I can ALWAYS get down to “Folsom Prison Blues.”
Johnny Cash‘s original is iconic for its own reason, and because of his work, we now have so many amazing covers of the song to enjoy. One of mine is from Brandi Carlile.
Back in 2010, she took the stage at the historic Loveless Cafe in Nashville for Music City Roots and gives a performance full of energy. It will have your foot tapping without even realizing it.
“I think we would be remiss if we did not play a song from the late… great… Johnny Cash.”
Written in 1953, it was originally recorded in 1955 for his debut album, Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!
He recorded a live version at Folsom State Prison in 1968. Released on his 1968 At Folsom Prison record, the live version version became a a monster hit on the country music charts and even reached No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
He also won the Grammy Award for Best Country Vocal Performance at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards in 1969.
Right off the bat, the band gets into the beat and immediately starts having fun.
Carlile impressively nails the lower-toned vocals and adds a hell of twang we don’t get from her as much these days.
During the breakdown, her lead guitar player picks the hell out of his acoustic while the rest of the band somehow adds even more energy to the rest of the electric stage.
Carlile gets the crowd going by encouraging them to clap along before she goes back in for the second verse to belt out the song’s final lyrics.
You don’t see very many female artists coving this song, and Carlile’s version is knock-out.
The whole performance is full of excitement and just downright fun.
