Johnny Cash

[gonefishin]

I recently purchased a vintage collection of ephemera and records, that I believe belonged to a DJ in the 50s/60s. Included were several autographed items and some original Sun Record records; Elvis, Cash, Carl Perkins, Bob Wills, etc.

It begged me to ask, as I know there are a lot of Cash fans still kicking. What is your favorite Cash song, concert or event?

Mine was attending the inaugural Johnny Cash Heritage Festival concert in 2017 at his childhood home in Dyess, Arkansas. It was fantastic and the stage was set up in the cotton field that surrounds his childhood home. Of course, Johnny wasn't there but his entire family performed along with Kris Kristofferson. What a show and memories.

Anyone else out there a Cash fan?

[Cliff Bowman]

I would have to pick two as favorite song, Sunday Morning Coming Down and Hurt.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

I would have to pick two as favorite song, Sunday Morning Coming Down and Hurt.

Neither of which he wrote or sang originally, interestingly.

[Casey2296]

I'm partial to Ring of Fire and Girl from the North Country.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

I'm partial to Ring of Fire and Girl from the North Country.

I'll be conventional and go with I Walk the Line. Hard to push Folsom Prison Blues too far down the list.

[Peter_Spaeth]

And

[Leon]

+1
When people ask about the music I like, Johnny Cash is always one of them and in, or near, the top 10.

Same with Hank Williams Sr.....but I think he has fewer followers than Johnny Cash, probably by a good margin.

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I'll be conventional and go with I Walk the Line. Hard to push Folsom Prison Blues too far down the list.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Neither of which he wrote or sang originally, interestingly.

Sunday Morning, one of Kris Kristofersons all time writing gems, and Hurt is another great song written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

[Lucas00]

Johnny and a fan? Possibly somebody he knows I'm not sure. My only non baseball snapshot. I believe it's late 60s-early 70s era
As for favorite song I really like Ghost Riders in the sky.

[Beercan collector]

He sounds like God hollering into a barrel .
Live Folsom - Favorite verse the one about rich folks in a fancy dining car

[58pinson]

I suppose I'm just an impossible old romantic, but I've always loved "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen".

Brings me back to the late '50s when my small North Jersey town still had a soda shop/candy store or two.

[gonefishin]

Originally Posted by 58pinson

I suppose I'm just an impossible old romantic, but I've always loved "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen".

Brings me back to the late '50s when my small North Jersey town still had a soda shop/candy store or two.

Hey Al, Jim here. Your post caught my eye, as it stated when you grew up in a small North Jersey town in the late 50s. It made me think how really good music, of any genre, can appeal to people no matter where they live or grew up. In this case a country singer from North East Arkansas reached all the way up to a small town in New Jersey!

I was born and raised in Mississippi county not too far from Dyess, which is also in Mississippi county where Cash grew up, in the 50s and 60s, but let me tell you it's a long way from Mississippi county to New Jersey! Goes to show that good music knows no boundaries.

I should have posted a picture of one of the records in the collection when I started the thread, so I will here. This one is an extended play album from 1958 and includes Rock Island Line. Enjoy the photo.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Beercan collector

He sounds like God hollering into a barrel .
Live Folsom - Favorite verse the one about rich folks in a fancy dining car

The whole song is special, but nothing can top the line, I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

[mortimer brewster]

Born on February 26,1932. Happy Birthday MR. Cash. RIP.

[Gorditadogg]

Walk the Line is my favorite. It gets me every time I hear it how he changes keys for each verse.

Walk the Line is also one of my favorite movies. It's amazing that Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did their own singing.

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[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Gorditadogg

Walk the Line is my favorite. It gets me every time I hear it how he changes keys for each verse.

Walk the Line is also one of my favorite movies. It's amazing that Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did their own singing.

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The story is that that's why he's humming, to make sure he has the key right.

[Exhibitman]

Song: I've Been Everywhere

I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road
When along came a semi with a high an' canvas-covered load
"If you're goin' to Winnemucca, Mack, with me you can ride"
And so I climbed into the cab, and then I settled down inside
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand
And I said, "Listen, I've traveled every road in this here land"

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota
Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota
Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma
Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma
Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo
Tocapillo, Baranquilla, and Perdilla, I'm a killer

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the deserts bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana
Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana
Monterey, Faraday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa
Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa
Tennessee to Tennesse Chicopee, Spirit Lake
Grand Lake, Devils Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete's sake

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika
Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica
Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport
Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond du Lac, Davenport
Idaho, Jellico, Argentina, Diamantina,
Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean

I've been everywhere, man
I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere

I've been to Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelburg, Colorado
Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, El Dorado
Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chatanika
Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika
Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City
Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity
I've been everywhere, man

I've been everywhere, man
Crossed the desert's bare, man
I've breathed the mountain air, man
Of travel I've had my share, man
I've been everywhere


Honorable Mention: One Piece At A Time

Event: actually a non-event. I was working my first year at a law firm in Universal City and every Friday night a few of the alcoholic partners would round up associates to go have drinks at either Telly Savalas's bar at the Sheraton or in the Hilton lobby. I don't drink so I hated getting stuck sitting there nursing a club soda until I could leave. Anyhow, one Friday evening we were in the Hilton lobby and Johnny Cash walks off the elevator dressed head to toe in black and with a guitar slung over his shoulder and struts out the front door to a limo (i guess he was playing the Universal Amphitheater that evening). I didn't have the chance to go get his autograph or say hello. Wish I had. My father just about wore out his live album when I was a kid.

[todeen]

I don't know if Cash is in my top ten. But, my favorite music has always been his Highwaymen songs and later covers. Outlaw country is my favorite line of country music, followed by Neo-country of the late 80s and early 90s. Then I like western, like Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Anyway, I prefer Waylon over Johnny.

Highwaymen: "I fly a starship, across the universe divide. And when I reach the other side, I'll find a place to rest this spirit if I can. Perhaps I may become a highwayman again. Or I may simply be a single drop of rain...but I will remain."

Also like "Don't take your guns to town."

A later song of Cash's is "God's gonna cut you down."

Another I like is "Jackson" duet with his wife.

I also like some of his gospel music.

I grew up in Montana, and my dad was the regional manager for Montana. He got country music shows to come to Billings for three summers: 95, 96, 97. It was a great childhood. Merle Haggard came one year and I fell asleep in concert. I still don't connect with Haggard.

I think I first learned about Johnny Cash because his daughter was on the radio. My parents probably mentioned she was his daughter. I watched a lot of CMT, but I don't recall hearing him too much, although they played George Jones every now and then.

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[Peter_Spaeth]

At Folsom Prison is #3 on Rolling Stone's list of greatest live albums. Is there a more unforgettable line than "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash'?

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

At Folsom Prison is #3 on Rolling Stone's list of greatest live albums. Is there a more unforgettable line than "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash'?

Is the Live at Folsom Prison the video where he is smashing out the stage lights with his foot? Great performance.

[stlcardsfan]

Definitely Folsom Prison Blues as #1, but I could listen to a Boy Named Sue everyday and not get tired of hearing it. Even though he doesn't really sing the song, more like spoken word.

[cubman1941]

I find it hard to select a favorite. I would put one down and then another pops up in my head so I would change it. "I've been everywhere" is probably one of my favorites because it reminds me of myself in my much younger days. Story: I used to help out in an antique store in Kingsport and Johnny and June would come in often. June would shop and Johnny would sit on our bench. A rule was we would never tell anyone they were there so June could shop without being bothered. One day they came in and I had one of his records for sale in my wife's booth so got it and asked him to sign it for me. Another time they came in and June bought some quilts, etc. and asked if we could deliver it to his old home place In Hilton's VA. My wife and I loaded up my truck and took the items up there. June and Johnny were not there but we took the items into the house. Later on we were given a couple of rugs that were in the house. I used to think of the memories that these rugs had.