142. Johnny Cash | At San Quentin (1969)

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Wikipedia Entry

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Tracks

Original Release

1. Wanted Man
2. Wreck of the Old 97
3. I Walk the Line
4. Darling Companion
5. Starkville City Jail
6. San Quentin
7. San Quentin
8. A Boy Named Sue
9. (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley
10. Folsom Prison Blues

Re-release

1. Big River
2. I Still Miss Someone
3. Wreck of the Old 97
4. I Walk the Line
5. Darlin' Companion
6. I Don't Know Where I'm Bound
7. Starkville City Jail
8. San Quentin
9. San Quentin
10. Wanted Man
11. A Boy Named Sue
12. (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley
13. Folsom Prison Blues
14. Ring of Fire
15. He Turned the Water Into Wine
16. Daddy Sang Bass
17. The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago
18. Closing Medley: Folsom Prison Blues/I Walk the Line/Ring of Fire/The Rebel-Johnny Yuma

Leagcy edition

1. Blue Suede Shoes
(performed by Carl Perkins)
2. Flowers on the Wall
(performed by the Statler Brothers)
3. The Last Thing on My Mind
4. June Carter Cash Talks To The Audience
5. Wildwood Flower
(perfored by the Carter Family)
6. Big River
7. I Still Miss Someone
8. Wreck of the Old 97
9. I Walk the Line
10. Medley: The Long Black Veil/Give My Love To Rose
11. Folsom Prison Blues
12. Orange Blossom Special
(performed by Johnny Cash)
13. Jackson
14. Darlin' Companion
(performed by Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash and Carl Perkins)
15. Break My Mind
(performed by The Carter Family and Carl Perkins)
16. I Don't Know Where I'm Bound
17. Starkville City Jail
(performed by Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins)
18. San Quentin
19. San Quentin
20. Wanted Man
(performed by Johnny Cash)
21. Restless
(performed by Johnny Cash)
22. A Boy Named Sue
23. Blistered
(performed by Johnny Cash)
24. (There'll Be) Peace in the Valley
(peformed by Johnny Cash, The Carter Family and Carl Perkins)
25. The Outside Looking In
(performed by Carl Perkins)
26. Less Of Me
(peformed by The Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins)
27. Ring Of Fire
(performed by Johnny Cash, The Carter Family and Carl Perkins)
28. He Turned The Water Into Wine
29. Daddy Sang Bass
30. The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago
31. Closing Medley: Folsom Prison Blues/I Walk The Line/Ring Of Fire/Folsom Prison Blues/The Rebel - Johnny Yuma/Folsom Prison Blues
(performed by Johnny Cash, The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins)

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Note: There are now three versions of At San Quentin: the original release, an extended re-release and the legacy version. The extended re-release nearly doubles the number of songs from the performance. Most of the songs left off are songs that were also performed on At Folsom Prison like Folsom Prison Blues, Orange Blossom Special and Jackson. Another song, Blistered, was also not included. The songs are also performed in the correct order that they were performed live. That is, the playlist is out of order to the actual performance. The legacy version is a complete, unedited, uncut version of the San Quentin performance that includes all songs Johnny Cash performed as well as songs performed by Carl Perkins, The Statler Brothers and The Carter Family. The original release was also censored for words like shit and son-of-a-bitch. The new releases are not censored. Out of the three, the legacy version is hands-down the best. Even if you are aren't into the other performers, the legacy release is still much better than the extended re-release.

At San Quentin is a messy album. This recording isn't as exciting, rowdy or upbeat as At Folsom Prison. It is somber, angry and downbeat. If anything, it's more personal. At Folsom Prison was a Johnny Cash performance; At San Quentin was Johnny Cash's life.

I think this album is good for its tone and Cash's performance. However, the album is censored in a not-so-subtle way, especially during A Boy Called Sue. It's also clear where the performance was edited. Also, the album could have been longer.

The first thing you notice when you listen to the legacy version of this album is that Johnny Cash is not completely on his game like he was on At Folsom Prison. His voice sounds like it did during the second Folsom Prison performance of the day. If you didn't know anything about Johnny Cash's personal life you'd just think he sounds like he is tired or that he's just having an off-day. Of course, it's probably combination of the toll his drug use had taken and Luther Perkins' death seven months prior to the performance.

Actually, several songs into the performance, Johnny Cash's voice improves and his energy picks up. The songs that didn't make the cut on the original release are mainly those first several songs. Unfortunately, many of those several songs were the most successful songs on At Folsom Prison like Folsom Prison Blues, Orange Blossom Special and Jackson. So, the question is: were the songs left off because of the lackluster performance or to avoid releasing another prison album with the same songs or both? I'd like to think the songs were performed for the inmates' enjoyment and were never going to be included in the release. But that doesn't take into consideration why At San Quentin is so much shorter than At Folsom Prison.

Lastly, it makes no sense why At San Quentin is censored and At Folsom Prison wasn't. I wasn't around when the two albums were released, but I've never heard anything about anyone being upset about the language used on At Folsom Prison. So, it would seem to be a non-issue.

All the songs are worth listening to and they are mostly classics, so it's not worth mentioning a list of stand-outs.

★★★★★★★★☆☆