Satisfied by the favorable reception, he performed at several other prisons in the years leading up to the Folsom performance in 1968. Cash's first prison performance was at Huntsville State Prison in 1957. The song became popular among inmates, who would write to Cash, requesting him to perform at their prisons. The result was ' Folsom Prison Blues', Cash's second single on Sun Records. The film inspired Cash to write a song that reflected his perception of prison life. In 1953, his unit watched Crane Wilbur's 1951 film Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison. Johnny Cash became interested in Folsom State Prison, California, while serving in the United States Air Force Security Service. It was certified triple platinum in 2003 for US sales exceeding 3.4 million. The album was rereleased with additional tracks in 1999, a three-disc set in 2008, and a five LP box set with bonus rehearsals in 2018 for Record Store Day.

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), På Österåker (1973), and A Concert Behind Prison Walls (1976). The lead single, a live version of 'Folsom Prison Blues', was a top 40 hit, Cash's first since 1964's ' Understand Your Man'. The initial release of the album consists of 15 songs from the first show and two from the second.ĭespite little initial investment by Columbia, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison was a hit in the United States, reaching number one on the country charts and the top 15 of the national album chart. Backed by June Carter, Carl Perkins, and the Tennessee Three, Cash performed two shows at Folsom State Prison in California on January 13, 1968. Cash had recently controlled his drug abuse problems, and was looking to turn his career around after several years of limited commercial success. His idea was put on hold until 1967, when personnel changes at Columbia Records put Bob Johnston in charge of producing Cash's material. After his 1955 song ' Folsom Prison Blues', Cash had been interested in recording a performance at a prison. Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison is the first live album by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records on May 6, 1968.

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