There is only one better live album ever recorded than this one and it was CASH's SAN QUENTUIN album, which was the 1969 follow up to this grand masterpiece. Both of the CASH acclaimed "prison albums" are triumphs in the sense of any kind of genre of music. Loud, fast, and passionate, heartfelt, warm like a glove and cold like a beast. These albums kick MAJOR ACE. Johnny Cash made those prisoners feel like they were human beings, he related to them, and gave them the best perfomances of his career.
This album features a fistful of classic recordings such as (one of my all time faves) COCAINE BLUES, a song which was actually written by a Folsom inmate and delivered to Cash shortly before this performance. Cash loved the song and immediatley put it to music with the help of his TENNESSEE THREE. LONG BLACK VEIL is a bone chilling song about true love that will follow you to the grave, ooooh, shivers. BUSTED, one of those short but sweet songs about tough living madness. The set also includes a few numbers with his newly married wife JUNE CARTER including the famous rendition of JACKSON. Also included is the best performance of his classic song FOLSOM PRISON BLUES. This album is timeless, get up, get mad, get down, this album rules the ROOST kids.

P.S.. that kid ZAKK, you F'in moron. This album is totally ROCK! To its rawest core. Don't talk about stuff you don't know. You shouldn't be able to go by the name Zakk Wylde if you are going to abuse it. Thank You.

One thing that you had to admire about Cash was that he never forgot his roots. He knew inside that he had his trouble making days and that he was misunderstood like most of the prisoners at Folsom. Certainly that was why many of the residents of Folsom wrote Cash letters saying how his music made them feel free and at peace. The prisoners felt they had a friend whenever they would listen to a Cash record or hear him on the radio. Cash then did something that was unthinkable back then (probably would be unthinkable today even): He took his guitar, his backing band, and June with him to Folsom to cut "At Folsom Prison," likely the album that sent him from great country artist to legendary.

CBS was dead set on cutting this album, and they let Cash know this. However, Cash couldn't lie to himself that these prisoners had more in common with him than most people; they could relate to each other in a way Cash couldn't with many others. That was why he gladly accepted the offer to perform there when he received the request. Many recounts of the event let us know that Cash thought this as his most receptive and involved audience in his performing history, and one listen to the album lets you know that there is truth to what Cash says.

The album is typical of Cash: deep baratone vocals, followed by his guitar strumming, and his usual bantar with June and the backup band. What makes this album different, though, is the spirit. The prisoners are involved, clapping and stomping along, singing to the songs like arena rock lovers in the 70's-80's did. You sense that for the short time that Cash performed, these prisoners felt bliss and enjoyment. You almost forget when listening to this album that these ARE prisoners; these men broke the law and some were in fact dangerous. The album shines on a realization: prisoners are human beings; they have interest in music, especially music that speaks to them, like Cash did. I enjoyed the interaction Cash made with the men, and you can tell they did as well. For the short time this concert lasted, you could see that these men might have had good intentions inside, and needed someone like Johnny Cash to bring them out.

The album is raw and real. The sound effects and the performing actually took place at the prison. There wasn't editing done or special effects to make it sound like it took place at the prison when it really took place at CBS studios. The singing, performing, interaction, everything was 100% pure. And it all went without a hitch; Cash performed, and they loved it.

If you are huge Johnny Cash fan, you probably already have this album. If you aren't, I highly recommend adding this album to your collection, as it is one of the most renowned albums in history. In all likelihood, the best live album in the country music genre, if not the best live album in ALL music genres.

Your review was terribly biased. You not only gave a negative response about this album but you attacked the character of Mr. Cash. I'm not a country music fan by any means, which is why the music of Mr. Cash appeals to me. He did not just appeal to country folk or sing only country hick songs. His melodies had a message about the good and the bad that lies in every man and he sang about their addictions not just to substances but to behaviors. To set you straight, he never was in prison, although he spent short times in jail cells for unruly behavior. He only visited prison to perform on a concert level for the prisoners to give them hope, compassion, understanding and to uplift them from their oppression whether they deserved it or not. He arose from poverty and mingled with some of the greats - Elvis, Jerry Lee, Bob Dylan, and so many more - all of whom contributed to music in an eclectic collection of material.
Not only were his lyrics revolutionary, but his music was tuneful and melodic - certainly more fit to bear the title of 'music' than the likes of many of todays screaming, shrieking noisemakers that want to be known as artists and musicians.