Posted on 02/26/2010 4:08:20 PM PST by JoeProBono
This week, a new Johnny Cash album — American Recordings VI: Ain't No Grave — was released to coincide with what would have been the music icon's 78th birthday. Today, we take a look back at the Man in Black, who spoke with Terry Gross in 1997.
Cash began recording albums and performing in the 1950s. His long romance with wife June Carter Cash, celebrated in the 2005 biopic Walk the Line, spanned five decades — from their early touring days to their rise as one of America's most popular country-music couples.
Cash recorded over 1,500 songs in his career, including such classic hits as "I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire" and "A Boy Named Sue." He played several of his most popular songs, including "Folsom Prison Blues," at that maximum security facility in 1968. The album based on that performance hit the top slot on the country-music charts and revitalized Cash's career.
In the 1990s, Cash worked with rock producer Rick Rubin. The two collaborated on several critically acclaimed Grammy-winning albums — two of which have been released since Cash's death in 2003.
That song, which was written by Kris Kristofferson contains one of the greatest lines in country music:
Then I fumbled through my closet for my clothes,
And found my cleanest dirty shirt.
There is also a great story about that song, a story I had heard before but was not 100% certain of its validity until it was confirmed to me by a man who played bass guitar in Johnny Cash's band (I met him at a wedding).
It seems Kris Kristofferson wrote that song specifically with Johnny Cash in mind as the person who could make it a hit. He then talked a friend of his (who was an military Helicopter pilot) to take Kris for a ride. They flew to Johnny Cash's house (obviously Kristoferson had thought this out). He then had the pilot land the chopper in Cash's back yard. Johnny was not there, but June was. Naturally she comes out to see who it is. Kristoferson, who was an unknown at the time, stepped out, introduced himself to her, handed her the music and said, "This is for Mr. Cash, it is his next hit song."
It was.
There are other variations of the story, but that was how it was told to me.
Elvis has nothing on Cash, actually nobody has anything on Cash:)
I bought my dad a copy of the first American Recordings one year for Christmas. He wanted Ramblin’ Jack Elliot version of Tennessee Stud and when I couldn’t find it I figured the Cash one would have to do. Wow, talk about a revelation. That album opened up a whole new world for me that I otherwise might never have been savvy to.
Sun Recording Artist - Johnny Cash
I tend to smile. In fact, I'm a little jealous. They chased their dreams and found a few. They faced their troubles and came out on top. God did bless them.
When Ronald Reagan was President we also had Bob Hope and Johnny Cash. Now we have Obama for President and no Hope and no Cash.
The best $9 tour in the world. And the parking really is free.
One of Evis' best recording sessions or albums was the "Sun Sessions", young, clear crisp, great voice.
Sam Phillips know just how good Elvis could be and knew he was much bigger then Sun records.
Johnny Cash: U S Air Force Security Service Morse Intercept Operator!
Heh, heh, heh.
Seriously, it's my understanding that Johnny Cash was a liberal. I know that his circle of friends included a number of leftists such as Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. Plus he was against the Iraq War.
Here's a thread from several years back that I recalled upon reading today's posting and found it appropriate:
When he died I wrote Ghost Writers in Disguise in his honor.
His version of Ghost Riders in the Sky is a classic.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
My current favorite Cash song: When the Man Comes Around.
not saying Elvis didn’t accomplish a few things, but they pale in comparison to Cash ( imho ), of course folks will have different opinions and that’s what makes us interesting... for the most part, some opinions are downright scary heh
Sun Recording included Elvis and alot of others. I have some of those old records.
I admit to being a Johnny Cash Fan but I always thought that Kris Kristofferson wrote this song.
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