Johnny Cash

Paula · Post by **Paula** » Mon Sep 15, 2003 3:07 pm

The legacy of Johnny Cash will live on for a long long time in his music. A tribute to him was aired on BBC2 yesterday in the shape of Later with Jools Holland and a compilation of him and June Carter. He sang Ghost Riders in the Sky and Folsom Prison Blues and a poignant (in retrospect) Will the Circle be Unbroken duet with June Carter who he survived by a matter of months. RIP

Linda · Post by **Linda** » Tue Sep 16, 2003 3:57 pm

He was a great entertainer. I did see him in person, he came to northern Minnesota often, and my husband was a great fan of his. After watching the specials on him this past weekend, I am happy for him, I believe he is where he wants to be now.

Cohen Knight · Post by **Cohen Knight** » Sun Sep 21, 2003 11:52 pm

R.I.P. Mr. Cash

Mike

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 5:34 pm

Here is a statement by Dylan on Johnny Cash. I am quoting extracts of it.
While I myself have listened to Cash sporadically and havent really kept up with his recent American Recordings series, it is interesting that so many high-profile people hold him in such high regard. I also heard a story that way back a then unknown Kristofferson in Nashville rented a helicopter and landed in Cash's backyard with 'Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down', requesting him to sing it. Cash did and Kristofferson's career took off.

In plain terms, Johnny was and is the North Star; you could guide your ship by him -- the greatest of the greats then and now.......

There wasn't much music media in the early Sixties, and Sing Out! was the magazine covering all things folk in character. The editors had published a letter chastising me for the direction my music was going. Johnny wrote the magazine back an open letter telling the editors to shut up and let me sing, that I knew what I was doing. This was before I had ever met him, and the letter meant the world to me. I've kept the magazine to this day.

Of course, I knew of him before he ever heard of me. In '55 or '56, "I Walk the Line" played all summer on the radio, and it was different than anything else you had ever heard. The record sounded like a voice from the middle of the earth. It was so powerful and moving. It was profound, and so was the tone of it, every line; deep and rich, awesome and mysterious all at once. "I Walk the Line" had a monumental presence and a certain type of majesty that was humbling. Even a simple line like "I find it very, very easy to be true" can take your measure. We can remember that and see how far we fall short of it.

Johnny wrote thousands of lines like that. Truly he is what the land and country is all about, the heart and soul of it personified and what it means to be here; and he said it all in plain English. - Bob Dylan

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 7:01 pm

I was introduced to 'I Walk the Line' some time after it was first released, but before I first heard Leonard Cohen. I loved that 'deep brown' voice, and I think that that has contributed to my pleasure in Leonard's deeper voice as he has matured. I also remember being awed by Johnny's nerve in playing Folsome Prison. I must have seen a video of it at some time because I remember his control of those rowdy cons was awesome at times. He had a huge presence.

While I was visiting home this weekend, my Dad played my Johnny's last recorded CD. It was a rather motley mixture of country classics, with his own compositions and old chart toppers, and at times his voice was lacking in substance. But there was one amazing song on there, about armagheddon (sp?). The whole song was very cohenesque, but particularly the refrain, which I may not have remembered exactly:

The whirlwind's in the thornbush
The virgins are trimming their wicks
The whirlwind's in the thornbush
But it's hard for you to kick against the pricks

Afterwards I played 'I Can't Forget' for Dad to listen to, and he agreed that it was quite a good country song, though he couldn't quite make out all the words. (He probably just didn't believe what he had heard

) I wonder if I could put together a 'country side of Leonard Cohen' compilation for him

Johnny Cash has been the yardstick against which many have measured themselves. He stood for absolute integrity, and he will be very much missed.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 2:56 am

Well, listening to "I'm Your Fan," it seems that when Nick Cave recorded "Tower of Song," he paid homage to Leonard by being part of the tape; and by selecting that particular song, reenforced that Leonard rightfully belongs there [in the Tower of Song].

It also seems that Nick paid homage to, and made known some other people whom he feels belong there, as well, by playing sections of the song in their style[s]. One of these seems to be very clearly Johnny Cash, as Nick slows down the music and his voice; and the unique sound of the guitar, the beat and rhythm, and the depth of his voice sound unmistakably "Johnny Cash." It, of course, feels rather awkward to make this kind of assessment, as I'm not a musician. However, it sure seems and sounds that way to me. It appears that Nick is amongst the many other notables who were influenced by Johnny.

~ Lizzytysh

linmag · Post by **linmag** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 4:43 pm

Elizabeth, Nick Cave actually guests on the Johnny Cash CD I mentioned above.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 4:59 pm

That's great, Linmag! It sounds like my non-musician assertion may be spot-on then

.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Mon Nov 10, 2003 2:25 pm

Tonight is the night. I would love to hear that Leonard found a way to attend, and sang "Bird On A Wire" in tribute to Johnny Cash.

~ Elizabeth

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Fri Nov 14, 2003 12:23 am

I read several accounts of the Johnny Cash tribute. It sounded like a very moving affair; however, there was no mention of Leonard's being there. Unless they somehow missed mentioning him [which I can't imagine], I wish he had been.

Lostlyric · Post by **Lostlyric** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 9:27 am

Hi All:

To my mind the singular quality about Johnny Cash is that he transcended musical boundaries, country in his case. He was always different, and marched to his own drum. I first heard Johnny Cash on Dylan's Nashville Skyline a long time ago...smile. Ever since then he has held a special place in my heart. I have a couple of his earlier albums, and all his albums since 1992 produced by Rick Rubin. However, I also believe everyone should know that it was not so much that his contract ended with Columbia as he was unceremoniously dropped by them purely for commercial reasons. This came as a great shock to Johnny at the age of 62 after about 25 years of making records on their label. They just strung him out to dry. That is when Rick Rubin got in touch with him, and it was the start of a Johnny Cash completely unfettered creatively. Needless to say he rose like the phoenix. And it was only then that country music once again started to claim him as one of their own. But he never really was because he was above all that.

By the way did anyone see him play the villain in a "Columbo" episode, it was pretty amazing. There is an excerpt from it on the "Hurt" music video, but then it pretty much covers every significant aspect of Johnny's life.

At another level I am completely fascinated by his love for June Carter-Cash, it is special, very special. What an incredible romance.

However, I am truly surprised that no one mentioned his beautiful rendition of "Hurt". And the music video, it looks like Johnny just knew that the grim reaper was on his way, what a premonition, what a rendition, what a video, what a way to go.......... I salute you Johnny.

"His body is gone but back here on the lawn his spirit continues to" rule. (With apologies to Leonard Cohen).

Biraj

Lostlyric · Post by **Lostlyric** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 9:30 am

Its me again. I forgot to add that Johnny Cash was NOT an entertainer, he was a singer/musician. I say this because entertainer and singer/musicians are two very different kinds of people.

I just had to get that in there

Biraj

Makera · Post by **Makera** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 10:08 am

Does anyone have the "Highwaymen Live" video of their performances in March 1990, at Long Island's Nassau Coliseum? (That's Johnny with Willie, Waylon and Kris.) Produced by CBS Music Video Enterprises: CMV Enterprises.
As often happens at live performances, when the audience, atmosphere etc. is 'just right', they sound even better than the studio recordings of the same songs. Highly recommended - great range of songs - plus brief segments of interviews with each of them. (Wonderful story of "the measure of the man" (in black) from Kris Kristofferson, also.)

~Makera

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Nov 16, 2003 1:13 pm

Biraj ~ I'm sorry to hear the sad story of Columbia. I would have liked to believe that after all that time, one of these record companies would have prioritized and exercised some loyalty to a great man. A huge thank you to Rick Rubin for all reasons. I don't think you owe Leonard any apologies, whatsoever. I feel he would highly approve of your use and slight, yet significant, change of his lyrics. My first memory of hearing him was "Folsom Prison Blues," though "Nashville Skyline" rings a bell, too. If the latter came first, that would be it. The memory I have is of the former. It seems "Folsom Prison" for sure, though.

No, unfortunately, to both "Columbo" and "Hurt." It sounds like you're right with the premonition prompting the production.

Makera ~ "Highwaymen Live" sounds very cool. I agree with your assessment on Live recordings. The ones that make it to production [from my experience] are those that have reached those heights that you speak of, and I love them for that reason, as well as hearing audience applause, as well as the talking the artist does in between the songs and with the audience, at the beginning, or wherever. I'd love to hear those interviews!

Thanks for reviving this thread with your comments, Biraj. Still so many great things to be said about the man, and each posting seems to do that.

~ Lizzytysh

margaret · Post by **margaret** » Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:11 pm

Tonight (Friday)on BBC1 tv in Britain at 11.05 is a program titled Johnny Cash;the Last Great American.