At Folsom Prison - Johnny Cash

The Man in Black breaks an album out from behind the walls of one Americas most notorious prisons to deliver an album which has not only stood the test of time, but has grown in cult status and popularity year on year.

Recorded on January 13th 1968 at Folsom Prison, it is Johnny Cash at his most charismatic. He stands with his wife and band before a crowd of hardened convicts and plays the concert of his life. Giving these men a voice and acknowledging that no matter what they had done to get where they were, they were still part of the human race.

Ok so what of the music on this album. Ably backed by June Carter, Carl Perkins, and The Tennese Three Cash delivers hit after hit. Folsom Prison Blues, Cocaine Blues, Jackson, Long Black Veil amongst many others.

Many poignant songs were sung by cash for the prisoners, Send A Picture Of Mother is the tale of a prisoner being released and the friend he leaves behind. The final song Greystone Chapel. The song was written by Glen Sherley who was an inmate at Folsom Prison. Cash heard the song the night before he was to play at the prison and soon as Cash heard the lyrics:

"There's a Greystone chapel here at Folsom,

A house of worship in this den of sin.

You wouldn't think God had a place at Folsom,

But he's saved the soul of many lost men."

He had to play it the next day.

Johnny Cash is the face and voice of country music his popularity has prevailed for decades. this si the album that put him on the map, and led to him going to San Quentin in 1969 and to him having his own TV show on CBS.

The original recording was released on LP and only contained 16 tracks, the CD re-released has 19 and thats the one we will feature on this weeks Crititcal Junction.

Track Listing:

1. Folsom Prison Blues (J. Cash) – 2:42
2. Busted (H. Howard) – 1:25
3. Dark as a Dungeon (M. Travis) – 3:04
4. I Still Miss Someone (J. Cash - R. Cash, Jr.) – 1:38
5. Cocaine Blues (T. J. Arnall) – 3:01
6. 25 Minutes to Go (S. Silverstein) – 3:31
7. Orange Blossom Special (E. T. Rouse) – 3:06
8. The Long Black Veil (Wilkin - D. Dill) – 3:58
9. Send a Picture of Mother (J. Cash) – 2:05
10. The Wall (H. Howard) – 1:36
11. Dirty Old Egg-Suckin' Dog (J. H. Clement) – 1:30
12. Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart (J. H. Clement) – 2:05
13. Joe Bean (B. Freeman - L. Pober) – 3:05
14. Jackson (duet with June Carter) (B. Wheeler - J. Lieber) – 3:12
15. Give My Love to Rose (duet with June Carter) (J. Cash) – 2:43
16. I Got Stripes (J. Cash - C. Williams) – 1:52
17. The Legend of John Henry's Hammer (J. Cash - J. Carter) – 7:08
18. Green, Green Grass of Home (C. Putman) – 2:13
19. Greystone Chapel (Glen Sherley) – 6:02