Johnny Cash: Classic

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Now he'll be singing "Jackson" with June again, at least.

Name me your favorite Johnny Cash song or album or memory.

Can't go wrong with "Live at Folsom Prison" or "Bitter Tears", and those American releases the past few years have been wonderful for the most part.

"Dark As a Dungeon" and "Jackson" do it for me.

― ham on rye (ham on rye), Friday, 12 September 2003 09:58 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm a sucker for "A Thing Called Love". but then it is on the first record I ever owned (K-Tel's '22 Dynamic Hits Vol.II')

― zebedee (zebedee), Friday, 12 September 2003 10:32 (twenty-two years ago)

I think my favourite album of his might be 'Solitary Man', though I suspect that 'The Man Comes Around' might have the biggest emotional impact on me when I listen to it this weekend, because of its poignancy.

I honestly think the American albums are as good as anything he's done in his entire career.

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 12 September 2003 10:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I love the Billboard ad, with him flipping off the music industry. Please, someone post the picture.
And I still think singing "San Quentin" TWICE to San Quentin inmates was probably the greatest "punk" moment of all time.

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:28 (twenty-two years ago)

This should be the biggest thread of all time.

― Dadaismus (Dada), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:31 (twenty-two years ago)

i saw this thread before i saw this!

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I had the pleasure of seeing Johnny and June play a general admission show in Providence a few years back. I was right up front and it was quite a thrill. He looked tired and grey but his voice was as strong as ever. He played "Orange Blossom Special" while they projected a film of him riding a train back in the 60s with a big old scowl on his face. Man, he looked like a bad mother!

― Jazzbo (jmcgaw), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

"San Quentin" twice was the one that immediately sprang to my mind too.

― harveyw (harveyw), Friday, 12 September 2003 11:59 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with James about the American albums.

― Ronan (Ronan), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:01 (twenty-two years ago)

I got to see him with the Highwaymen at a Farm Aid in the mid-90s. We were coming up the isle to get closer during Folsom Prison Blues and I remember stopping in awe at the "just to watch him die" line. He had such presence and weight as a performer and he balanced that with a friendly kinship with the audience. Classic.

― BrianB, Friday, 12 September 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

When my parents started dating in the early 60s, they went to go and see the Johnny Cash Revue (which also included The Statler Brothers, Carter Family) a couple of times. What is even more cool is that the venue where they went to see them play was a dragstrip. They also saw a bunch of other classic country artists at the same place like the Porter Waggoner Revue (which included a very young Dolly Parton) and Buck Owens.

I went with my parents to see Johnny Cash play sometime around 81 or 82 and it was a good time.

― earlnash, Friday, 12 September 2003 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

the billboard ad is huge, here's a link, but the site is overrun with traffic so it may not load.

― teeny (teeny), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I love Jackson too, but I have a very soft spot for I Walk the line - I like the droning quality and the lyrical sentiment especially given the great man's former penchant pills and booze.
Oh and the Man Who Couldn't Cry on the first American Recordings is very funny.

― Paul evans, Friday, 12 September 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"Sunday Morning Coming Down" is just about the saddest song ever. And I really love "Big River" too. I didn't know he'd died till I saw this thread. Goddammit.

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:21 (twenty-two years ago)

"I Walk The Line" for me right now; I just listened to this in the car while dropping my son off and had to do everything I could not to break down in front of him.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:23 (twenty-two years ago)

He went out with as much [musical] dignity as anyone in my lifetime. I mean, putting out incredible music all along the line, dealing w/a constantly shifting take on mortality until the end. I am incredibly sad.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:27 (twenty-two years ago)

When my clock radio went off this morning, they were playing "I Walk the Line" on the NPR station I wake up to. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but now I realize why they were playing it. We owe so much great music to Johnny. RIP.

― o. nate (onate), Friday, 12 September 2003 12:36 (twenty-two years ago)

"Johnny Cash & His Woman" is maybe the only album I know of that'll make me smile each and every time I listen to it. I think I'll go put it on right now.

― Moss Feaster (Moss Feaster), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Johnny Cash was the only thing my dad and I had in common when I was a teenager. My adolescence would have been a lot rougher without that common ground that was discovered when I found my dad's LP of Live at Folsom Prison and an actual conversation took place. Thanks Johnny.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:38 (twenty-two years ago)

just found this, from yesterday morning:

Entertainment - LAUNCH Music

Johnny Cash Resting At Home After Hospitalization
Thu Sep 11, 8:00 AM ET

LAUNCH Radio Networks

Johnny Cash is resting at home in Nashville after a two-week stay at a local hospital
for treatment of a stomach ailment. The 71-year-old singer was released from Baptist
Hospital on Tuesday (September 9). Originally, he was supposed to stay for a few days
after his admittance on August 26, but he remained at his doctors' request as an extra
precaution. Baptist spokesperson Jennifer Jackson told the Tennessean, "He had no
complications. He was always in stable condition. We just wanted to take our time,
make sure he was completely recovered."

Cash's condition forced him to miss the MTV Video Music Awards on August 28 where his latest
video, "Hurt," won for best cinematography.

According to the newspaper, Cash plans to head to California next week to begin work on a new album.
His manager, Lou Robin, tells the Tennessean that Cash has more than 40 songs ready to record for
the next project, tentatively titled American V.

Cash also plans to attend this year's Country Music Association (CMA) Awards on November 5, where
he is nominated for four awards.

I was wondering if he'd recorded any of AmV yet. Too bad. The world could always use another Johnny Cash album.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 12 September 2003 13:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Wow. Major, major loss. I hadn't even had a chance to properly celebrate Sam Phillips yet; been meaning to listen to all the Sun collections I have. I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

I'm glad Cash experienced some renewed success in his latter days.

RIP

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 12 September 2003 14:19 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~tehughes/bcms/johnnycash.jpeg

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 12 September 2003 14:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I am very sad today. To me, one of the giants of 20th century music....

also, if you're looking for an overlooked Johnny gem, try tracking down Water From the Wells of Home from the early 80s. It's a great record, one of his only good ones from that period.

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 12 September 2003 14:41 (twenty-two years ago)

My favourite Johnny Cash song (today at least) is "Big River."
The line "I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry" is one of the best in country/pop music ever.

― Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Friday, 12 September 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

God that picture just gave me a chill!

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Friday, 12 September 2003 14:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Just on the randomplay: Dylan/Cash: Big River.

Earlier: Ring of Fire. Holy Jebus.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 12 September 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Damn. I love the version of "Jackson" on "Live at Folsom."

I missed his show in Knoxville in '96 or so, one of his last before he was diagnosed.

Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard have put out some good music in recent years, but Johnny stayed relevant in a way that none of his contemporaries did.

I've got June's new CD here at the office. I guess I'll keep that on all day.

― mte, Friday, 12 September 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

My favorite album is probably Orange Blossom Special but there are far too many to rate. So many great songs. I also really enjoyed the VH1 Storytellers album with Willie Nelson because it's cool to hear him talk about the songs, gives an even deeper sense of his personality. The songs just radiate and I guess they always made me want to know him.

― scott m (mcd), Friday, 12 September 2003 16:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I hope this doesn't make me sounds like some kinda jerk, but part of me was looking forward to his grieving record.

Considering his health and the possiblity that an older person won't make it long after being widowed, it's not a total surprise that he'd pass this year, but I was surprised by how much his death affected me. End of an (American) era feeling, etc.

― wl (wl), Saturday, 13 September 2003 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

at first I was annoyed that every party I went to last night was playing Johhny Cash but then I remember what I usually hear and stopped complaining. Was disappointed I never saw a TV running old Three's Company episodes in tribute though.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 13 September 2003 17:24 (twenty-two years ago)

I was wondering if he'd recorded any of AmV yet

In TIME (or was it Newsweek?) a few weeks ago, they had a blurb at the back of the magazine with a short interview with him, and he said he'd been recording tracks since June died for his next album.

― VMP, Saturday, 13 September 2003 20:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I have "Super Hits" on tape, got it for $2 at FYE, a year ago it became the theme album for the 91 New Yorker that was my only car until 3 weeks ago. I have to call it my favorite, because it's the only one I ever owned, which is kinda funny, seeing that I'm considering getting a black armband tattooed on me for the guy. It's weird how a guy can be just as (or more) important as Elvis or the Beatles, and still not have impersonaters in Vegas or shitty knockoffs in England like Oasis.

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Sunday, 14 September 2003 06:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually the armband would be for Cash/Zevon.

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Sunday, 14 September 2003 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

"the junkie & the juicehead" (written by k. kristofferson but i don't know his version) that's a good song.
oh & "man in black", i nearly forgot "man in black"!

― duane, Sunday, 14 September 2003 06:34 (twenty-two years ago)

His versions of "One" and "Personal Jesus" are amazing. But Long Black Veil's my favorite.

― Shmuel (shmuel), Sunday, 14 September 2003 07:49 (twenty-two years ago)

two years pass...

If anyone wants to hear the classic, yet sadly never released on cd, album "Johnny Cash & His Woman" I posted it here: www.joedevivre.com

― Lloyd Bonecutter (Lloyd Bonecutter), Wednesday, 22 March 2006 19:31 (nineteen years ago)

i keep coming back to that theme, his woman, and read it in my head as women...and then how kind was he to vivian, how kind was he to his children, how selfish he was in the beginning, and how much, regardless of the duets, did he quash junes career

― anthony easton (anthony), Thursday, 23 March 2006 00:12 (nineteen years ago)

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