Johnny Cash Live At Folsom Prison/San Quentin

Talking about music you never thought you'd find yourself listening to (as Shug was), I never though I'd have two country albums spinning relentlessly on my hi fi for a month.

I came to Johnny Cash very late, about two years after he'd died in fact! Saw the "Hurt" video and was intrigued. Bought "American IV: The Man Comes Around", and was blown away. Subsequently bought all the Rick Rubin produced albums before dipping my toe in his proper back catalogue.

What can I say....there's just something about that voice and the emotion it conveys. I really didn't expect to get into 'classic era' Cash as I've never listened to 'country' (or is it rock n' roll???) and I honestly can't think of a record made before 1980 that's done anything for me ever. The Beatles, The Stones, The Doors, Dylan, even The Clash all do zero for me. Not interested.

The double pack of live 'prison' albums "At Folsom Prison" and "At San Quenin" are astounding though. Honestly, check them out, you wont regret it.

Any other fans?

Yes, me. Stunning performances and the epitome of cool. He was at the top of his game for these gigs. The videos add another dimension by letting you see just what a nasty bunch he was performing to, the guards with rifles at the ready adding to the tension. There's no way Cash and the band could have felt 100% safe standing there.

Got both of the 'prison' albums,enjoyed them at first, must admit though,got bored with them after a while, just no my 'cup of tea'

The 'eptiome of cool'. I like that. Overused, but certainly appropriate in this case. Is their video of Folsom Prison? I thought it was just San Quentin. In the sleevenotes he mentions giving the finger to the film crew from 'Granada' (which is where that famous Cash photo come from). Is it Granada as in Coronation Street he's talking about???

Said picture.....

By lovely coincidence, the main strory on the front page of the Guardian website today is a feature about some good pictures of Cash in a new exhibition.

I'd link to it, but I know some of you think that I do a bit too much linking to the Guardian website and I don't want to get a reutation for repetition.

Do I win £40?

Love Cash. I have bits and pieces of the prison albums, but not the whole thing... not one for live albums, so never really intrigued me.

If you do love Cash, try out Social Distortion (Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell, is a good album to start at), kind of a punk twist to Johnny Cash.

Love him and his music lots. I've got two badges on the speakers for my computer, one on each; on the left I've got JD's Closer, and on the right it's the cover of the San Quentin album.

My dad (who saw him play the local ballrooms back in the 50's) played him all of the time, so it was the first music I ever heard; his mother didn't like his voice cause it wasn't "classically pretty" but I responded to it cause it always sounded like raw emotion. "Sunday Morning Coming Down" rings true cause the man pretty much lived like that for awhile. Don't think he ever shot a man in Reno though...

Saw him live three times, always put on a great show, and the title song from his last American album is one helluva way to end one's songwriting career; I was stunned the first time I heard that one.

I've got the Rick rubin albums- fantastic!!! That voice is haunting......

I picked up "Folsom Prison" right after he died, and I have the best of that came out a couple of years ago (Not "The Essential," but a single disc entry).

Funnily enough lady just been on about Johhny Trash,her dadda is a massive fan,she just mentioned the vid for hurt so here ya go,one of mi all time fave trax!

sir Johnny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

i wonder if there is a hugh cornwall at pentonville video about anywhere