On this day, in 1968, Johnny Cash (along with June Carter, Carl Perkins, the Statler Brothers, and the Tennessee Three (guitarist Luther Perkins, bassist Marshall Grant, drummer W.S. "Fluke" Holland), walked into Folsom Prison and the recording of the resulting concert pretty much changed not only Cash's career and country music, but proved to be a major milestone in American popular culture as a whole.
A few years ago the entire - uncensored - concert from both Folsom, as well as the one a year later in San Quentin (which gave us "A Boy Named Sue") were released, and worth checking out, if only for some of the rather salty stage banter between the songs, that, of course, never appeared on the original record.
So, here's the Man In Black himself, doing Folsom Prison Blues at San Quentin Prison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ts4M3irWM&feature=related# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ts4M3irWM&feature=related#)
In a new world of wimpy punks posing as thugs - this here is real hard core stuff, from a guy who really lived it, and never found anything all that glamorous about it.
Thanks Kat.
Just when I got over your last one. ;)
I had both albums. Yes they were vinyl. ;D I loved them and wore them out.
Janet
Lol, I watched the movie with Joaquin Phoenix in it recently
But yeah, I had a couple of his LPs years ago
Like I said, check out the re-issues of the full and unedited concert. Worth a trip to the library.
The record of the week on radio 2 here in the uk is "for the good times" of the American VI;ain't no grave album due to be released end of Feb
I was walking to a friends house long hair, unknown sex, in about 68-70. Set upon by 3-4 skin heads, thought I was going to get 'done' again. Big thick moron looked at the LP I was carrying, "That's a great record" or something like that. Then left me alone and moved on.
Awesome talent JC, I often think of Roy Orbison for some reason when I listen to JC but never know why. Thanks Tekla for stirring some sweet memories
Cindy
I always thought of Johnny Cash as being the one person who could walk into any place in the US and people would dig it. Hippies and rednecks, po' white trash to the Hamptons, mechanics to executive suites. And he would never have to change who he was to do any of that. Something to aim for in an odd way.
He could bring people to their feet with four simple words. "Hello. I'm Johnny Cash".
Quote from: Janet Lynn on February 12, 2010, 10:23:16 AM
He could bring people to their feet with four simple words. "Hello. I'm Johnny Cash".
Amen!
Yeah, but that only worked because of what followed.