In 1955, a young Johnny Cash recorded a song called “Folsom Prison Blues”. Merging the popular folk themes of prisons and trains, the song would typify Cash’s outlaw image and musical style for many years to come. It wasn’t until 1968, however, that the song would take on a whole new life when Cash performed it live at the actual Folsom State Prison in Folsom, CA on January 13th, 1968.
Cash was interested in performing at a prison for many years, though problems with both drugs and management put the idea on hold. Once Cash had sobered up in 1967, and Columbia Records was run by a new executive in Bob Johnston, the plans were set in motion. On January 13th, 1968, Johnny Cash held his first-ever prison performance with two sets played throughout the day, which would result in the now-famous live album At Folsom Prison. The album was released a few months later on May 6th and went on to reach No. 1 on the country charts.
The album revitalized Johnny Cash’s career, which had suffered up to that point due to drug abuse problems throughout the early ’60s. At Folsom Prison has since reached triple platinum status by the RIAA.
Listen to one of Cash’s most acclaimed albums below.
Johnny Cash – At Folsom Prison
00:00 Folsom Prison Blues
02:42 Busted
04:06 Dark as a Dungeon
07:11 I Still Miss Someone
08:49 Cocaine Blues
11:50 25 Minutes to Go
15:21 Orange Blossom Special
18:22 The Long Black Veil
22:20 Send a Picture of Mother
24:30 The Wall
26:07 Dirty Old Egg-Suckin’ Dog
27:37 Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart
29:54 Joe Bean
32:19 Jackson (with June Carter)
35:32 Give My Love to Rose (with June Carter)
38:18 I Got Stripes
40:10 The Legend of John Henry’s Hammer
47:18 Green, Green Grass of Home
49:48 Greystone Chapel
[Originally published January 13th, 2017]