"At Folsom Prison" Vs. "At San Quentin"

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I pick San Quentin, but At Folsom Prison is so damn strong.

What do you think?

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:19 (twenty years ago)

Two rather different records...we'd have to read up in one of his biographies to see what drugs he was for which album. San Quentin sounds like plain old amphetamines, but Folsom - crank?

― SoHoLa (SoHoLa), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:24 (twenty years ago)

Yeh, Might be Crank.

On "San Quentin" he sounds relaxed and calm, but on "Folsom" he sounds rushed. It has to be Coke.

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:30 (twenty years ago)

Probably close to the mark to say that he sounds a bit more like he's 'in charge' on San Quentin - the checks must've been clearing, for one. On Folsom, he sounds like he's fighting for his life, somewhat unnecessarily! Still 2 great albums, eh?

― SoHoLa (SoHoLa), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

2 amazing albums.

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:35 (twenty years ago)

What other "Live @ Prison" albums can you remember? I always liked the one by the Australian group "Divinyls" - she's (Christina Amphlett) a little over-ripe, but she dressed up in a nurse's outfir for the whole show...the band is tight, and the audience is 'captivated' - on the video, you can sense the leering...there's also a good prison music movie - something like "Flower in the desert" that has Linda Ronstadt playing at a prison somewhere, in the 70's. Who else copied Johnny C? There's gotta be more C&W "Live in Prison" albums that are hot.

― SoHoLa (SoHoLa), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:39 (twenty years ago)

Wow, really?

― Jimmy Mod Is Sick of Being The Best At Everything (ModJ), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:44 (twenty years ago)

Nope.

― Michael Costello (MichaelCostello1), Monday, 18 July 2005 04:45 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://www.blueshalloffame.com/CD_Graphics/B_B_King_Live_in_Cook_County_Jail.gif

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Monday, 18 July 2005 10:26 (twenty years ago)

BB King did "Live at the Cook County Jail" which is another stellar jailhouse album.

B/t these two, I go San Quentin - I like the song "San Quentin" and the fact that he plays it twice, back to back, just 'cause the guys like it so much.

― Big Loud Mountain Ape (Big Loud Mountain Ape), Monday, 18 July 2005 12:54 (twenty years ago)

Folsom has more crowd pleasers, but San Quentin has Wanted Man, my favorite JC song (written by Dylan, no less)

It's close, but I'll go with Folsom

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Monday, 18 July 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

Sylvie Simmons had an excellent feature on the prison albums in Mojo a couple of years back. Folsom was his last gig on speed. San Quentin his first clean.
They're both amazing for different reasons. Folsom, especially the expanded reissue, has more variety and is ultimately more satisfying, but San Quentin has unbelievable bits like the near riot when he sings the title song twice. "I hate every inch of you". It's totally punk rock. But then so is Cocaine Blues on Folsom.

― Stew (stew s), Monday, 18 July 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

fifteen years pass...

I've had Folsom for nearly 20 years and love it immensely, but had somehow never heard San Quentin until tonight.

I need to listen again when I can pay more attention, but San Quentin seems like the Ghostbusters 2 of Johnny Cash live prison albums. He uses so many of the same jokes as on Folsom and a lot of runtime seems to be him hamming it up for the prisoners, which seemed much more natural on Folsom. What say you?

― Smokahontas and John Spliff (PBKR), Saturday, 23 January 2021 04:18 (five years ago)

LMAO, "Ghostbusters 2"

But yeah, I know what you mean and probably agree - San Quentin just seems a little too forced and a little too rehearsed whereas Folsom Prison really feels like Cash walking non-chalantly into a big gamble and delivering brilliantly. It's not a terrible album, and "San Quentin" and "A Boy Named Sue" earn their place on his marvelous Essential box set, but it's not on par with Folsom.

― birdistheword, Saturday, 23 January 2021 05:53 (five years ago)

two years pass...

per the history of rock in 500 songs podcast...wowser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3M3Igjnbhs

― Blues Guitar Solo Heatmap (Free Download) (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 8 December 2023 16:52 (two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.