Complete Live at San Quentin

Asking "Which Cash prison album is best: San Quentin or Folsom Prison?" is like saying "Which of your lungs is your favourite?". They're both essential to ANY music collection. (If pressed by a particularly menacing and armed inmate, I'd lean towards the more atmospheric FOLSOM.) Which one you like best will probably depend on whether you want a more comprehensive take on Cash's music (the love songs and gospel on this one) or one aimed square at his audience (the prison song laden "Folsom").

Read the glowing praise from Merle Haggard (or Marty Stuart if you want someone of more recent vintage) and look at any critic's list of "Essential" country music and this will be on it. Look at the better pop critics' lists and even they will recognize this as the epochal moment in music that it is.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Choosing the best tunes here is hard, but I'll try. As on Folsom, Johnny performs an actual prisoner's song (T. Cuttie's "I Don't Know Where I'm Bound")...Read more

I can safely say that any positive comment directed towards this album is 100% true. I have this on vinyl also, and this remaster is ten times as great. Just look at the tracklist here, it's practically a live hits album. Included is "I Walk The Line", "Darlin' Companion", "Boy Named Sue", "Peace In The Valley", "Ring Of Fire", and numerous other classics. However, what really makes "At San Quentin" amazing, is the between song chat between Johnny and the prisoners. It adds emotion and humor, and a real look at the kind of man Johnny was. This album alone solidified his status as rebel and legend. Another major plus besides the better sound and extra tracks is the price. This is the no-brainer of no-brainers. In summary, "At San Quentin" is the real Johnny Cash, it's real country, and even more than that it's just real good music.

This album, as 'At Folsom Prison', is a 'Classic' in the true sense of the word. Johnny is raw, honest, in control, moody, funny, scary, moving, inspired and unforgettable. A man's Man. This remastered version of San Quentin is truly a REVELATION! I've had these 2 prison-albums for quite a while, but now the best got even better; Johnny sounds like a hellhound and a saint at the same time. You will never hear an album like this and 'At Folsom Prison' again in your life, it's that impressive,unique, powerful, moving. Also his backing band which features Carl Perkins and June Carter a.o. is super. The sound of this album is just so incredible, it burns a whole through your soul, its contents: rockabilly, blues, gospel, country, folk, all rolled up in one blistering performance. I really hope that this amazing Man will go on with making great music and fully recover from his medical problems. I've got over 600 cd's and rate Johnny Cash as a musician, person, personality...Read more