Customer Reviews

The Best Of The Johnny Cash TV Show: 1969-1971

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I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who just appreciates good music. I caught a sneak preview of this amazing disc on my local PBS station in August of 2007, and it was one of the greatest things I had seen on television in a long time. Johnny Cash's prime time television show aired from 1969 - 1971, and featured both prominent rock and country artists of the day. Groundbreaking television for sure, considering at the time that most rock artists were associated with the peace, drugs, free love and the anti-war movement by a conservative segment of American society, just when the war was really starting to sour. Filmed live at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee (with a few exceptions), in front of a mostly Southern country music audience, all the artists seemed to be warmly embraced by the crowd, with Johnny Cash's blessing and support. The first hour consisted of rock and popular music performers that Johnny Cash was an admirer or fan of, including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Neil Diamond, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. The highlight was Derek and the Dominoes featuring Eric Clapton, and following their performance none other than Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash himself joined Derek and the Dominoes onstage for a raucous version of Perkins' Matchbox. Simply amazing.
The second half was Johnny himself performing solo, with his wife June Carter Cash, and with the Tennessee Three. Prominent country artists also featured were George Jones, Tammy Wynette, a young, short-haired and beardless Hank Williams Jr., young Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and Charley Pride (possibly the only black country artist ever). These are only the performances shown on the PBS special preview. There were literally hundreds of great performances on this show over its two year run. There's no lip synching nonsense here. Every artist actually performing and singing live. This is priceless television and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of any of the artists I mentioned. You will not be disappointed. It won't be available until September of 2007, and I will most definitely be purchasing it.

On September 18, CMV/Columbia/Legacy will release The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show, a 2xDVD compiling 64 live performances from the 58 episodes of Johnny Cash's 1969-1971 "The Johnny Cash Show".

Kris Kristofferson hosts the DVD, which features performances from Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Louis Armstrong, Loretta Lynn, Neil Diamond, Jerry Lee Lewis, George Jones, Derek and the Dominoes, Roy Orbison, the Carter Family (inluding June Carter Cash), and Johnny Cash himself, among many others.

The set also features new interviews with John Carter Cash, Tennessee Three bassist Marshall Grant, Hank Williams, Jr., musical arranger Bill Walker, and hairstylist Penny Lane.

There will also be a single-disc CD version of the compilation available on the same day as the DVD.

The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show (DVD):

01 Johnny Cash: "Ring of Fire"
02 Bob Dylan: "I Threw It All Away"
03 Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan: "Girl From the North Country"
04 Kris Kristofferson: "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)"
05 Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash: "Blue Yodel #9"
06 Stevie Wonder: "Heaven Help Us All"
07 Creedence Clearwater Revival: "Bad Moon Rising"
08 Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash: "I Will Never Marry"
09 George Jones and Johnny Cash: "White Lightning"
10 George Jones: "Medley: She Thinks I Still Care / The Love Bug / The Race Is On"
11 Johnny Cash: "Hey Porter"
12 Waylon Jennings: "Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line"
13 Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash: "The Singing Star's Queen"
14 Waylon Jennings: "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
15 Tammy Wynette: "Stand by Your Man"
16 Marty Robbins: "Medley: Big Iron / Running Gun / El Paso"
17 Johnny Cash: "Ride This Train"
18 Johnny Cash: "As Long as the Grass Shall Grow"
19 Johnny Cash: "Man in Black"
20 James Taylor: "Sweet Baby James"
21 Pete Seeger: "Cripple Creek"
22 Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash: "Worried Man Blues"
23 Johnny Cash: "Sunday Morning Coming Down"
24 Johnny Cash: "Old Time Religion"
25 Johnny Cash: "A Wonderful Time Up There"
26 Johnny Cash, the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins, and the Tennessee Three: "Daddy Sang Bass"
27 Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters: "Wildwood Flower"
28 Neil Young: "The Needle and the Damage Done"
29 Johnny Cash: "Tennessee Flat Top Box"
30 Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash: "Long Black Veil"
31 Johnny Cash: "Big River"
32 Johnny Cash: "I Walk the Line"
33 June Carter Cash: "A Good Man"
34 Derek and the Dominoes: "It's Too Late"
35 Derek and the Dominoes With Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins: "Matchbox"
36 Charley Pride: "Able Bodied Man"
37 Bill Monroe and His Bluegrass Boys: "Blue Moon of Kentucky"
38 Loretta Lynn: "I Know How"
39 Jerry Lee Lewis: "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"
40 Johnny Cash: "Ride This Train (America the Beautiful, This Land Is Your Land)"
41 The Everly Brothers With Ike Everly and Johnny Cash: "Silver Haired Daddy of Mine"
42 Ray Charles: "Ring of Fire"
43 Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"
44 Conway Twitty: "Hello Darlin'"
45 Mother Maybelle Carter: "Black Mountain Rag"
46 Neil Diamond: "Cracklin' Rosie"
47 Ray Price: "For the Good Times"
48 Roy Orbison: "Crying"
49 Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash: "Oh, Pretty Woman"
50 Johnny Cash: "Wanted Man"
51 Chet Atkins: "Medley: Country Gentleman / Mister Sandman / Wildwood Flower / Freight Train"
52 June Carter Cash With Homer and Jethro: "Baby It's Cold Outside"
53 Merle Haggard: "No Hard Time Blues"
54 Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash: "Sing Me Back Home"
55 Carl Perkins: "Blue Suede Shoes"
56 Johnny Cash, the Carter Family and Carl Perkins: "The Old Account Was Settled Long Ago"
57 The Statler Brothers: "Flowers on the Wall"
58 Roy Clark: "Medley: In the Summertime / 12th Street Rag"
59 Johnny Cash: "Working Man Blues"
60 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash: "Jackson"
61 Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash: "Turn Around"
62 Johnny Cash: "I Love You Because"
63 Hank Williams, Jr.: "Medley: You Win Again / Cold Cold Heart / I Can't Help It If I'm Still in Love With You / Half As Much"
64 Johnny Cash: "Folsom Prison Blues"

This two-disc set collects highlights of Johnny Cash's short-lived musical variety show, which aired on network TV between 1969-71. At the peak of the hippies-vs.-straights culture clash, Cash boldly invited guests from across the American musical spectrum -- longhairs, country traditionalists, Nashville insiders, jazz musician, rock stars, pop tunesmiths and folkies. The guest list is truly astonishing, given the tensions of the times. Bob Dylan -- one of Cash's favorite artists -- was on the first show in '69, tipping viewers off that this wasn't gonna be your typical country TV show. Appearances by Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Wonder and John Fogerty followed, as well as master entertainers such as Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles. And of course, there was the cream of the country crop -- Waylon Jennings, Ray Price, Marty Robbins, George Jones, Loretta Lynn and Johnny's crew from his road show -- June Carter Cash & the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins and others. In the wings were some amazing sidemen: keep an eye out for Norman Blake plucking acoustic guitar, as well as the wealth of up-and-coming talent that Cash went out of his way to promote (notably Kris Kristofferson, who reminisces about the old shows in interview segments added in this DVD set...)

This is a great collection, generously programmed (the set list on the Menu goes on for page after page...) and many of the performances are pure gold (George Jones is awesome!) Some fans will complain that they'd rather see the original shows as broadcast at the time, and while I agree that that would be fun, I don't see any reason to give anything but praise to this set. The documentary format, with various Cash crew and compatriots interviewed and introducing different segments, is kinda cool, and for the most part they know when to get out of the way and let the music play. It's a pity they didn't shoot the whole TV show on film -- some of the video stock gets kinda flared out (the Dylan clips, in particular) but, hey -- that's history for you. Personally, I'm glad to see whatever stuff like this there is -- it's a great look back at an interesting cultural moment, when mainstream country was still pretty traditional, although the walls were starting to fall and new influences were coming into play. Cash fans and country fans alike will want to check this one out! (DJ Joe Sixpack)

I'll apply to this 2-disc set a frequently abused adjective that in this case is altogether justified: incredible.

A word on format: Disc 1 is more a documentary, with narrative--aptly hosted by Kris Kristofferson at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium--and interviews presiding over excerpts from the ABC Cash series. Disc 2 reverses the angle: It's a compilation of many "greatest hits" from among the 57 hours, with only occasional commentary. Among those interveiwed are Marshall Grant and Bill Williams, the arranger and director of the series' pit orchestra. Predictably, both are very informative. Excerpts from the series are well balanced, reflecting the original's spirit: Cash at the center, country-heavy yet eclectic, a spot of gospel here, a touch of Opry farce there, "Ride This Train," and the ensemble conclusions.

A word of rebuttal: Already there are those complaining that we haven't been given every installment in its entirety. Let's curb our impatience and be grateful for what we have: beautifully restored, well edited, representative samples of the show, whose purchase now might pave the way for more to follow. Those who may complain that there's not enough Cash and too much (fill in the blank) should remember that this star was extraordinarily gracious in giving so much time to his guests and to duets with them. Furthermore, let's remember that there are few legal knots more tangled than the reproduction of music, because the rights for use are so complicated: the songwriter, the lyricist, the publisher, the arrangement, the performers, their unions, etc. I consider it a miracle that we have been given here so much, not so little. To pronounce a rare benediction: God bless the lawyers in this project!

As to the DVDs themselves, I repeat myself: incredible. We have Cash, at the very peak of his mid-career height, who was never better than when performing live before an appreciative audience. We have the unsung yet ever reliable Carl Perkins with the Tennessee Three (Grant, Bob Wooton, Fluke Johnson), tearing up the pea-patch. Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters, all still young. The Statler Brothers, beginning to make their own name with "Flowers on the Wall" (which they perform here, after their Grammy Award). Those are "only" the regulars. The guest stars nearly comprise a Who's Who of American music in the '60s: Bill Monroe, doing the "Elvis version" of "Blue Moon of Kentucky." Louis Armstrong. Bob Dylan. Joni Mitchell. Chet Atkins. Ray Charles--whose soul version of "Ring of Fire" has to be heard and seen to be believed. From Cash's Sun days, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. Derek and the Dominoes (representing country music's influence on America's British Invasion of the 60s). And on and on and on.

A must for Cash fans, this set should be purchased by anyone wanting a time capsule of popular music in the mid-twentieth century. Utterly entertaining and, at almost four hours, cheap at the price.

I was a Johnny Cash fan from the very first time I heard "I Walk The Line". However, when he did this TV show, he became part of my family. There was nothing on TV before, during, or since, that has captivated me like the Johnny Cash Show. I've waited almost 40 years for someone to release this masterpiece on a format where I could own this treasure and here it is. I'm greedy though, I'd like for them to release the entire series, all 58 shows in their entirety and the CBS summer replacement shows along with all of his CBS specials too. But for now this "Best of the JCS" is by for my most treasured memory of Johnny and June. This was THE ONE show that everyone in my family watched and enjoyed every minute of it. I remember that last episode when Johnny said that he wasn't going to be back for another season, I cried like a baby, it was as if my dad had told me that I was never going to see him again. It hurt. I was 11. This DVD shows live performances, no lip synching here. Johnny was always better in a LIVE performance vs. a studio recording. If there was only ONE Johnny Cash item you could own, this would be the one. (At least until they'd come out with the entire series.)

The tapes of the old Johnny Cash Show are a real snapshot of an era when songwriting and performance were highly prized. This 2 disc set presents an outstanding collection of performances culled from the series featuring a wide range of artists. Johnny Cash was a fearless promoter of good songs no matter who was performing them. So in addition to the country stars you might expect on his show, he also had the major rock bands and folk artists of the day. You get performances from such country legends as George Jones, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard, and Loretta Lynn, alongside performers such as Eric Clapton, Dylan, Ray Charles, and Neil Young. The show was set up such that all the performances are done live-- no lipsyncing here, botched or otherwise! And Cash often sits with his guests and does a duet, which makes for some memorable moments. For instance, he does Jimmie Rodgers' Blue Yodel #9 with Louis Armstrong playing trumpet along with him. And Ray Charles does a seemingly impromptu version of Cash's own Walk the Line. Another fine moment is when Cash, Carl Perkins, and Eric Clapton team up to perform an old standard song (accompanied by the rest of Derek and the Dominoes, in a rare TV appearance). Clapton is standing there next to Perkins, one of his heros, and he looks almost intimidated. To see someone like Clapton be practically shy around one of the people who inspired him to play is a wonderful moment. And of course the one man who could straddle all these various musical worlds and bring them together is Cash himself. This DVD set is a real tribute to him.

Okay...I remember watching this show when it first aired...but in retrospect its importance is unrivaled..and this presentation is spectacular! Other than the opening tracks with Dylan which are middling quality on the video side of things...the visuals are typically first rate network quality. The performances are even a higher level. Some of the musical icons of the century and that is NOT an overstatement... performing classic repertoire, and doing it well. Whether its a clean shaven Waylon Jennings or glittery Tammy Wynette...long haired (yes he wasn't always bald) James Taylor...you can read the entire roster of guest performers and the list is exhaustive. its a stunning collection of musical hall of famers! This is a prime example of finding gold in old film vaults... I only wish Johnny had survived and could contribute...but his old pal Kris Kristofferson is a great host!

Having been a Johnny Cash fan since I was a teenager, and having watched his variety show on television when it was first aired, I was delighted to hear about this new, two DVD set containing many highlights from his variety show. And although it contains a lot of wonderful music--such as Johnny and Louis Armstrong singing an old Jimmy Rodgers standard--it's puzzling as to what the producers decided to leave out. I can think of quite a few superb examples of performances that have not been included in this set that I remember seeing on the show when first aired, but let me just site two. On the very first program of the series, Bob Dylan did an amazing version of his song "Living the Blues" which was far superior to his studio version on "Self Portrait," which came out around the same time. Yet, instead of "Living the Blues," we get "I Threw It All Away;" a nice number to be sure, but very similar to the version on Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" album. The live "Living the Blues," that Dylan did has never had an official release, either on video or on audio, although it's shown up on many Dylan bootlegs. Similarly, on that very first show of the series, Johnny and Joni Mitchell did an unforgettable version of Johnny's own song "I Still Miss Someone," and yet instead of this, we get "The Long Black Veil;" it too is nice but hardly compares to their heartbreaking rendition of "I Still Miss Someone." Although this DVD set remains a good sampling of what the series had to offer, and contains some very remarkable music, I would hardly call it "the Best" of the Johnny Cash variety show. Perhaps if there's a Vol. 2 DVD, it will include the two numbers I've sited above as well as other remarkable numbers that were left off of this set.

I've been waiting to see these shows for, well, forever! Up until now the only way to see these performances was on bootleg video (although I believe the CMT Network ran some of these at one time)and YouTube. This is some amazing music from a man who simply loved playing good music. And good musicians, young and old, black and white. It's a shame it lasted barely 2 years. But it's a blessing that someone had the smarts to preserve these wonderful shows. This will be worth it for the Clapton and Dylan footage. There is precious little performance footage of his tenure with Derek and the Dominos, and here he really shines. You can tell by his face how amazed he is to be onstage jamming with both Cash and Carl Perkins. I've never seen Dylan's performance but this was (arguably) his first ever live tv performance, he'd been out of the spotlight since his 1966 motorcycle accident and gone back to his folky roots while the rest of the world turned up the volume. So this is prime Dylan with one of his idols. As well as seeing CCR at their peak. The Neil Young footage can also be seen on the special edition of his "Live at Massey Hall" CD. Can't wait!

This DVD is fabulous and everyone should have a copy. These are very rare performances from some amazing legendary artists that you won't see anywhere else. Worth every penny.

Mike Henry
Automatic Hotel
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