guays

Exceptional!

A mislim, kužim da je on veličina i zaslužuje biti tu, jedino mi je dosta upitan izbor albuma. Mislim da je on jedan od onih koje ili voliš ili mrziš. Meni je album dosta dosadan, mislim on općenito ima tu dosadnu vibru jer je sve nekako ravno uvijek, ali ono što me najviše smeta kod ove serije albuma je ta njegova ideja paćenika bez pokrića, ne kužim zašto radi o glazbu o zatvorskom iskustvu kad zatvora nikad vidio nije. Ne kužim koncept iskreno. Nisam skužila zašto su mu booali, je li to jer je pio vode ili je to bio neki pokušaj bisa. I lik ponovi istu pjesmu dvaput zaredom. Okeeeej. Ne znam, da sam bila onako lajv na tom koncertu i maknem sa strane činjenicu da gledam u Johnnyja Casha, bila bih dosta razočarana. Da je neki drugi album bio, možda bi bilo drukčije, ovako mi je ovo za 2/5, 4.5/10.

A, good ol' Johnny Wannabe bad guy. Mislim da je on nekad davno doživio sudbinu Alena Vitasovića, tipa da je postao kompletno irelevantna ličnost kojeg je jedan panker izvukao s dna tako da mu je pomogao snimiti album ili tako nešto Sve u svemu, ne mrzim njegovu glazbu, ne smeta me, ali me niti ne loži pretjerano. Ne znam kad sam si zadnji put pustio neku njegovu pjesmu, a ne znam ni kad ću idući put. Vjerojatno ću ga slušati u Slavoniji idući put kad odem i kad se otvori peta gajba ozujskog napitka

7/10 Johnny Cash mi je jedan od artista uz kojeg bi uvijek rado bezbrižno otvorio pivo, pa makar i u podne. Nisam puno ulazio u njegovu diskografiju jer mi ima onaj Balašević moment - jednostavno je previse toga izdao. Treba mi neki fan koji ce mi pustiti svojih najdrazih petnaest stvari i prodat mi ga malo jer ne mislim ulazit tako skoro u sve te albume, mozda u 40ima, tko zna. Za ovu legendarnu seriju koncerata po zatvorima znam vec dugo, a ni ovaj album mi nije nepoznat. Najdraze stvari nemam jer su sve slicne, ali A Boy Named Sue i Folsom Prison Blues uvijek volim cuti. Nadam se jos njegovih albuma vidjet ovdje, barem ce me natjerati da cujem nesto vise od greatest hits cd-a koji se vrtio prije puno godina. Deri ga Đoni!

Check out the Legacy Edition, it has the San Quentin concerts in full. Pretty magical stuff.

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

I love the album from Folsom Prison, and this one is similar enough in style that it's almost as good. The banter, the boos at mentioning the warden, and the story about Cash's 36 dollars are all great and there is a good variety of songs on here. I like that the setlist is "fluid" in the sense that he asks what the crowd wants to hear and it's actually coordinated enough that he plays the suggested songs in addition to the "planned" ones. Only complaint is that it's a bit short! It could definitely be longer. I'll have to watch the TV recording of it as well, I bet it's great.

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

Nie wiem czy wersja na żywo była plusem czy minusem tego albumu, momentami czułem jakbym był na widowni i był częścią show, momentami odrywało to za długo od muzyki. Mimo wszystko 5, Pan Cash ma w sobie niesamowitą charyzmę, która podciąga piosenki w górę, bo czujesz się jakbyś siedział przy ognisku słuchając starego znajomego.

Casha znałem do tej pory tylko z imienia i nazwiska - wiedziałem, że był taki artysta, that's it. Nie wiedziałem nawet, jakiej muzyki do końca się spodziewać. Country... huh! Nie wiem, na ile to efekt koncertowej wersji, ale damn, świetnie mi się tego słuchało. Strasznie się wciągnąłem w opowiadane w piosenkach historie i to, co pomiędzy. Chociaż potem przeczytałem, że Cash sporo wymyślal i nie był wcale takim outlawem, to uwierzyłem mu - widocznie rzesze fanów w jego czasach też, jego twórczość rezonowała. Przewrotne jest to, że imo dziś mógłby trafić bardziej do czarnych i mniejszości swoim przekazem... znak czasów, I guess. Świetnie mi się słuchało, "San Quentin" i "A boy named Sue" chyba favs. Kawał historii, w której nie uczestniczyłem i nie jest moja - ale mogę dzięki Cashowi nieco lepiej się wczuć i zrozumieć. Nice!

Best country album I've ever heard. 2/5

after the miserable failure of the previous day's live album, gosh, what a breath of fresh air this was! finally a live album that earns its right on this list. funny, energetic, effortless in that old timey country kinda way. it gave me goosebumps to hear the prisoners cheer. it also made me think about how despite having general cultural knowledge of johnny cash's prison concerts, i never considered how that might mean for his own personal views on criminal justice and prison abolition. what a guy. what an album! truly loved this one.

this album gave me severe whiplash (but in a good way??) since my previous one was the grateful dead's live/dead album. THIS is how a live album should be done. for one thing, johnny cash knows how to put on a show. he plays the hits, has some great comedic banter-y bits, and genuinely wants everyone to have a good time. these live prison recordings are pretty eye-opening and convey a lot about cash's ideals, since i don't know of any other musician doing things like he did back in the day. he seems like he was a good egg. favorites: basically everything. san quentin reprise and there'll be peace in the valley were the weakest imo, everything else was gold.

10/10

So country, witty and fun. Love it.

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

Awesome album. Better listened to in whole.

It was a good listen. 3*

OK. But falls foul of the typical live album issues.

This is a fun time and Johnny Cash is pretty fucking cool. I go back and forth on whether he's phony or not but I tend to think he's more authentic than not and I suppose I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Some bangers on this.

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

Oof, the mic quality on Wanted Man... Again, this would be more fun if I were in the audience.

Walk the Line was my shit as a kid so it's really nice to hear the album from the man himself. To know the context behind the record and concert makes this a much more gratifying listen and this hits home as soon as it begins.

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

One of my all time favorites

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

I liked when he was just talking to the crowd better than when he was playing the music…so that’s probably not a good sign.

I could go on a tangent right now about how much I hate the fact that country music often gets relegated to "the genre with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and alt-country" when in conversation with music nerds. As someone from the south it feels like something that speaks to *us*, and it's unfair to boil it down to any one or two acts. No Dwight Yoakam on here, no Randy Travis, no George Strait, but that's to be expected when 80s and 90s country gets ignored even further. That being said, if we are to boil country down to one act, it should be Johnny Cash. While this one isn't as good as At Folsom Prison and the overdubs get on my nerves a lot more, San Quentin does a fair amount to switch itself up from its live predecessor while keeping what made the last album so good. It's still raw, still badass, a bit less topical and "epic" than the last one but very worthwhile. 7/10

That moment when a song is so magical, so perfect, that it has to be played again immediately. And it doesn't get stale. Cash takes a moment to make sure all the producers and TV channels clearly understand the "fuck you" he's giving them, too. Brilliant. The only person who can outdo Johnny Cash is Johnny Cash, and he does only on At Folsom Prison. I remember reading the liner notes in my Johnny Cash boxed set booklet, and Cash describes the feeling in the room after singing "San Quentin" the second time through. The first time through it was a bunch of cheering, but the second time through, the inmates know the song and fall into a dark brooding mood. Cash says that the tension was so strong in the room that he could've told the prisoners to riot in that moment, and they would have.

Why didn't Sue just change his name? Butch, Zeus, Odin, Killer, Knuckles, Warlock are all good manly man's names. This ode to toxic masculinity hasn't aged well. Best thing about this album is it's length.

"San Quentin, I hate every inch of you" -Johnny Cash at San Quentin (1969) At San Quentin is very similar to At Folsom Prison, an album released a year earlier and also included on this list. It does mar the listening experience just a bit, given the fact that he makes pretty similar jokes, and to a similar audience of overjoyed prisoners. But I won't let that impact my rating. Folsom got a 4, and San Quentin's getting the same treatment. Fun banter, great (albeit extremely simple) music, and the strongest version of perhaps my favourite Johnny Cash song, A Boy Named Sue. Also, if you squint your ears, every one of his songs is identical. But you can't squint your ears, silly! 4/5 Key tracks: Wreck of the Old 97, I Walk the Line, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue

Ég er náttúrulega með vott af Johnny Cash-blæti en ég fílaði þessa plötu með óllum sínum mistökum og spjalli þótt ég fíli vanalega ekki þannig á plötum. Það kom mér samt svo mikið í réttu stemmninguna.

Personality 10/10

Johnny Cash is so unbelievably cool that he got invited by the prison to sing songs about how much prison sucks to a bunch of people stuck in prison.

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

First Time I heard this album it blew my mind. It is probably the best live album I have ever heard.

At folsom prison will always be the GOAT for johnny cash live album's and maybe just live album's generally but this is pretty solid.

A true performance

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

I love how he interacts with the prisoners. You can tell he is having fun and the audience is absolutely loving it. I love how they say one more time after hearing "San Quentin" and he does it without question. Also, he has some hilarious quips throughout and the songs are great, if not legendary ("Folsom Prison Blues" "Boy Name Sue"). Johnny Cash is the man.

One of Americas OG badasses.

Short but exhilarating. Songs are pretty good but the scene is incredible. “I’d like to thank the warden and the guards for setting this up” (Crowd boos and jeers) “Awwww… you don’t really mean that”

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

I like Johnny Cash! He does come off as a bit of a phony, but so do a lot of people. He found a lane and committed to it. Great voice/charisma/delivery. It also has me pondering the ethics of this. On the one hand he's humanizing these people, which is good... I think? What did they do? How did their victims feel about all this banter? This prison sucks LOLZ... Would Doggystyle be better if it was recorded in a prison? Would we say Snoop is more or less phony? Wanted Man was by far my favorite track and of course it was written by Bob Dylan...

I find the prison concert thing to be kind of a cheap gimmick. Like, whooooaaaa dude, so badasssss, you were actually NEAR some REAL LIFE prisoners? No wayyyyy. This album is just one hokey shuffle after another, with a false, unearned veneer of 'grit' siphoned from the prisoners in attendance for what ultimately amounts to marketing purposes.

Wow! Super enjoyable. My favorite part is how real this feels. Crowd interaction is wild, Cash’s personality seems genuine and very “fuck you”, song selection is all suitable energy. I thought I would hate the same song twice (San Quentin), but it somehow worked? Amazed to say the least… and all in a 35 minute package makes this a 5 star country album to me

What a nice listen. Incredible banter and rapport with the inmates, so smooth even when he's tuning his guitar. I don't go crazy for his music but it's a nice listen.

In high school, after Napster got shut down and before Spotify launched, I would borrow stacks of albums from the library and rip them to my computer and load them on my iPod Classic - simpler times. Cash is one that I remember well from that loot. I guess the whole prison marketing thing may be a little questionable in hindsight but these guys sound like they’re having a pretty rowdy time, and I am too.

favourite song - (there'll be) peace in the valley (ft. june carter cash) favourite lyric - at 8am, they let me out, i said "give me them things of mine" / they gave me a sneer and a guitar pick and a yellow dandelion / they're bound to get you cause they got a curfew / and you go to the starkville city jail / and you go to the starkville city jail cover - 1/10 what is that album overall - 5/5 actually really enjoyed it

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

This is a peculiar listen. On the one hand, this is a pretty decently recorded live album, especially considering the challenging environment with plenty of background noise. Cash is at his vivacious best and is really quite engaging as a performer. I can't help but feel that these 'live at xyz prison' performances shouldn't have been allowed. Here we have some of the most dangerous criminals being afforded a live performance that everyone else has to pay for and may not have access to. The title track is a playful swipe at the state and prison system that when played once is a nice attempt by Cash to connect with his audience but upon hearing it reprised immediately, it feels as though he is attempting to incite prisoner action. I wouldn't consider this album essential listening, especially as there are superior live prison albums from Cash already in existence. Top 3: 1. (There'll be) Peace in the Valley 2. Darlin' Companion (w/ June Carter) 3. A Boy Named Sue Bottom 2: 1. San Quentin (Reprised) 2. San Quentin

Not a great live album - I know they recorded in a prison but at least try to get the production into a listenable state.

I rolled my eyes when I saw another live album on the list, but that was surely a pleasant experience. Such an excellent performer, both during and between the sets, and a naturally funny guy (I wish they didn't censor him though)! I can't believe what's happening, but... This project is making me like country. 4.5 stars

3.5 good

Expected to hate it. Really didn't. Concept feels forced but the live aspect improves the songs and it is tailored to the audience

It’s Johnny Cash. His voice is so special. But honestly all the time spent with Johnny kissing up to, I mean talking to, the inmates is annoying. And the pandering San Quentin song he wrote for them is played and needlessly included twice in a row. It’s a little like a show-off bad boy frat party. Of course he plays some hits, which are always good to hear. Because it’s Johnny Cash. So never a total waste of time.

Great album and a perfect one to start this challenge with. I think hearing the crowd participation on this one makes it extra special.

I adore this. It means a lot to me that he would give a show to prisoners, and I love hearing him talk like a normal person between songs. I also love the songs. Clever lyrics, good instrumentation. I’m so glad I listened.

I don't pretend to know how the Randomizer works. I mean, yeah, to be completely literal, of course I do: it's RNG. But how it works in, like, a **cosmic** sense... **That's** what I'm completely in the dark about, 'coz I'm not sure why exactly my group would be given this album before AT FOLSOM PRISON. In fact, I'm not really sure why this album is here when FOLSOM PRISON is as well. Even looking at them from the outside, I couldn't really figure out the difference between them aside from the track listing and where they were recorded. I understand that's the appeal of its original release, at least from the label's perspective: "you liked the first time Johnny Cash played a prison, so here it is again!" As for this list, though, we already have AT FOLSOM PRISON for that, which also happens to be Cash's best **and** most famous album. His biopic ends with the album's recording, for goodness sake. So, what exactly does this bring to the table that the other one doesn't — again, aside from different songs? Not much. However, honestly, despite how much of a stink I made about it in the previous paragraph, I don't really care **that** much. It's still Cash playing to a prison audience, and it's incredibly clear how much he loves doing it. I mean, there's a reason there's **four** albums of Cash playing to prisons. And that's another defense of live albums being here, alongside all the others I made. Most live albums are here because they capture a sound that a band just can't replicate in the studio — The Who, Thin Lizzy, Big Brother & The Holding Company, and so on. But the ones where the artist has such a rapport with the audience... They're not as common — I can't even think of any others, besides B.B. King's own prison live album — but, oh, they're so great. I mean, I'unno who else would play the same song twice in a row just because the audience wanted them to. It's stuff I kinda didn't wanna talk about here, 'coz I still needa have some things to say about AT FOLSOM PRISON whenever my group gets it, but whatever. And, I mean, between those two albums, I'd still recommend you listen to that one first. You even get way more songs than this one does (only ten songs feels like the record company being like "Eh, they like the concept so much anyway, we don't hafta put too many on there"). Still, there's no reason why I wouldn't give this thing the same 5 I'd give AT FOLSOM PRISON. Johnny Cash never sounded better than when he was playing for inmates, and that's a fact.

While less known than the other Johnny Cash prison album, this is still a killer live record. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 5. This is my first of the Johnny Cash prison albums, and by a weird sort of extension, my first proper Johnny Cash album as well – the man simply exudes charisma, and this is the concert where the famous middle finger photo comes from. Just a fucking legend, really. This is a good setlist too – I haven’t heard most of these tracks, save for I Walk The Line. This is my first time hearing A Boy Named Sue. That’s a really fun song, and honestly, I feel like it’s aged well enough into today’s standards of LGBTQ+ related issues, gender equality, and how much more personal and attached names feel. There’s some fun stuff here, namely the story about him getting arrested for picking flowers and then writing a whole song about it. I haven’t heard the Folsom album; I know it’s more acclaimed, and I can’t wait to get there now, but I just really enjoyed this. I think Johnny Cash shines in an environment like this. Even if he seems “bored” at times, like some critics have written, he’s still engaged enough to put on a damn fine show. It’s a really tight 34 minutes, and the crowd brings a great energy that Johnny perfectly plays into. I’m being generous by not bumping it down to a 4 for the San Quentin reprise, but I can always just skip over it on a future relisten. I liked it a lot, and I think it’s worth giving a 5.

As the music and arrangements are at times pretty bland, this pretty much stands or falls with Cash's persona and the listener's buying into this outlaw schtick. I for one, find it at times contrived.

The best of a good bunch - a personal favourite album from a personally influential artist. Yeee-haw

10/29 first time listening to the whole album. Yeah that’s pretty cool I think

Valioso representante del country, su música ma agrada y fué influencia innegable en el género. Fue agradable cada uno de sus temas.

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

I've never been a Country fan (I'm British, we don't do that kind of thing over here) ... but God damn, I like Johnny Cash.

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

Love it.

3.75

Not usually a fan of live albums but this was enjoyable

This is a live album that hits like many don't given the situation and Cash playing San Quentin twice on the record.

A live album?? Ugh. I really hope there’s another Johnny Cash album that I can award more stars to ‘cause I don’t have the patience to deal with a live albums…

Johnny Cash live performances always feel like the most genuine version of him. Great listen

Out of concern it would feel overlong compared with At Folsom Prison, I steeled myself for a marathon - but it's broken up with humor, moments of levity and banter, and Johnny shares the stage with some amazing talent, not least of which are June Carter Cash and Carl Perkins.

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

100% absolutely deserves to be in this list. A classic and every track brilliant.

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

Americans getting boners - live

10

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

Not a Johnny Cash fan. But it was fun to hear him on stage

Too short but otherwise a solid album.

Cash + prison live album = a proven formula

October 24, 2024 HL: “Wanted Man”, “San Quentin” (take your pick), “A Boy Named Sue”, “Darlin’ Companion” I’m not here to argue that Cash deserved 2 live prison albums on this list but

Absolutely amazing

A lot of his songs sound the same but every now and then he drops a banger. Love "San Quentin" and "A Boy named Sue" on this one.

Hope, redemption, peace in the valley, punk, kicking against the pricks. The howling of the incarcerated bookending the songs of the outsiders - but weirdly knowing Cash can walk out. When he asks for the water... And the later call to the warden. This is cold hard social history. Even if you don't like the music. It hopefully makes you realise that there is an entire world that exists but that you maybe choose to ignore.

Fantastic

Good show, cool sentiment too. Can’t hate Johnny cash either I think it’s great.

Iconic is the best word I have to describe this album. This is such an awesome performance. The songs are great, the lineup featuring the Carter Family, Carl Perkins etc is fantastic. It’s obvious that Johnny Cash has a lot of empathy for the men stuck within the walls of San Quentin, and it’s on full display during this recording. Second best prison concert after The Lone Rangers.

Amazing, St Quintein and darling companion the best songs

Fun album. Good energy. Surprisingly enjoyable for a live album too.

Excellent, not gonna save any songs but what a joy to listen to this album. Could’ve done without the San Quentin reprise, still an honest 4

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

Great

Excellent country/rock album.

fun so far hehe i walk the line cute. wanted man too. san squentin a VIOLENT song lmao and the cheers made it even more so lmaoooooo ok a boy named sue even more so LOL? cool album lol 3.5 ill give it 4 stars tho

I love Johnny Cash, but I'm a touch curious why it was this album and not At Folsom Prison. Though this has been a great listening experience. It's also great to hear his interactions with the prisoners.

Another great live album from Johnny Cash. I think I like this one just a little less than Folsom Prison, but still great. I can't quite define why this is a 4* instead of 5* but it just was for me. Absolutely not to be missed though.

Quintessential live album with all the hits.

Ordentliches Album von Johnny, das den Erfolg von Folsom wiederholt. Mit guten Performance von „I Walk The Line“ und „A Boy Named Sue“. Ordentlich zum Wiederhören aber nicht ganz die Originalität von Folsom. So hätte ich gewertet, wenn ich nicht die „Legacy Edition“ (Achtung anderer Amazon Link) gehört hätte. Diese lässt einen Eindruck in das gesamte Even zu, mit mehreren Countrystars seiner Zeit und unvergesslichen Live-Aufnahmen von z.B. „Ring of Fire“ … und diese Edition ist sensationell 😊.

Boomer prison country

this man is cool af

Almost as strong as At Folsom but why are they both on here? I'm not against 3 Johnny Cash albums on this list, especially given how many albums some other bands have. Give me one of the prison albums, something early, and then that last triumphant swan song, American IV. Just one person's opinion.

Loved the music, loved the songs, loved the comedy.

Bro chats a lot

I didn't now Cash did another live prison concert (apparently he did 3). Like the last, this was an ejoyable experience and works as a live album.

Great listen. Not as good as Folsom Prison, but still fun. His banter with the guards and inmates is very Johnny Cash.

Hey I think somebody is smuggling in music in this standup special! (Not that I cared for the music.)

Not a fan of live albums. Some great songs though

Soooo gut

Short, simple, and to the point. Not really much to critique on this one. All you can say is, Johnny Cash

Johnny cash's best live album.

I feel Johnny Cash truly didn't have a care in the world, but the way he speaks to the hearts, thoughts and feelings of anyone he meets with an empathy and connection you'll rarely have. He manages to get that whole prison all riled up and laughing with his clever antics and adept lyrics.

Bunch more crowd work than I expected. Really felt like a show as opposed to a concert.

Classic. Great voice.

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

Classic Cash

Never been a fan of country music, but there's something about Johnny Cash that just screams, "THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE". I may not seek out his music especially, but I'll never turn my nose up at it if it happens to be playing wherever I am.

Johnny Cash’s voice is something that is very special to me. I like his live albums especially. 4 star!

This was even better than the other one

Fantastic record. Possibly only eclipsed by At Folsom Prison.

Playing the same song twice in a row in a concert... I can't think of many ways that where this would be the right move, but this is one of them.

What a character. Loved it

Should be listened to as an album. Not individual tracks

This guy had great stage presence! This was fun to listen to, I enjoyed his banter between songs. The songs are classic cash, straight forward story songs with minimal instrumentation. It works well for him and I would listen to this again.

Definitely in my top 5 live albums. The original LP is nowhere near as good as the Legacy version as it’s largely truncated and cuts out most of the interactions between Cash and his captive audience. The way he is able to hold them in the palm of his hand is incredible and their reaction when he has the audacity to play San Quentin again is brilliant. Old 97 is probably the best song about a train ever. I’ve listened to some of Cash’s studio albums and they don’t capture his energy and presence anything nearly as closely as his two live prison albums. Fantastic stuff.

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

The chat was good and i liked wreck of 97 and boy named sue but other than that I didn't really enjoy it. It felt more like a historical artifact than an album i'd want to listen to on the regular. I think i'm just not really a fan of the man in black.

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

This one was more fun than the last prison album.

Who goes to prison to make a recording? Legend

Strong case for the funniest album in the list. Shame it's not actually the full thing from what I've read, would have liked to hear the complete performance.

back in prison AGAIN! JK, this is good.

Is it weird to like this more than At Folsom Prison? I don’t know how they’re ranked against each other. Anyway, I really loved this. Sort of surprisingly so. I don’t love live albums, but there’s great banter and great songs. Can’t ask for anything more.

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

Superb. I wasn't sure it was on a par with the Folsom album at first, though by the end I was absolutely vibing.

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

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

Johnny Cash is a classic. I loved the insight into his personality through the live aspect of the album. Good music but I’m not the biggest country fan.

I’ve actually never listened despite this being incredibly famous.

A legendary live album that captures the raw energy and emotional intensity of his performance at San Quentin. From the moment Cash steps on stage, the atmosphere is electric. The inmates’ reactions, ranging from enthusiastic applause to heartfelt laughter, add a unique layer of authenticity to the recording. Cash’s rapport with the audience is palpable, making the listener feel as if they are right there in the prison.

Helluva first album pick. I actually own this one on vinyl.

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

Nope

I prefer at Folsom Prison over this album but this one is solid. Especially like the interaction with the audience

A decent album.

Very easy to listen to. Funny parts. Clean sounding. Good vibe with the inmates.

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

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

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

Lovely album my first one! Excited to expand my music taste and felt that this one was very homey and refreshing

Not for me. 1/5

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

goated concert album

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

The man in black is always a good draw.

Lots of fun. Good energy. Pretty quick, lots of good songs.

Realyl good moment of history almost, fun is Jonny

All time Classic!

I’ll watch Walk The Line again one day and that’ll be enough Johnny Cash for me. Bet it was great in priz.

Albumi #50, 16.09.2024 Johnny Cashin konserttitaltiointi vuodelta 1969. Taltiointi on tehty San Quentinin vankilassa 24.2.1969. Taltioinnin äänenlaatu on kehno, mutta Cashin live-karisma pelastaa paljon. Perus country-rock-meininkiä.

No va

Absolute classic of an album. A great snapshot into an iconic performance.

This man has not one but two acclaimed live albums filmed and recorded in a prison.

I just don’t feel like one needs to hear TWO live prison albums before they die. Like I agree with one. But can we get a June Carter Cash too? Probably not gonna happen. Maybe. I like his hits tho.

This list has made me a fan of Johnny Cash. I didn't feel too strongly about him one way or another beforehand. I like how I did get his first live prison album first and then his second one in order. But man these two albums are just so entertaining. Really enjoyed this. And again, I am not a fan of country music whatsoever. But this is just good stuff.

Probably Johnny Cash at his best. This does a great job at capturing Johnny Cash as a performer. Everything about this is chosen for the audiences enjoyment. Not just songs but the banter, the jokes and the stories he tells are all well chosen for his audience. 10/10 Pure showmanship

Great voice

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

This sounds like johnny cash alright but its not my style. Too much twang and noise to filter out. Sounds proper and idk, these reviews feel forced. Hopefully they get better over time

I normally do not like live albums that much, but it is grossly unfair to lump this in with the rest of them. This album is a banger, and the live aspects only add to the enjoyment of the songs and their impact. Johnny Cash is great as per usual, and he manages to have the crowd hooked from the jump. Every song is more or less perfect, but I particularly like Wanted Man and San Quentin. The album has the same song twice, more or less, but somehow still does not overstay its welcome, or lose its energy at any point. The inmates' participation is a fun bonus to the tracks too: booing the guard and the warden, cheering during San Quentin etc, it creates such a strong atmosphere. Johnny Cash rocks, album rocks, glad he managed to get his glass of water from the guard.

I usually am not a fan of live albums, but man this was great. Honestly, I can only see myself coming back to Boy Named Sue on here, hence the 4. However, this album was damn near faultless, especially for a live album. Looking forward to Live @ Folsom coming up.

This is the kind of thing I want out of a live album. I am glad to have been given two similar albums previously which can be compared to this. Because they both struggled to accomplish what the prison albums from Johnny Cash achieved. Tom Waits' simulated live diner experience was just that. A faux live performance where Waits spent too much time doing shtick without enough actual music. Bob Dylan's Royal Albert Hall album was almost the opposite. Sticking to just the music and minimizing or in some instances censoring the live audience for a live album. When you present this without these parts of the experience, while also being a bootleg album with much poorer sound quality than the studio versions of these songs it feels almost redundant. Today's album on the other hand skips most of these shortcomings at least. Compared to his album from Folsom this is definitely more of a fun, showman style. They emphasize his banter and jokes a lot more and seem to have recorded the live audience a lot better. And you can tell this was a riot for them. The way they pop off in celebration whenever Johnny makes a gag at the expense of the prison or at the system itself. With some bits in there about the recidivism and the prisons failure to reform those it contained. While I like a lot of the more somber songs he uses in the second half of his Folsom album. I can see why they pretty much ditched that for most of this. As not only did this selection of tracks create a more lively atmosphere but this album was also being recorded for a UK broadcast, with them trying to dictate what he should play. He would later in the set famously flip off the crew for this and for getting in the way of the crowd. That being said. I wish the standard version of this album had more to it. It's about 15 minutes shorter than Live at Folsom, contains a lot more banter and one of the songs is a reprise of what was performed just before it. I'm not sure who made this decision but it almost makes the fun feel like it's over before it even begins. I still think the songs chosen and the energy of the live crowd carry this. But I reckon Live at Folsom has a better balance of performance and crowd interaction while also having a bigger and better variety of songs. Highlights A Boy Named Sue, I Walk the Line, San Quentin (Both Performances), Peace in the Valley.

It's nice to have a live album where the audience isn't scrubbed out of the audio. It certainly wouldn't be appropriate to remove it on this album anyway because Cash asks the prisoners 2 songs in what they want to hear next. The prisoners are almost a 2nd or 3rd vocal performance in each track, they're so rowdy. Cash also tuning his guitar mid set and riffing for like 3 minutes at the end of Darlin Companion was pretty fun. "I'm sorry I couldn't hear you, I was talkin" - bars. Cash is truly one of a kind. Immaculate vocals, guitar, bass. Lyrics are always very authentic. PSA - watch the video component of this. The prisoners go crazy when Cash plays San Quentin . Everything in this album is great but the standouts for me were; Wanted Man, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, Folsom Prison Blues

i'm sure i don't have to talk in length about johnny cash, there's probably already at least 5 other reviews up fellating the man. the only reason this isn't a 5 is that even though it's a good album, i still prefer studio recordings. if i want to see a performer live i'll see them live, and living that incredibly unique experience vicariously just seems shallow to me, no matter how good the recordings or the performance may be.

I’ve listened to both the deluxe and standard versions of this album. What a phenomenal set. My favourite part of this album is where he sings a song shit talking San Quentin and the crowd goes nuts and demands he sing it again. Johnny Cash possibly one of the best to ever do it. The crowd work is insanely good both from Johnny and from the other musicians involved in this set. Special mention to June Carter riling the inmates up.

Fuck he's so cool. Everyone's already talked about the highlights in chat so, but yeah full of great moments 8/10 Fav tracks - Wanted man, I Walk the Line, Starville City Jail, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, Folsom Prison Blues Least Fav - None

Fucking loved it, Johnny Cash is all time GOAT and this is one of his most well known performances. You can hear him having funny with it and the crowd isn't over bearing in the songs, and you can tell they loving listening. Boy name Sue is a highlight and definitely the one I knew going in to the album. Love that he got his wife up there even if I wasn't sold on her performance as much, but she ain't no yoko ono. Overall this was a fun time and a GREAT palate cleanser after all the fucking british shit we've gotten over the past week. 4/5.

This album is a 5 and it's no question. I'll admit personal bias because my father and I bonded a lot over Johnny Cash and other country artists, I won't ever be able to hear Cash's music without thinking about Old Tetris Joe. This album is electric, the audience itself basically acts as an instrument on here. This is exactly what a live album should be, the music is fantastic, the banter between song is top. I really can't put into words how much I love this album.

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

Way too much talking, but not my cup of tea in general

Not a big fan of Johnny, but this gig is at least fun

Didn't really know what to expect - so stripped back, charming, charismatic and humorous. Really just enjoyed it but maybe not in the usual music listening experience sort of way - felt as though it lay in-between a concert, comedy show and TV programme. 3.8

Comenzamos la semana con otro vivo de Johnny Cash. Siempre me llamaron la atención sus ganas de compartir su música en ambientes hostiles, entendiendo la cultura como un derecho humano. Por un lado, el disco muestra la música potente, pasional de Johnny Cash, en un recital en vivo, más crudo. Por el otro, su complicidad con el público mientras afina, cuando les hace comentarios graciosos, todo muy natural. Es re loco como el tipo les canta sobre la libertad, sobre sentirse abandonados por el sistema y los chabones conectan al instante. Todo muy bien.

Thousands were there, but only one of them started a band.

This is great - you really get the feeling that you’re there experiencing the show - Johnny Cash was so good at connecting with the crowd

This was a good one - funny

Loved it

I still don’t like live albums but I love Johnny Cash

story makes it cooler

Enjoyed some Johnny Cash

Boy Named Sue is one of the best story songs! Love Johnny and this album

Absolutely superb. Those that think the only amazing live show Johnny ever out on record was Folsom Prison(including me) are mistaken-San Quentin is amazing as well

Almost nothing beats Johnny Cash live, he just has SO much rizz it’s insane.

nothing like a comedy skit combined with an album

Unique Johnny Cash vibe here. If I’m not mistaken he was heavily on drugs in this period so that sort of explains a little bit of the goings on in this album. Really good stuff, A Boy Named Sue is an all time performance for him

A classic. Interesting to hear Cash interact with his audience

Travelling from the ranch with my fellow gunslingers to the state prison to listen to some beautiful tunes late into the night

3.5 a classic if a little contrived.

This is a classic it only gets 4 as it’s a live album and it’s sometimes a bit off the mark

Got some classics here; Walk The Line, Boy Named Sue, and Folsom Prison Blues sound about the same live as the studio versions. $36 for picking flowers in the middle of the night was likely a D&D pickup (all depends on how you look at it.) singing for a prison is going to get you on the 1001 list , this dated disc comes in at (2.2*s)

Johnny Cash has a few decent songs but I'm generally not a big fan and this album was no game-changer. I didn't like how the "explicit" words were so blatantly (and poorly) bleeped on this set but I did sorta dig the prison crowd sounds and Cash's banter. You got a good feel for the vibe but it sounds pretty dated and I don't need to revisit it.

I'm not one for old cowboy music but some simple story telling and banter make this an entertaining show, especially if you are stuck and prison and don't got much to do. Cash brings the attitude and probably pissed off the warden a bit. Interesting idea to do a prison tour...guess Cash had a soft spot having served time himself. Glad this was a shortie...1.7.

Years ago in the wake of Walk The Line I thought I might be a Cash fan. Then I listened to more than 3 songs and realized that I'm just not into it. Johnny Cash may be on the Mount Rushmore of overrated acts for me. I have coworkers and colleagues who constantly gush about how great he is yet they can never name more than 1-2 songs they like (Burning Ring of Fire is OK I guess?). I'd pass on the vast majority of his early work, and I can't stand his late covers of Hurt and Personal Jesus that people won't shut the fuck up about. While a scathing review is probably expected, At San Quentin is an OK album. You get a decent sense of his persona and performance charisma while the prison crowd is on the ride. It's a short enough example of a handful of his popular hits and some interludes that don't overstay their welcome. I imagine the prison concerts were iconic and important in their time so I give him credit for doing something different. It's not something I'll come back to and don't need to slam either. It has it's place and I wouldn't fault someone if they throw this on in the background. 1.7 stars

More of a cultural artifact than a stunning musical performance.

Deuxième album de Johnny Cash d’affilée après le live à Folsom et encore un très bon album avec une ambiance encore plus électrique dans l’assistance Peut-être une fin un peu abrupte par rapport au live à Folsom, la dernière chanson se termine et fin du disque sans écouter un peu l’ambiance dans la salle, dommage ; peut-être que la Legacy Edition contient tout le concert, il faudra que je l’écoute. Mais écouter Johnny Cash jurer et chanter deux fois de suite un chant contre la prison qui l’accueille est hilarant

A slog, but I knew that going in. I'm glad he existed to inspire future musicians, but I don't volunteer to listen to him if I can help it.

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

I would have given a 5 if there was a little bit more music on here JC what a legend

God damn Johnny Cash is funny

What an incredible piece of music history. Raw, real, intense and intimate. You can feel the tense atmosphere. I enjoyed every second of it.

A pretty good live recording, but a live from prison album is something not enough artists do nowadays...

Genious album by Johnny Cash!

Interesting to listen once probably not a repeat

There’s a moment where Cash expertly works the crowd, criticising the TV producers for asking him to ‘play this song and that song’. He says he’ll play what the hell he likes, in service of the inmates, himself. ‘What do you want to hear?’ He asks. ‘Walk the line? Ok then’. Bam! The crowd go wild. You can feel the electricity in the recording 60 odd years later. It’s because he is one of them, a peer. He’s the real deal and they know it. The longer, legacy version of this concert, features some Carl Perkins (don’t step on my blue suede shoes) songs and a short set from the Carter Family (June appears also with Cash in the main set). This is well worth a listen as you can feel the energy rising during these support sets.

Absolutely riveting, but there's too few tracks on the original release which also seems to suffer from what majority of live recordings from the era suffer from - cutting and rearranging in the live performances to fit the album format at the cost of a natural concert-like feeling.

Imagine being allowed to sing the lyrics of “San Quentin” in front of the actual inmates. Then imagine doing it twice. Cash delivered the performance of a lifetime, but unfortunately the people putting together the format of the physical release didn’t.

I guess I was enjoying it more than the Folsom Prison album. But it was only about 34 minutes, he spent a lot of time taking, and played the same song twice in a row. So how much did I enjoy? Like 10 minutes? Also, did Johnny Cash not know how to tune a guitar?

Love it, but Folsom is still the superior prison live album

Legend

Pretty different sound than Folsom Prison but I'm not able to put my finger on why. I think I like Folsom Prison more but maybe I've just heard it often enough that that's the reason. I like the banter on this one better though, like when he's like "what kinda booze you guys got in those cups??? Oh, tea."

This album is on par with his At Folsom Prison album. If you haven’t heard that one or this one, it’s definitely worth checking out at least one of them. Johnny Cash would have been incredible to see live back in the day. He had a real talent for connecting with the crowd, whether through the storytelling in his songs or when he spoke to the audience between tracks. He definitely carried a strong stage presence with him.

Amazing

Folsom prison is better and this was all too brief, shame although what is there is excellent 4*

Kyllä Folsom on kokonaisuutena kovempi setti, mutta neljä tähteä tällekin.

Pretty great, but honestly not as good as Folsom. I of course listened to the 34 minute original, but the bleeped swears are annoying.

He’s the best

might be the coldest white boy to ever live

Questo è il secondo album di Johnny Cash che mi esce in cui canta live da un prigione. La domanda sorge spontanea: era davvero necessario? Cosa ha questo album di diverso da “At Folsom Prison” che lo rende meritevole di essere qui? Lo trovo ridondante. Detto questo, per quanto io sia acido, è proprio bello. Poi è carino che vada a cantare e chiacchierare coi carcerati, l’atmosfera è amichevole, rilassata, dolce. Poi è sempre bello quando canta con June

letteralmente un comedy show con delle canzoni in mezzo. leggero e irriverente e significativo allo stesso tempo. johnny sei il mio numero uno per sempre.

Its mid 5/10

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

Pretty great.

Good for the grill party

legend

The energy in this is absolutely electric. I've not heard much Johnny cash but you can tell that he and everyone involved is having the time of their lives. This was a great experience, even though the music isn't my thing. 4/5

An absolute classic! Johnny Cash was a hell of a guy. Blurring lines between country and rock, not taking orders from anyone, and just doing what he was going to do. One of the first Outlaws of country, and a fucking national icon. Favourite songs: A Boy Named Sue, Wreck of the Old 97, I Walk the Line, (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley, Wanted Man, Darlin' Companion Least favourite songs: Starkville City Jail 5/5

Nice, but I think you should've been there