1968 At Folsom Prison Live

There were two Folsom shows performed and recorded that day: The first show, the bulk of which comprised the classic, familiar 16-song album; and a longer second show, the bulk of whose 26 tracks (except for two songs) were put on the shelf.
The entire unvarnished 65-minute first show on disc one - expletives intact for the first time, and with seven previously unissued tracks; and the entire 75-minute second show on disc two, with 24 previously unissued tracks (out of 26).

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Johnny Cash's iconic recording at Folsom Prison, Sony Legacy has presented the entire concert from start to finish similar to the San Quentin box set. This package has it all including a documentary that focused on Cash on that momentous day. Is this extended edition necessary for your collection? Sony Legacy reissued the complete `At Folsom Prison' nine years ago, or so we thought. The purpose of this review is to examine what the extras bring to the table in terms of merit and what they add to an already outstanding live recording.

The answer to the above question is a resounding yes; this collection is indeed very necessary. This edition of `At Folsom Prison' contains both concerts that were recorded that day in 1968. I was unaware that there was a concert at 9:40 am and 12:40 pm, and that the original `At Folsom Prison' recording was a compilation of the two recordings. The producer, Bob Johnson weeded out what he perceived to be the weaker material or lesser performances and had to edit out some of the stage banter because of album length constraints.

In the first concert, Johnny Cash seemed to be on fire and was hitting all the right notes, and the majority of performances from the original album come from this recording. In the afternoon, Cash appeared to be struggling to recapture the dynamic from the earlier performance. He fumbles lyrics at times and hits sour notes on "Orange Blossom Special" during the second concert but he remains dedicated to his cause. Highlights from the second concert are "Long-Legged Guitar Pickin' Man" with June Carter, "Busted" and "Greystone Chapel."

The remastering on this edition has made the performances sharper. Everything sounds clearer, from the reverb drenched guitars to the crispness of the bass. Notes seem punchier, vibrant, and more direct. The unreleased material also showcases the performances of Carl Perkins and The Statler Brothers. Both Carl Perkins' performances are lively and excellent. His renditions of "Blue Suede Shoes," "The Old Spinning Wheel" and "Matchbox" have been lying dormant for far too long. These recordings sound vital as if they were recorded yesterday.

It's also nice to see The Statler Brothers acknowledged for their role in this momentous recording. The Statler Brothers contribute "This Ole House," "Flowers On The Wall," a stirring rendition of "How Great Thou Art" and the novelty tune, "You Can't Have Your Kate and Edith Too." Interestingly included in this edition is the opening announcement from radio deejay Hugh Cherry. Cherry introduces both Johnny Cash shows and tells the prisoners how to present themselves to Johnny Cash. Cherry indicates how they should respond to Johnny Cash on stage, which might seem to take some of the magic away from the time that Johnny Cash does arrive on stage. It does not appear that the prisoners needed much prodding though, as most of them are in awe of the man in black.

The DVD `Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison' is included in this box set as well. The documentary features archival footage and photographs of the day that Cash played Folsom. It includes interviews with members of Johnny Cash's family and recollections from former prisoners.

So how essential is this package? Completely.

Do not buy this if you are looking for a LIVE DVD, or really if you are looking for ANY LIVE performance shot with Cash at Folsom. This is a doc,
and most of the songs featured on the DVD are supported by graphic "eye-candy" and are quite dull. It is an ok doc, but they clearly had nothing
historic to start with and jammed this thing together to have something to sell with the CD's. All Folsom footage is modern day b-roll. Truly disappointing.

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