Johnny Cash had been breaking new ground for a decade when At Folsom Prison suddenly made the world at large take notice. The interaction of a volatile prison population starved for entertainment and a desperately on-form Johnny Cash was electrifying. His somber machismo finally found a home. The songs, which included every prison song Cash knew ("I Got Stripes," "The Wall," "25 Minutes to Go," "Cocaine Blues," plus his own "Folsom Prison Blues") were tailored to galvanize the crowd. This set is all about atmosphere. Live at the Grand Ole Opry this ain't. The 1999 version drops the San Quentin portion of the original CD reissue, instead adding three cuts to complete the full and uncensored Folsom show. --Colin Escott

Customer Rating:
Summary: He's the best
Comment: My sister asked that I order this and have it sent to her so I haven't seen it. However, this album is in my uncle's collection and I have heard his. I've been a Cash fan for 50 years; everybody knows the Cash sound and he has fans even among the hardcore, heavy metal musicians. What can one say? He's the best!

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Customer Rating:
Summary: I'd take Carrie Underwood over this junk any day!
Comment: Yawn. I think my grandma listens to this crap. Johnny Cash has no talent! He isn't played on MTV, BET or was never on American Idol. Why do you freaks listen to him? This music is soo old, too. REAL country is Carrie Underwood! She's a country music legend, not this old talentless buffoon.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: I so recommend this c.d.
Comment: I'm a hugh Johnny fan and I dig this cd. I would recommend it to anyone who loves Johnny. Keep on rockin'.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: JCFolsom
Comment: It's fantastic. I orginially had this recording years ago on a 33rpm record, and like a fool got rid of it. I got it as a replacement on a CD format and its the way I always remembered it.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Cash at his peak
Comment: Cash is basically the only country artist that I like. The very fact that he sings about life and its hardships is very appealing to me. Running on the notion that his material is about the struggles of existence, it is only fitting that he would record an album within the walls of a tough state penitentiary.

Songs about life in prison (Folsom Prison Blues, I Got Stripes), the difficulties of life (Busted), and being free (Orange Blossom Special), are strong examples of how Cash expresses himself musically and how he can relate to the audience. In one sense, since the material on this album relates to the prisoners, it can be considered a concept album. A must have for everyone's musical library.

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