At San Quentin/At Folsom Prison

Personnel: June Carter Cash, The Carter Family (vocals); Luther Perkins, Bob Wootton (electric guitar); W.S. Holland (drums).
Audio Mixer: Vic Anesini.
Liner Note Authors: June Carter Cash; Marty Stuart; Lou Robin.
Recording information: Folsom Prison (01/13/1968/02/24/1969); San Quentin Prison (01/13/1968/02/24/1969).
Photographer: Jim Marshall .
Arrangers: J.D. Cash; B. Johnson.
For whatever reason, Sony Legacy decided to repackage Johnny Cash's two greatest live albums in reverse order in this double-disc package: At San Quentin was released in 1969, and At Folsom Prison was issued a year earlier. Perhaps it's because San Quentin was the better-selling album because of its novelty crossover hit, A Boy Named Sue, and Cash was rolling on his own with a variety series at the time. Either way, it hardly matters, as both albums are greatly expanded from their original LP and CD versions, and are presented in fully remastered 24-bit sound. There are literally dozens of arguments to made for which Cash records to introduce a novice to, and which are his most important recordings. The former doesn't matter as much as the latter, and in that respect, both of these recordings place in the top five or ten. They both showcase the Man in Black at his very best. Whether you only know Cash from his latter-day recordings with Rick Rubin on American, or whether you are a seasoned fan who doesn't own the remastered versions of these recordings, the price is right and you can't possibly go wrong. ~ Thom Jurek