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    The Jock of Rock posted an update 4 years, 11 months ago

    RockChat Rewind with Joe Milliken.
    On this day in 1968 Johnny Cash released his 27th album, a live recording titled “At Folsom Prison.” He had become interested in performing at the max security prison after recording the 1955 song “Folsom Prison Blues.” His original idea to perform a show there had been put on hold because of his own drug problems, plus Columbia Records had put someone new, Bob Johnston, in charge of producing Cash’s material and he was all for it.
    Two shows were recorded on January 13, 1968, with 15 tracks coming from the first show and two from the second. The live version of “Folson Prison Blues’ from the album was a top 40 hit in America, reaching #15 on the singles chart and #1 on the country singles chart.
    “At Folsom Prison” revitalized Cash’s sagging career, and prompted a series of other live albums he recorded at prisons including “At San Quentin” (1969), “På Österåker” (1973), and “A Concert Behind Prison Walls” (1976). The album was also released as a three-CD set in 2008, and a five-LP boxed set in 2018 for “Record Store Day.” “At Folsom Prison” reached #13 on the Billboard album chart, #1 on the Country music album chart and #7 on the UK album chart, and has gone on to sell over three million copies worldwide.

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