Classic Albums-Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison

This week's classic album segment is the 1968 live album At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash. After having had an successful period in the 50's and 60's with both Sun and Columbia Records with hits like Cry Cry Cry, I Walk the Line, Hey Porter, Ballad of a Teenage Queen, Understand Your Man, Ring Of Fire and others Johnny Cash's popularity waned which was due in no part to his drug dependency but in 1967 he beat his battle with drugs as well as sought to turn his career around. It was around that time too that the country portion of Columbia Records was going through major personnel changes with Frank Jones and Don Law who produced some of Johnny Cash's albums being ousted which they were replaced by Bob Johnston who was known for having erratic behaviour and willingness to disagree with studio executives.Johnny Cash saw the opportunity to pitch his idea of recording an live album at an prison which he had been interested to that when Folsom Prison Blues came out in 1955 which Bob Johnston supported the concept and called San Quentin State Prison and Folsom which Folsom was the first to respond. the recording of the live album occured on January 13th 1968 which they did 2 shows one at 9.40am and one @ 12.40pm just in case if the first show was unsatisfactory which the MC was Hugh Cherry and played to 2,000 inmates. the album was released in May 1968 which went to no 13 in the USA pop charts, number 1 in the USA country charts, no 27 in canada, and number 7 in both the UK and Norway which it went Gold on OCtober 30th 1968, platinum and double platinum on November 21st 1986 and triple Platinum on MArch 27th 2003. It is an great album which it holds up excellently to this day and an great live atmosphere which Johnny Cash sounded great on this album with June Carter who would become his second wife when they married on March 1st 1968 which lasted until her sad passing in 2003, the Tennessee Three his back up band which sadly they would sadly lose Luther Perkins the guitarist in a house fire on August 5th 1968, Johnny's old label mate from Sun Records Carl Perkins who did the original Blue SUede Shoes in 1956 and the Statler Brothers doing the backing which they did an great job doing it and on the album 15 tracks came from the first show and only 2 from the second. The success of this album revitalized Johnny Cash's career which he would have an successful period from that time which he would record another live album At Quentin in 1969 as well as having an number 2 hit with A Boy named Sue and hosting his own TV show on ABC TV. As this year would have been Johnny Cash's 80th I though it would be appropriate to review this classic live album and it still endures to this day as well as all his other work too.