Gordon Jenkins' 1953 Seven Dreams concept album and the song "Crescent City Blues" with vocalist Beverly Maher provided more than the basis for this hit.

After "Folsom Prison Blues" became popular Johnny Cash reached a settlement with Gordon. The man in black performed the song at Folsom Prison itself in 1968, and this version was eventually released on the At Folsom Prison album . According to Wikipedia the cheering from the audience following the line "I shot a man in Reno / just to watch him die" was added in post-production. A special on the Walk the Line DVD indicates that the prisoners were careful not to cheer at any of Cash's comments about the prison itself, fearing reprisal from guards.