One focus of the sessions was to learn "Greystone Chapel", a song written by inmate Glen Sherley. During the rehearsal sessions on January 12, California governor Ronald Reagan, who was at the hotel for an after-dinner speech, visited the band and offered his encouragement.
The performers rehearsed for two days, an uncommon occurrence for them, sometimes with two or more songs rehearsed concurrently by various combinations of musicians. They were later accompanied by the Tennessee Three, Carl Perkins, the Statler Brothers, Johnny's father Ray Cash, Reverend Floyd Gressett, pastor of Avenue Community Church in Ventura, California (where Cash often attended services), who counseled inmates at Folsom and helped facilitate the concert, and producer Johnston. On January 10, 1968, Cash and June Carter checked into the El Rancho Motel in Sacramento, California. The album was recorded at Folsom State Prison in Folsom, California. Johnston called San Quentin State Prison and Folsom, with Folsom being the first to respond. Cash saw this as an opportunity to pitch his idea of recording a live album at a prison Johnston enthusiastically supported the concept.
Frank Jones and Don Law, who had produced several of Cash's albums, were ousted in favor of Bob Johnston, who was known for his erratic behavior and willingness to disagree with studio executives. Concurrently, the country portion of Columbia Records underwent major personnel changes. In 1967, Cash sought help for his escalating drug problems by the end of the year, his drug use decreased and he sought to turn his career around. This was due in part to his increasing dependence on drugs. Ī few years after attaining commercial success from songs such as " I Walk the Line", " Understand Your Man", and " Ring of Fire", Cash's popularity waned. 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 three 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.
#FOLSOM PRISON BLUES SERIES#
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 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.