Reviews (page 5 of 13)
If I was at San Quentin hearing Johnny Cash perform San Quentin for the first time ever I would've rioted I would've killed a guard right then and there
You can't go wrong with Johnny Cash. He's the only country music act I actually enjoy listening to at this point. The live environment of the prison and the included interactions are both funny and electric. I did like the Folsom Prison one more (this one felt a bit too short and sweet), but this one is still good regardless.
Maybe it's just because the Folsom album got to me first but I slightly prefer that one to this, but that's not to say this is by any means a weak album. San Quentin twice was a delight. Hearing the crowd reactions is a large part of what make these albums so successful.
He's an entertainer, at home in front of the crowd, even if it's a rough one.
some real outlaw shit i perfer his sadder more melancholic stuff but this cool. really different vibe from american IV
Still great but I think Folsom did it better.
I love Johnny Cash. I Walk The Line...a hit with audiences, both incarcerated and otherwise. There's something about him that just fits in these recordings. A Boy Named Sue, the greatest song ever written by Shel Silverstein. (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley is amazing. It's not as good as the show at Folsom, but it's good.
Fun. Not all the songs are great, but this was good.
what a joy this was
Enjoyable live album with loads of personality, showmanship and humor. Some fine renditions of famous Johnny Cash songs with loads of charming audience interaction and funny banter. A prison as a live setting works strangely well for a live album, and while the song choices are clearly coloured by the setting, I feel like it adds to the charm. Johnny Cash is entertaining as ever, even when the songs sometimes are a bit unremarkable. Fun and easy listen. 4/5
Good
Cash has a real relationship with audience. Good live
You can feel the connection between artist and audience. And considering the audience, it’s incredible. Plus, it’s maybe the perfect rendition of A Boy Named Sue.
Live albums are always gonna be tough for me, but the fact that this one is censored certainly does not help
I liked how he honoured his friend in the set. He gave the prisoners a journey throughout the whole performance too, every song had substance or a story behind it and he led the audience to that notion
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t really see the point in live albums vs a studio recording as I find the sound is always worse and the experience just doesn’t translate to the listener at home. Now, that being said, I really enjoyed this. The novel idea that he was performing to a group of prison inmates and the simple, pared back sound that he has as an artist really helped to keep the songs clear and engaging. His asides to the audience were funny and well received…another fun album.
The fact that he was 25 is mind blowing. Short and sweet.
Loved Starkville city jail and how Johnny used humor to lighten the crowd with his songs. This album is powerful. I just love when people use their gifts to amplify issues—-in this case, prison reform. You can hear how much this probably means to the prisoners. I got a lot of respect for Johnny Cash. A boy named Sue is so fun.
Great live record - excellent recording, awesome banter from Johnny, good vibe all round. Favourite tracks: I Walk The Line, Darlin' Companion, San Quentin (both versions!), A Boy Named Sue.
Easily one of the prettiest male voices I’ll hear in my god-damned life. The energy and tension of this recording sounds like there are lit firecrackers all over the room waiting to go off. Boy Named Sue is kind of a weird listen nowadays, but his prison songs cut as deep now as they did in 69.
Classic.
Classic but short and one song is done twice for the crowd.
Enjoyed his crowd work and storytelling. His music definitely isn’t something I would seek out but I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy listening to this live album while cleaning the bathroom. Best songs in my opinion are the first and the song about Susie as a man also the one about being arrested.
Good
Awesome...great entertainer
Country isn't really my favorite genre, but this album was quite great to listen to. I really enjoyed the songs here.
I kinda like it because I liked the background music and the lyrics quite a bit but I couldn't really connect with it.
very good listen. charming bloke he was
GOATed live environment
While the songs are musically pretty simple, Johnny Cash's lyrics tell stories in a straight to the point yet powerful way, and the crowd noise from the prison he's performing in gives these songs real character. Favourites: I Walk the Line, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue
Boy named sue was superbly done. Fantastic live album from the man in black. Plenty of soul and rhythm and his life speaks through the music so beautifully
A triumphant live performance, I mean the applause from the audience really tells you everything. ‘Walk the Line’ was brilliant. Cash’s storytelling and humour on the providence of the ‘Starkville City Jail’ song was awe-inspiring. Cash’s performance of ‘San Quentin’ was truly a special moment; his raw, unfiltered lyrics on the flaws of prison institutions truly resonated with the prison crowd, so much so that with all the applause, he decided to perform it a second time. But, leaving everything else behind, ‘A Boy Named Sue’ was absolutely iconic, I’ve been listening to this song for a long while before finally getting the chance to listen to this album fully but it reached its full resonance with hearing it in this live album context. Folsom Prison Blues was a bit short-lived and could’ve been longer but it was definitely the right song to end with. Speaking on the topic of Folsom Prison Blues, I don’t think Live at San Quentin is as good as the Live at Folsom Prison Album. It’s not as lively and invigorating but that doesn’t take away from its worth, I think both are different and San Quentin gives a slower, possibly more-considered approach whilst retaining Johnny Cash’s penchant for charismatic storytelling and use of humour. Overall, I’d recommend this for anyone who likes Johnny Cash or even anyone who’s not familiar with this work. It’s a great album.
I like it for some reason ?
Loved the vibes. Very good
Really cool album listening experience. The history behind it is fascinating and hearing Johnny Cash speak is awesome
Great album - fantastic talent and historic gig
King
This was better because of the interaction with the crowd. Not as many of my favorite Cash songs, but still a good album
I'd probably say that my respect for Johnny Cash as an artist probably greatly outpaces my pure enjoyment of his music, generally speaking, but some great moments here. I think this one (like Folsom) is a lot more interesting because of the live interactions and the whole surrounding context of the record. A Boy Named Sue is great and was recorded live here for the first time, and I like the duets with June as well. As far as the music goes, there really isn't as much of variety from the backing band here as I would like, but a pretty ripping quick version of Folsom Prison to close things out. I like this as a live album that actually feels live, with the crowd, a few mess-ups, and spontaneous off the cuff moments.
Cash is great as always here. The live aspect of his jail house albums adds charm in my opinion.
Country, rock and roll.
Another good prison album
Another very entertaining music-comedy-slice of Americana album from Cash. This one is the live version of "Boy Named Sue" and the picture of him flippin the bird at the camera crew for blocking the inmate's view.
super
I loved his banter with the audience! Can you imagine this in a 2026 prison? Very enjoyable. I added “San Quentin, Reprise” to my playlist. 4/5.
Johnny Cash Rules. More live albums at prisons please.
excellent album. really liked the "wreck of the ol 97","San Quentin", and "Starkville City Jail". a tidbit i found interesting: the song "San Quentin", when he played it, the audience was so emotionally charged that they almost rioted. the album's producer had to lower the audience's shouting and vitriol that he had to replace it with a "generic crowd".
Johnny Cash always have crazy set lists, and his greatest hits are all over the place, so in a way it's kinda cool because the more you listen to him, the more songs you hear, and it's very few that repeat across greatest hits or live sets. I'm listened to a lot of Johnny Cash and STILL half these songs I never heard before! I'm glad they didn't cut between songs and you can hear all the back and forth with the crowd. Makes you feel like you are there.
Awesome alblum. All songs are Kick butt. The Statler Brothers appearnce was a big bonus as was the performance of Jackson. Loved it
Nothing beats Johnny Cash live.
I really do love Johnny cash. This is the live joint he put out after Folsom Prison, which obviously is a classic in every sense of the word. This is shorter, and less storied, but still incredibly enjoyable. Classics such as “I Walk The Line,” “Wreck of the Old 97” “A Boy Named Sue,” and obviously “Folsom Prison Blues” are littered throughout the album, and it kind of has a similar vibe to “At Folsom Prison,” but like… less. Still has a June duet, still has a song about the prison, still has all the charm. I don’t love the fact that he plays “San Quentin” twice, but I think that it’s an incredible song, that really gets at a lot of problems with the prison system, even if it’s a bit inadvertent. The big problem is also that the rendition of Folsom prison blues, at least on this version, is like 2 seconds long. Which is very annoying. Also there’s only so much fake outlaw stuff you can take. I dunno. Still very great, but the B-side could be much better. 8.2/10
lowkey a banger
I didn't spot this was the legacy edition at first so I listened to the regular version initially and couldn't see why it would have been included in the 1001 - songs are samey, a lot of talking for a short run time. The I checked the right version and baulked at the running time! But it's so much better. I'm not sure it's something I'd listen to often but it certainly won't me over. The short version would have got a 2 at best.
Even if one is not a huge Johnny Cash fan (and I'm just a mild one), you can absolutely feel the enormous atmosphere. The vibe is absolutely what makes this record. The crowd and Johnny's interaction with them is fantastic. 4.3/5.
I really liked this. I don’t usually like live albums, but this was fun. I liked the talking in between the songs. It had Walk the Line and A Boy Named Sue on it. I like both of those.
I'm torn. This is great, but I don't understand why this list needs two live albums recorded in prisons by Johnny Cash. There are so many brilliant artists - particularly women - who don't even get one album on the list, that this is just wrong.
I like the activism aspect of this. I think the music is a bit monotonic but I guess that's just the style of JC
The version I found was live, this guy is very charismatic. Quite enjoyed it even though it's not my go to music!
I really enjoyed listening to this. It was fascinating to hear this snapshot in time. That said, I probably wouldn’t choose to sit and put this on.
Legend of country music. The live performances at prisons helped review his career and not many could pull that off.
I love Johnny Cash and he will forever be one of my favorite artists. This is a good live album, but pales compared to Live at Folsom Prison. Still a top tier live performance and an album I own on vinyl.
Klarer ikke helt sette fingeren på hvorfor i lika den her mindre en at Folsom. Føler bare det mangler noe her. Sterk 4er
These albums give such a good insight to how unique of a person Cash was. The energy of course is infectious as hell. It will always be a little less than Folsom Prision but great neverless.
Este es un álbum de suma importancia por su historia y contexto. Admiro a Johnny Cash, principalmente por su relevancia; mas toparme con un álbum de hora y cuarenta es mucho. Quien no esté comprometido, verá a aquél más como un estorbo que como un disfrute. Para mi suerte, ésta ha sido agradable experiencia, pues gusto del rock n' roll y el country, y el sonido crudo de la grabación; y, aunque hubiese preferido ver un vídeo que me diera mejor referencia del entorno carcelario, sólo tengo palabras de elogio para Cash y su familia. No soy objetivo, lo sé, pero me es imposible no referirme con halagos a quien ha hecho un álbum en vivo como At San Quentin. No es, en definitiva, un disco para el melómano, para el que quiere endulzarse con melodías complejas y letras inteligentes -aquí soy inexacto, porque las letras de Cash son profundas; me refiero a que no es una obra magna de estudio, con concepto rebuscado y sonido igual; en cambio, es una presentación honesta y sencilla-, sinó para el que ve en el acto volitivo de Cash una muestra incomparable de valentía. Por cierto, la voz de June Carter es lindísima. Y la portada del álbum, espectacular. Si hay alguna canción que merece unas palabras, ésta es Folsom Prison Blues: brutal, directa, poética y hasta gangsta. ¿Otra? I Don't Know Where I'm Bound. Una más: Restless. Ambas con una comprensión clara de la psicología, o algo así, me es difícil explicarlo; tocan temas serios, y salen victoriosas. Para finalizar, hay algo mágico en la historia de A Boy Named Sue, y también muy íntimo, cercano. ¿Finalizar? Peace in the Valley no se puede dejar de lado, por su mensaje; y los acordes de Less of Me me dieron tal alegría... Lo poco que me disgustó fue el conjunto de mensajes religiosos; pero qué más da.
I enjoyed this, Cash is a master of crowd work, a lot of modern artists could learn from his charisma in front of an audience. The series of prison concerts is such out-there idea, I can't imagine anyone else being able to pull this off The actual music is fine, Walk The Line and Boy Named Sue are 2 of his best hits. I am not sure I can give 5* to this because it's only 34 minutes and it feels like half of it is talking. Also one of the tracks is repeated, so the amount of 'music content' is a little light. But still as a thing to listen to, it's cool
One of my favorite Johnny Cash albums. Funny and full of bangers. A classic that I'll always remember.
The production on this is truly terrible. But old school Johnny Cash, the feeling of it, well, it still gets a 4. Boolean: yes. Glad to hear it.
A great live performance. A little too short for me to give it 5 stars.
Старина прокачал зеков по полной
Loved this. Cash at his simple best.
Not my favourite set of Cash's songs, but it's an incredible performance that makes sure you stay along for the ride. Almost as though he was one of the inmates. A slightly generous 4*
Johnny Cash live albums are a good time, I can’t deny it
I felt like I was one of the boys.
4.25 hard to top Johnny Cash Live
Although a lot of his songs sound pretty similar, there's something about Johnny Cash's presence that's magnetic. And there is an intangible energy that the prison setting lifts the overall vibe. Very powerful.
I can appreciate what a talent Johnny Cash is, but I don’t think this album or genre is really for me. I’m still really glad I gave it a listen. I think my favorite part about Johnny Cash’s music is that he effortlessly identifies with “regular” people. A lot of popular songs these days are much more generic or don’t really resonate (I love rap and I don’t do drugs or have fancy cars, etc.). It might just be what I listen to regularly, but I also don’t hear a lot of music that tells stories the way Cash’s songs do. 4/5.
Fantastic! I've listened to Live at Folsom a million times and have no explanation as to why I've never listened to this album.
Prison shows are sick
the lesser of the two prison albums, but the man certainly had the motherfuckin juice
Good stuff here. Not quite as good as him at Folsom Prison, but I enjoyed it.
It’s great
Fun album to listen to. Also the interaction with the prisoners and guards :D
Фолк это интересненько и формат концерта необычный
Johnny Cash is so cool
Cashin livelevyt ovat olleet huippuluokkaa!
dang they give prisoners concerts in the 60s?
I'm not familiar with this but do know and own _At Folsom Prison_, which I prefer, but that doesn't make this bad. The inclusion of new song _San Quentin_ is a highlight, even performed twice at audience request. I enjoy live albums that are situational rather than pieced together and Cash is clearly comfortable and excels in these environments. His humour between the songs is as important as the songs themselves and the crowd lap it up both responding to and interacting with each other is what makes these special.
The sound of respect
This is a stand up set with music as a nice side, Johnny Cash is a beast
album 5: An every man, making honest music for everyone. I went into this thinking that I wouldn't relate to Cash's music or world. But he really is just that down to earth, that good of a story teller and that good of a performer. The fact that this is a live performance makes it even more moving. An emotional journey, one that Cash somehow keeps light and engaging. A country album that never feels one note and explores its tool box thoroughly. favorite tracks: "Darlin' Companion" (Great June Cash Feature) , "Starville city Jail", "A boy named Sue" (fantastic story telling), "San Quentin" (just listen)
8/10. It feels raw, real, and even more rebellious. it. Cash sounds completely in control, owning the moment.
Based Cash, reminds me of the only few good times I had with my gramps— and I hated that chain smoking, binge drinking bastard. Sure the audio here ain’t great, and maybe the live performance isn’t the best, but you don’t tune into this one for either of those things. Closer to a 5 for me.
7.5/10
4/5. This is my second Cash album, my first being the live album at Folsom Prison. It's very much like the other. Cash is an iconic country/folk/blues musician, and he performs all his songs well. He works the crowd great too, just as in Folsom. You really get the live experience here. The heckling, the cheering, the personal anecdotes — there's even a reprisal of a song that the audience loved so much that they requested it once more right after it finished. Song selection is classic Cash. "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues," "A Boy Named Sue," alongside a number of other good songs, well-known and seldom played (most interesting is a cover of a Bob Dylan song, "Wanted Man." The Wikipedia article explains that Cash and band learned the song less than a week prior. I want to disabuse any non-musicians that this is impressive or unusual for Cash — the man had this style down pat, so the worst he had to do was commit the chords and lyrics to memory, rehearse once or twice, and he likely had it done. A cumulative 60 minute investment, at most). It's a good album, all the better for its short and sweet length. Folsom's live album is a good 12 minutes longer, which makes a big positive difference when many songs share the same DNA. A great listen.
fantastic music, surprisingly hilarious crowd work
feels like i was at his concert fr
it was ok!
A live album that bares all: Johnny's spirit, oeuvre, attitude, and his incredible singing voice. The double "San Quentin" run is the highlight for me.
Johnny Cash in a prison. Badass.
Приємна музика, 3,5
Hello. He's Johnny Cash.
Not the best way to listen to johnny cash or even johnny cash in prison but it’s good and funny
San Quintin sucks i guess
I should listen to some random album he did that sucks because so far it’s just bangers. I do think having back to back the same okay song is pretty fucking dumb lol
You can tell by his voice that he had a big peen
7/10… country / wild west / *1969
8/10
Fantastic, slightly inferior to Folsom Prison
#324/1001. Feels like I already treated it. Oh, it was Folsom's. Would it have been heresy to include a double album of both gigs? Now waiting for På Österåker.
Pretty good, cash is a classic
Que personajazo el johnny cash loco. Un disco grabado en una prision. Una hermosura. Los comentarios que se escuchan de los presos, los chistazos que se tira. Una alegría esto. Muy bonito. Guardado.
7/10
Day 6 I don’t listen to live records often enough, so At San Quentin by Johnny Cash has been on my list for a long time. I like Johnny Cash, but I wasn’t sure what to expect going in. It’s just fun. Cash is charming as hell and genuinely funny. I actually laughed out loud a few times, which I don’t think has ever happened to me while listening to music. The whole thing feels alive in a way studio albums sometimes don’t. I’d probably say 3.5, but I’ll round it up to 4 because Cash is just that charming. Wine pairing? Honestly, skip the wine. This calls for a whiskey. Something classic like a bourbon or Tennessee whiskey fits perfectly with the vibe. Food pairing? Icelandic lamb soup feels spot on. Vinyl? Yeah, I’d want this on vinyl. Overall 4 out of 5.
such a cool moment in history
This is very fun, I wouldve loved to be at this performance, it's how live performances should be. Lots of filler, but I liked the songs. nothing insane. If you dont like the music you can listen to the comedy show
Great vibe, live performance adds to the feeling.
Really enjoyed the interaction with the audience and guards. Not a big fan of country - music was fine - but the way this album captured a moment in history is very cool
the hobbit ch 6
Haven’t listened to this in a long time- but this reminds me of Dad! I love this more as a historical artifact, I love the crowd interactions and the bit where Johnny jokes about the tin cup of water. This also has some great classic songs on here- but I did find the song selection a bit depressing/low energy. Maybe that makes sense in the setting though.
clásico yankee, nice 👍🏽
Top stuff
Like my dad always said, “he can’t really sing, but he sure does have charisma!”
A little old
Such a fun live album. Cash’s charisma and wit screams through onto the record and the atmosphere sounds electric. The performance is charming, energetic and upbeat, all the ingredients needed for Cash at his best.
Listened in the car. While I did enjoy this album quite a bit, there's only so much Johnny Cash I can handle at a time.
Classic live album...
Besondere Atmosphäre
Really enjoyable album which isn't as good as "From Folsom Prison" in my opinion, that's why it only got 4 stars. Still a great album, if a little short
Great live album. Lots of classics.
Delightful Cash album. I really enjoyed the back and forth with the audience as well as the music.
Powerful album. Him being in the prison is and talking to the prisoners is powerful stuff.
Super!
An awesome look into who Johnny Cash was as a person. A completely enthralling listen and if the tunes weren’t so dated today would be a 5.
Love the rawness. Some of the music is a little boring though for me personally. What saves it is his authenticity. 3.5🌟
Really enjoyed it. Like with At Folsom Prison, I really loved the energy and his interactions with the crowd. There's a bit where he stumbles over one of the lines because he's caught off guard by the response to the previous line - I think it's a great moment. Also just really like his voice and would like the songs on their own, but the energy of the crowd improves the experience. Fav song: San Quentin Least fav: Wreck of the Old 97
Pretty iconic with some good tunes in there. Like his crowd work. Better than Folsom prison where there is announcements halfway through. Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song - a boy named sue Least fav - San Quentin (reprise)
I read the director, Michael Darlow's, account of filming the documentary- said he traded front row seats to the prisons six biggest gang leaders in return for their guarantee that none of the film crew would be attacked. I love that San Quentin is on it twice- Darlow says Cash wanted to make sure there was a clear recording of it, both for the film and for the album, but I chose to believe the reaction was just so good that he had to play it again immediately. Favourite song: San Quentin (reprise) Least: Wreck of the Old '97
We hebben al eerder een ander live-album gekregen van Johnny Cash en daar refereerde ik al aan dit album. Want dit album is iconisch. Het zijn stuk voor stuk bekende tracks. Maar dan wel met vrij veel geouwehoer tussendoor, waardoor het aandeel muziek op dit schijfje misschien een beetje karig is. Al komt in dit geval de wisselwerking van Johnny Cash met zijn publiek wel perfect tot uiting, wat voor een groot deel ook weer de charme is. Ik zou bijna willen zeggen dat het te snel voorbij is. Al is het als album an sich eigenlijk niet zo goed, door dat vele geouwehoer en 2x achter elkaar hetzelfde nummer, toch ga ik dit 4 sterren geven.
A rowdy and highly entertaining live record.
First of all, the only way to listen to this is the Legacy Edition, because the original album is a travesty. When so many songs are left out of the original album, why put "San Quentin" on there twice? The album is also enhanced greatly by the missed material. The accompanying acts are terrific with Carl Perkins ripping through "Blue Suede Shows" and "Restless," the Statler Brothers with an engaging rendition of "Flowers on the Wall" and the Carter Family delivering lively versions of "The Last Thing On My Mind" and "Wildwood Flower," and June Carter telling the prisoners "this is as sexy as I'm going to get." The missing Johnny Cash material is also often better than what was on the original album. We get the full version of "Folsom Prison Blues," June Carter's presence livens up "Jackson" and the guest appearances later are a boost to Johnny, who was a bit worn down for this one. Getting the concert uninterrupted means we get more of Johnny's engagement with the audience, which adds just as much as the music. It is the lesser of the two "Johnny Cash at [...] Prison" albums, but the Legacy Edition turns a mediocre album into a full-fledged experience that is worth your time.
He keeps performing at prisons? A couple of songs might reach higher heights than Folsom. Is this gimmicky? Or awesome?
Not the biggest JC fan, but this one was cool. Great stage banter.
Abolish All Prisons. Johnny you really managed to give them a show, and hell I was given a show too! This album is my first Johnny Cash album and although I know that this is his type of music, I found it very endearing to hear especially maybe because the crowd and audience is so palpable that the songs kinda take on this layered meaning for not just Johnny but all those imprisoned and me the one listening to this all almost sixty years later. Cash's songs are very much exposes about the society he finds around him, putting himself the shoes of boys named sue or a San Quentin prisoner, but he speaks to some sort of humility that is ultimately at the heart of country music. This is country music, this is music that is actually speaking for something, not for everyone of course as not everyone can relate or be in these same positions, but it is at least trying to relate to some sort of common occurrence of the law, government, business getting its legs up on the backs of people. These songs heard echoing then through a buildings who sole purpose is to subjugate, punish, and traumatize, is nothing more then what's right. The second playing of San Quentin has this tamper in Johnny Cash's playing where he's playing it for them, and he's playing it so they can wholeheartedly with their bodies and mind say this place is the deepest pits of hell, and we deserve nothing but scorn and hells wrath for creating this abomination. The songs are simple, but the impact lasts a lifetime.
Cool
Solid album! Johnny Cash might be best live. I love that he played "San Quentin" (the song) twice, back to back, LOL.
Always happy to get a Johnny Cash prison album. I love the easy formality with the audience (aww you don't really mean that). Crazy to imagine this happening nowadays.
Kinda funny having so many live albums lately. This is a classic. I do kinda think that live albums are generally special cases -- they're sort of compilation records while also giving us an impression of the stage manners of the performer(s). Anyway, Johnny Cash spends a half-hour concert with a room full of inmates eating out of the palm of his hand. They boo the guards and the warden once or twice (who can blame them) but they cheer The Man In Black. I think it's worth taking two things away from this album: first, Cash sounds no different live or recorded. Sometimes that's not praise (some kinds of music ought to be better live and I'll die on that hill) but for such stripped-down work, there's no ornament or studio wizardry to fret about when live. His guitars snap a little better in the studio but there's not an ounce of trickery in his canon. The second thing is that he's funny -- a real showman. Cash's charms and talents are all on display in this one album, bleeps and all. It's a particularly good rendition of 'A Boy Named Sue'. Anyway, it's not revelatory but it's a great live cut and a good introduction to Johnny Cash. Also probably a good demonstration of why he hated Columbia's attempts to gussy up his recordings in the 70s and 80s, and how Rick Rubin had such a straightforward approach to his revival in the 90s. Get some players in a room, set up some mics and get out of The Man's way.
Not quite as iconic as at Folsom, but this has A Boy Named Sue. It's still excellent. 4 Stars.
Mäktigt! Vilken närvaro. Kul att ha hört och blir en fyra även om jag nog inte kommer lyssna på det igen.
Mm mäktigt som fan! Undrar om hans snack gick hem lika mycket i Österåker.
epic
Such a cool performance. The back and forth with the inmates, filled with humor and empathy, adds to the greatness of the songs.
I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die
Lots of great songs and it's really cool to hear the reaction of the crowd and his banter with them. It's hard to imagine anything like this happening these days it seems so unique to the time and to Johnny. He flawlessly performs these songs in front of what I would assume is a very critical crowd but with a few words lets them know that he is on their side and is there for them. It's really a great listen.
4/5
Cash is King. This was brilliant and pretty darn funny too.
The interactions with prisoners between songs really get me, even if the country music does not. Though there were definitely some songs on here that I could vibe with
Enjoyable, a decent momentum and it felt like it flowed. Interludes made it feel authentic. Best : Walk the Line, Boy named Sue.
Stunning performance from a legend of legends! The dude is so funny and his talk between songs was so well controlled. Good tunes too. Boy named Sue is brilliant.
Great working of the crowd.
I really liked this. It has a great feel for being a live concert. I liked the songs, most of them I had not heard before. I would definitely own this album and would probably play it regularly
Nice unfiltered live performance.
Very very good.
Did not expect this album to be so good! I really enjoyed it. Usually hate live albums but damn... also yay to my first Johnny Cash exposure? Man is hella witty.
Good
Wanted Man - 5/5 Wreck of the Old 97 - 4/5 I Walk the Line - 5/5 Darling Companion - 4/5 Starkville City Jail - 3/5 San Quentin - 4/5 San Quentin (reprise) - 4/5 A Boy Named Sue - 5/5 (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley - 3/5 Folsom Prison Blues - 5/5 Average score: 4.2/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i don't think i loved this more than At Folsom Prison, but it's still got just as much charm and entertainment to it. he's one of the few country artists from this list i actually like
This live album is incredible. The energy from the crowd, Cash's charm, equals a rule engaging listening experience as he goes through a mix of his catalog. Great stuff.
Great album. Good story telling and good music.
One of the best live albums I've heard. Could tell he wanted to be there. The music was fun. It's Johnny Cash. Not much to it, but still worth listening to.
Klasični cash
excelente, me senti dentro del show. 9/10
The guy had a serious presence to him. Great performance that made me laugh out loud.
Enjoyed the little monologuing in between songs, another one to revisit for sure
34 minutes of Rebellion. In front of hundreds of prisoners, Johnny sang to them as if he were one of them, with deep understanding and street smarts. The album captures the essence of respect with which the audience treated Johnny and his band. A historic album.
To be fair, I listened to the Legacy Edition of this, which is pretty much the whole concert. And what a concert! Self-assured and pro and recorded perfectly. Great snapshot of the era and what the Johnny Cash show was all about.
The vibe reminds me a bit of Elvis Presley it feels calming and nostalgic, like stepping into another era. The first song was strong and set a great tone, though the second felt a little boring. The third track stood out to me because it was upbeat, catchy, and fun to sing along to. I liked the romantic undertones throughout the album, even if they weren’t always very noticeable. The lyrics rhyme well and flow naturally, which makes them memorable. Since it’s a live album, the crowd noise sometimes caught me off guard, but it also adds a raw and authentic feeling. Overall, the songs have a similar vibe while still sounding different enough to stay interesting.
-No alcancé a escucharlo completo- pero me gusta mucho la voz de johnny cash, y su cercanía con el público
Que locura pensar que este tipo dónde mejor se sentía haciendo lo suyo era en las cárceles, porque sabía que ahí era dónde mejor le entenderían Mucho respeto, muy buen álbum, directo al grano, diciendo lo que tenía que decir Joya infravalorada San Quentin mi favorita
Easy listening with lyrics worth analyzing. A little boring for me but I respect what Johnny Cash stood for or at least what I've been told he stood for. I am intrigued that this album seems to be a recording for a live performance at a State Prison. It's heartwarming that he shared a mournful and jovial musical performance with prisoners deemed to be beneath the rest of society. The songs align with what could be imagined to be the experience of the audience members. So far the most striking to me were A boy Named Sue and Peace in the Valley. Instead of ending on a mellow note, they pick up the pace for a goodbye with Folsom Prison Blues. San Quentin is now SQ Rehabilitation Center. So the name changed but "As of July 31, 2022, San Quentin was incarcerating people at 105% of its design capacity, with 3,239 occupants." "As of 2001, San Quentin's death row was described as "the largest in the Western Hemisphere" BB King also performed at SQ in 1990.
I’m not a huge fan of live albums in general but I loved hearing Johnny riff off of the audience and the energy of the crowd.
Not normally a fan of live albums but Johnny Cash might just be the exception
Johnny has a lot of well written songs but in many cases the album versions feel tame. But when The Man in Black steps inside those prison walls these song come alive. All the songs seem up tempo and Johnny is singing like the rent is due. Highlights for me are a blistering version of Walk the Line and arguably the best version of Boy Named Sue. Lastly, that cover art is iconic.
Great Songs: I Walk the Line, San Quentin Good Songs: Wanted Man, Wreck of the Old '97, Darlin' Companion, Starkville City Jail, A Boy Named Sue, (There'll Be) Peace In the Valley (For Me), Folsom Prison Blues Mid Songs: Bad Songs:
This seems like something I wouldn't like, but the old country sound was really nice and there was an incredible amount of charisma that showed every time he talked to the crowd
This is a good album no matter how you slice it up. The music, the concept all good stuff -- maybe a little repetitive since this was his second live album from a prison but hey ---
I've been meaning to give Johnny Cash a few listens I wanna get more into old country. He's a pretty iconic place to start I think. His vibe is impeccable I think. You tell em Cash. Maybe I will see that wanted man. You never know. I'll lyk if he's in Australia. Oh fuck yeah it's only 30 minutes I'm a big fan Mr. Cash. But also if this is a concert why are you playing for 30 minutes. But this was also the 60s so the tickets probably cost a dime. Fuck old people. I like how they're all telling stories it's a treat to listen to. Good speeding song ngl. The rover would love this. I like that it's live he has an amazing stage presence from what I can hear but I also don't gaf what he's yapping about on stage unfortunately. Me when I walk the line. I really like the way you can hear the audience. Big fan of what's going on. Oh I'm not the biggest fan of June Carter's voice. Bro has mad beef with this place. Justice for Sue lowkey. I know Folsom Prison Blues of course. Favourite: Wanted Man Least favourite: Darlin' Companion.
I like him because i remember my mam!
Classic live album great songs and very funny
This was a good time.
Really fantastic playing and a great atmosphere but a bit too much faff and a repeated song stop it getting full marks. Still a classic though!
This may not be the best pure musical performance, even by Cash's standards, but the context elevates it to such an insane degree. Without getting on my soap box too much about how nice it is to hear outlaw country from a time when they were actually anti-establishment and not just a bunch of performative trope usage to familiar instrumentation and themes, the man brought his family band to perform in a prison. A lot of people cultivate or play up the outlaw image, but wouldn't be caught dead in a room with one of the thousand inmates Cash saw that day. A pretty limited track list and probably not the best acoustic environment (not to mention the mid-set re-tune), this isn't really the most outstanding and well executed album even in Cash's discography. But, the visceral human element is so absurdly gripping. From the famous middle finger picture to Cash's jokes with the crowd to a duet with his new wife June, it's just so much more than the music.
I am of the belief that all music sounds better live and this is not an exception. It can’t be understated how much I usually do not enjoy country music, but I was actually pleasantly surprised. The songs were fine, though they were definitely not anything special. The saving grace of this album is the atmosphere it creates, how the crowd interacts with the songs and the interactions with the artist on stage. Additionally, Johnny cash’s charisma really shines here. With that being said, this is definitely a one time listen for me, it’s nice but it just doesn’t have that repeatability. Still, such a charming album, and by the end I found myself growing quite fond of it.
Highlights: I Walk The Line, Starkville City Jail, San Quentin, A Boy Named Sue, Folsom City Blues Lowlights: ---------------------------------- Johnny Cash showing humanity still exists in inhumane places. Great performance and banter.
Same as the previous one - raw, down-to-earth and wholesome experience, definitely a masterpiece ❣️
Love Johnny Cash!!!!!
The live prison albums by Johnny Cash are very unique and this one is really good. The banter between the crowd and Johnny Cash is pretty funny and I like outlaw country from that era, making this a very good album.
Very effective stunt, singing prison tunes to prisoners, didn’t think I’d jive with the stunt. But it works, it’s ramshackle, loose, loud, sad, funny, visceral.
the British documentary can be found on YouTube. worth watching.
electric
Classic Johnny Cash. Good background listening music.
Maybe not his best performance but certainly an iconic one. We see Cash's audacious solidarity with the prisoners over and against the label and the guards while not alienating or othering anyone. And the reaction to Folsom Prison Blues, wch is of course about a different prison and comes after a song written for their prison, speaks to the way the universal shines through the particular.
Likes: Cash’s attitude, charisma, and banter; great shuffling rhythms; feedback loop and interplay with the crowd Dislikes: sound quality is rough; including both cuts of the song San Quentin if cool from the perspective of leaving the performance as it was, but isn’t necessary: shortened version of Folsom Prison Blues Overall, a great record that demonstrates Cash’s greatest talent - turning casual shuffles and talkative lyrics into definitive statements of truth that resonate with many different artists
4.8
It’s seldom a good idea to draw from the same well twice, but damn if the man in black doesn’t make it work.
Raw, rowdy, and basically Folsom Prison: Part II. Cash sounds great, the inmates are loud, and the whole thing crackles with energy. But as good as it is, it’s hard not to feel like the 1001 list didn’t need both this and Folsom when they cover such similar territory. A strong live record—just not a revelation if you’ve already done the first one.
# Album Name: At San Quentin # Artist: Cash # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Usual cash vibes Good live album Banger # Top Tunes: Walk the line / maybe sue / FPB # Would I listen to it again? Yes
4/5
4/5
Glad the list accommodates the occasional live album. This is another one that - like Sam Cooke's Live at the Harlem Square Club - feels like a fascinating little window into another moment.
Old Good Johnny
Great album, great live energy. Did not need “San Quentin” twice.
You know what, I actually really enjoyed listening to this album, I never normally like live albums but this one was quite good. Still think there doesn’t need to be as much cheering in the audio after songs but hey ho. Im sorry but Johnny Cash was that guy, I feel like he just was. I knew a few of his songs before today, walk the line being the only one I knew prior to listening to this album. However, I feel like I did enjoy listening to all the tracks, the overall performance was simple but very entertaining. A very charismatic performer, the songs make you feel like a cowboy roaming the wild west and who doesn’t want to be that. Standout songs ‘walk the line’, ‘a boy named sue’ and ‘San quentin’.
There was so much joy in this! Is this something I'd seek out on my own? No probably not. But am I glad I listened to it all? Yes, absolutely!
Great live album. And Johnny Cash is awesome.
No private session used for Spotify. Love his voice. Nice to hear these songs in a different recording. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, which is the point of live music. It's a classic for sure.
Mys pys. Lite insikt på nån konsert nån gång för länge sen
Good.
johnny cash has powerful stage presence, also seems like a fun man, loved his attitude and integrity. not really my usual type of music but the liveliness and context (prison performance and his open judgement of penal system) made it even better. his comments and laughs made it feel humane! he was the first of his kind so giving it a 3 seems low. also since my initial listen my favourites have been “I Walk the Line” and “(There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley”, honourable mention “Darlin’ Companion”
Great performance, great energy. I like that they kept the stage banter in there as part of the recording.
Very cool that it was recorded at San Quentin. Johnny Cash is true Americana
Amazing storytelling, Boy Named Sue is a classic. A bit same-y for me but he's so charismatic it doesn't matter
Excellent album, improved only by the reissue including a ton of extra tracks. Love Johnny’s prison albums. Probably slightly prefer Folsom overall but this is great. 4.5
Not as good as Folsom Prison.
Gotta love Johnny
A clear rapport with his audience makes this a very enjoyable album
I like Johnny Cash and this album is one of the iconic live albums made.
I've believed Johnny Cash is my favorite country artist for a while now, and this list has done nothing so far to change my mind about it. Even so, it's not like this piece of work is right up my alley. I respect the persona, the cadence, the energy. I think it's pretty cool how rowdy the crowd/inmates get. I'm not typically one to applaud censored music (I've been listening to the original release), but for this one it just puts you right in the middle of that historic moment. I'm from the other side of the world, but Johnny mentions this is being broadcast to England and I can just imagine myself in an English suburb watching this on a boxy tv. You can catch the full show on youtube, it's a different track list, feels just as raw as I'd hoped. This is the album that first features A Boy Named Sue, there's a lot of history here, Shel Silverstein being such a well known children's poet and making very adult poetry. If you're looking for a rabbit hole, go find the second part of that piece. It's amazing how far a good writer can go when they're not being held back. I think overall this isn't an album I'd listen to very often, but if I had a physical copy I'd give it an occasional spin. It puts you in a good mood, it's a fun listen. 3.6/5
His live commentary was entertaining. Not sure that it added to this album specifically, but I could see how it would impact his performances. He was a great live musician, and that comes through in this live album recording.
i’ve listened to this before
CLASSIC LOVE IT
I love Johnny Cash's voice and enjoy his guitar work. Not always big on live albums, but it's cool to hear his rapport and connection with the inmates.
Love it !! …. At San Quentin held my attention from the start, I was excited by this choice. I like live albums and this one feels direct and unpolished in a way I enjoy. I did not really know what to expect, but I stayed with it. I like hearing the reactions and the atmosphere. It sounds real. Cash sounds comfortable being there and that comes through. It is not slick and I would not want it to be. I enjoyed it because it feels honest and present. 4 stars 😊
Cash is King
The music was pretty decent but the entertainment value of the album itself bumps this up a notch.
Great man. Would've been awesome to have seen him live.
Fav: San Quentin (Reprise) Honorable mention: Darlin’ Companion 4/5
When to listen: Not sure I would again, not because it isn't amazing just because I don't need to. Great album, great music, but it just... is.
There’s something so epic about singing outlaw country live in a prison. Good stuff Johnny Cash
Imagine being arrested and when you are in the prison, Johnny Cash do a show for all the prisoners.... He was genius and he knew it.
Happy to get this album this morning. Didn't expect the "Legacy Edition" to be 2 albums. I'm actually enjoying this first album. I'd say this would normally get a 3, but given its a live album, recorded in a prison, gets it an extra star.
Actually so cool
Johnny Cash is always great! Ring of Fire!
Yeah, it’s a bop. I don’t know if I’ll ever not loathe pop country, but old timey country western like this? It’s all right. It certainly has its place.
Johnny Cash is a pretty cool cat and a great entertainer. Man, he's also proving himself to be a king of outlaw country. I knew he was an outlaw country kind of guy, but this is a whole other level. I'm not the biggest fan of live albums, but this one is definitely worth listening to. Cash has a great time interacting with the crowd and is clearly there for them and to have a good time. And the bits and moments between songs don't take away from the actual songs themselves. Favorite Song(s): I Walk the Line, Boy Named Sue
I liked it, would listen to again, and might even go listen to more Johnny Cash.
Great fun
This album is so charged with tension and emotion, anything could happen. Johnny Cash understands the prisoners so well, and has them so hooked they could riot any second. Love this album.
Album: At San Quentin Artists: Johnny Cash First spin mood: I was really excited when I saw his name pop up because I’ve never really listened to his music other than the popular songs (ring of fire lol). So it got me thinking that I can see what’s all the motion behind him. With this being a live album it exposed me to the great performer he is, the way he interacts and gets the crowd going. Feels like you have been life time friends. I enjoyed the music a lot especially a boy named sue, walk the line and wanted man. I felt like San Quentin the song was a bit of a milk from being arrested for picking some flowers haha What it stirred in me: curiosity and mystery One lyric or sound that stayed with me: definitely the plot twist in a boy named sue with that being his father, so wholesome yet fucked Where I was: working outside in the trenches on a snowy day, pretty shit weather but music always has a way of making things lighter What I felt: I felt cool to get an in on Johnny cash
bella, anche il fatto che sia in live in prigione, il fra mi sembra un tipo simpatico e in generale apprezzo questo genere e queste vibes
I usually hate live albums--I can't stand the artists' chatter and the audience reactions, but I quite like Johnny Cash's plain-spoken criticism of the prison system and law enforcement. His attitude backs up the music.
Listening session: january 9th, while fixing up a wooden cabinet at my parents house Listened to before: many times, mainly when my father listened to this when I was a child Thoughts: this album is such a classic and even though I’ve heard it many times before, it was nice to listen to it front to back again Favourite tracks: A Boy Named Sue, I Walk the Line & (There’ll Be) Peace in the Valley
Was really good. 4.1
Not as strong as At Fulsom, but can listen to it top to bottom. Would love to check out the film and full set list. Boy Named Sue
I really liked it, it was fun! The folk influences make everything feel so lively.
4.0/5 - I like the personality of Cash, fun album, classic tunes. Liked the immediate encore of San Quentin.
A classic, easy 4 stars. I enjoyed the music as well as the banter throughout the album.
The vibe is spot on. Production quality is (perhaps understandably) a little meh, especially in the first leg of the record, but adds to the atmosphere. Curious to see the visuals now.
I don't normally enjoy live albums, as they are usually inferior to studio recordings of the same material, but this is a fantastic exception.
Incredibly good. All of it. The idea, the music, the fact that it’s live.
Throughly enjoyed the chatting and crowd work between the songs. You could tell this was Cash wanting to play the show on his terms and for the people.
love live sessions, not much a fan of country music
An iconic album in history due to being recorded inside San Quentin prison. Johnny Cash has one of the most recognizable voices and this album is full of popular songs that are supported all along the way by the cheers and laughs of the inmates. Cash is one of those unique artists that will never be duplicated.
The man in black commanding the stage and the audience in a way few performers ever could. Both Cash and the band were a little out of tune and out of sync in places but the overall effect was a fun, rollicking good time for all of the murders and rapists in the audience. Great sense of being there with this album.
really makes you realise how great country music can be. very remarkable live album i must say!
The second of Cash's live prison albums, following Folsom Blues. I only listened to the original release here (33 mins), not the full set, though I will have to do that too. Great live album, as expected and deserves the hype. I Walk The Line and A Boy Named Sue featured and he gets his Mrs and friends up on stage too. He's pretty funny and charming in the interludes, makes you want to hear more of this sort of shit.
Ignoring the 1 octave vocal range, this is a great live album. Humour and some great uptempo music.
I just can't make myself like it but I appreciate it
Second live Johnny Cash album I’ve been assigned in almost as many weeks. I’m becoming a Cash convert. The banter is as much as a star as the songs. 4/5
Not quite the album Folsom is - that one is more primal and Cash isn’t quite as off the rails. Certainly understandable as Luther had only been dead a few months. The legacy edition is the better version. A Boy Named Sue is hands down the draw to this almost as great great album.
It must have been a great day to be a serial killer in San Quentin that day. I mean, Johnny friggin’ Cash played a concert for them. Those lucky undeserving (BLEEP).
This is how you do a live album. The audience energy makes the whole thing better instead of being distracting. Cash's interactions with the audience might just be better than the music.
Iconic live album, delivered with authority, grace and humor and raucously appreciated by the captive audience. They had a ball. No scramble for tickets for this one!
liked it, was not my cup of tea but was still quite fun.
Me ha encantado.
great companion to 'Live at Folsom Prison' and some comedy skits inbetween
This is a full concert recorded that Johnny performed at San Quentin PRISON! It doesn't cut any of his interactions with the crowd; you can tell Johnny Cash is incredibly charismatic & likeable. I really enjoyed the music, his voice is so recognizable and consistent. The song Starkville City Jail was particularly memorable (& funny)—it's a true story about Johnny going on a peaceful walk, picking flowers, then getting arrested & thrown in jail. The crowd was laughing along to each line. San Quentin offered some interesting criticisms on prisons & how they "[do] no good." Really bold of Johnny to shit on San Quentin while performing there! It didn't register for me until now that he was performing at a prison. -> The crowd clearly resonated with this song, asking him to play it again & he immediately did! He also cheekily had the (prison) guards get him a cup of water in between. He got a ton of applause after the reprise. A Boy Named Sue was another memorable song—really strong storytelling. Apparently written by Shel Silverstein??? I do think I would be able to pick up more details about the music in a studio version, but I think hearing him live really brings me there and helps me get a better sense of the kind of person Johnny was.
Didn't realize this was actually recorded in the prison. Classic Cash, fun to have his interludes.
The album is an overall great listen, it has a consistent light mood and joyful beat through the 10 tracks and I like his lyricism all the songs on the album are pretty well written and I feel like he’s telling me a story each song. His vocals aren’t dramatic but he is a good singer and I would listen to the album again, I even added songs like wanted man, I walk the line, San Quentin, and wreck of the old ‘97
The songs are great, but the banter is greater. His talking ties everything together perfectly, although the censorship beeps are very abrasive. I would have Luigi Mangioned to get myself to that gig.
My quest to find a Country album that is actually worth listening to has so far been fruitless. But today we have Johnny Cash, the dude everyone who hates Country music, likes. I've heard plenty of Cash songs before - I don't dislike him, but I don't love him even as much as those other County haters do. Next up - I think only an exceptional Live album should ever be on this list, exceptional both because of the performances, the songs, and the surrounding circumstances. Unplugged In New York for example. Will this hit the spot? It gets off to a solid start, by bringing other artists and some of their hits. Thankfully the opening songs are not Country, so it gets me into a positive mood. There's good crowd noise, banter, interaction. June Carter brings the first Country song, and it isn't terrible. It's flirtatious and fun. She then raps out some farm-related poetry. You have to wait a while for Johnny to join. Cash is better than most Country vocalists because he doesn't sound Country - no whining, no hootin' and a hollerin'. He doesn't exactly have a voice for melody, but he gets his point across clearly. The up-tempo songs work because they boil with energy, and there's none of that dreary violin or steel guitar nonsense. A lot of the inherent garbage of the genre is here - the same melodies and rhythm which you can immediately pull from memory and instantly craft a new song from. It's the intensity and intent of the performance which makes that garbage tolerable. The majority of the songs aren't interesting in the slightest - the best ones are either the big Cash hitters or the Carl Perkins songs. But again, the performances are great and the banter is solid. Throw in the circumstances and it's worth the four stars. Normally this would be a three star album, but for cultural significance you have to throw in that extra star. I never need to hear the whole thing again, but I'll slap a couple of songs on my rotation.
Johnny Cash is a great unifying force and never disappoints
Really enjoyed the set list. I liked hearing Cash talk with the audience. It’s an easy listen and I can see myself listening to this album again
A classic recording.
can't believe i got country on day 1
cool album but not the type of music i'd listen to. Still very catchy and fun !
Deepe, rusty voice vs the first prison album. Seemed fun.
Pretty good overall. They literally played the same song twice in a row. Lots of fun banter.
I had always wondered what the point of a live album was, but this gave me an answer: it's something /kinda like/ attending the concert in person. The multiple pieces of banter and tangents give this album a presence that I haven't found in any other live albums I've heard (not that that is very many). Johnny Cash has a voice like a warm blanket. Maybe it's the Texas girl in me, but I could listen to him talk or sing for hours.
I'm usually wary of live albums, but this is rather good. It was entertaining, loved the storytelling within these songs, and Cash was engaging, with a voice I could listen to for hours. I found it uplifting, and it made me smile.
Lots of energy and atmosphere. Classic album.
music is so powerful. listening to the prisoners cheer and interact with cash is something really special. it makes me that much more aware that THIS is real country - not what the modern “country singer” posers are doing. so many moments gave me chill. favorite tracks: - folsom prison blues - san quentin - a boy named sue
Goes hard as ever
Great snapshot of our society at that time and good listen
i love these live johnny cash albums
legendarno, jako dobro i zabavno. ježio sam se od nekih reakcija publike
Always a good listen
love that he is singing about prison to a prison
I was introduced to this album when I was eleven years old, when it showed up as my folks Columbia record club selection for that particular month. I listened to it a lot more than they did, as I was really enamored with A Boy Named Sue. Listening to it today was a stroll down memory lane, and although the production quality isn’t great with it being a live album recorded in the sixties, I really enjoyed it, (and hey, it’s Johnny Cash!) Four easy stars.
Really fucking enjoyed this - the live aspect added to the album for me and it's so damn cool. Big fan.
rv/g