At Folsom Prison is a live album and 27th overall album by Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in May 1968. After his 1955 song “Folsom Prison Blues”, Cash had been interested in recording a performance at a prison. Despite little initial investment by Columbia, the album was a hit in the United States, reaching number one on the country charts and the top 15 of the national album chart. The lead single from the album, a live version of “Folsom Prison Blues”, was a top 40 hit, Cash’s first since 1964’s “Understand Your Man”. At Folsom Prison received positive reviews and revitalized Cash’s career, becoming the first in a series of live albums recorded at prisons that includes “At San Quentin” (1969), “Pa Osteraker” (1973), and “A Concert Behind Prison Walls” (1976).

The following is an excellent review of At Folsom Prison. See more live albums here.

“The best selling album in the U.S. in 1968 ?

It is not the Beatles, or the Stones, or the Who, or Led Zeppelin, or … anybody else. It is this album by Johnny Cash.

I am not a big country music fan, but fans of any genre should enjoy this.

Johnny had recently been arrested so the idea of playing a live album at a prison, for prisoners, meant a lot to him at the time, and it comes through in his performance.

Meanwhile, the songs themselves are a terrific slice of Americana and should not be missed. Pick it up if you enjoy country, folk, blues, or are just a music lover in general.”

See More: At Fillmore East (The Allman Brothers Album) Live

See Johnny Cash play At Folsom Prison below

Don’t miss out on the TIMELESS Johnny Cash! Click to experience his iconic live prison performance!