Customer Reviews

Johnny Cash - A Concert Behind Prison Walls (with Audio CD)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I watched this DVD in order to see and hear the great Johnny Cash. He absolutely does not disappoint. It's good to see him young and strong. He sings six songs, including " Sunday Morning Coming Down " and " Jacob Green " , and a raucous version of " Boy Named Sue " , not one of my favorite songs, but one that this audience absolutely loved.

This is a very high energy performance by Cash. He gives it all he's got. The empathy and respect that the Man in Black had for his fellow sinners is very evident; the disc is worth viewing for these songs alone.

But, for me, the performance by Linda Ronstadt was also wonderful. I had no idea that she was on this disc. This is a young and beautiful Linda Ronstadt, just on the verge of major superstardom. Her voice is just astonishing, and this performance ( "Desperado", " You're No Good ", " Love Has No Pride ", and " Silver Threads and Golden Needles " ) blows away the audience--and the DVD viewer.

As with all well-made concert videos, some of the best moments are the shots of the audience. They were clearly under orders not to move around --at all --, as they were right next to the artists. So there were no " standing ovations ". But you can tell how very much they loved this show, not just Johnny Cash and Linda Ronstadt, but also comedian Foster Brooks ( never saw him before, his slightly off-color humor went over fantastically with this audience! ).

Could have done without the Roy Clark segment, not sure that this was the best venue for him, talented musician that he is.

Overall, this is one of the best concert films I have ever seen. Highly recommended.

This concert is not exclusively Johnny Cash as it implies. But if it is worth it just to have Johnny Cash performing live in the early days, then get it. You will enjoy a particular one, "Boy Named Sue."

It is shot in a Tennessee prison in 1977 and 60 minutes. But also performing is Linda Ronstadt, Roy Clark and Foster Brooks, aka, the drunk. Carl Perkins plays guitar with Johnny.

The concert starts with "Folsom Prison Blues", "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and a little known song by Cash, "Jacob Green" based on a true story of a young man who committed suicide in prison.

Linda Ronstadt sings "Desperado", "You're No Good", Silver Threads and Golden Needles" and "Love Has No Pride".

Guitarist Roy Clark performs a few also, "Rolling in my Sweet Baby's Arms, "That Honeymoon Feeling". Foster Brooks does a five minute stand-up and sings an old classic "Half As Much"

Concluding the concert and back to Johnny Cash, doing "Hey Porter", "Orange Blossom Special" and the entertaining "Boy Named Sue".

If it's worth it to you to have some hits of Johnny Cash...LIVE, then get the tape!

A little note: If you ever want to hear a tribute song to Johnny, get the humorous Shel Silverstein's "Front Row Seat to Hear Ole Johnny Sing" It is the best! .....MzRizz

I love Johnny Cash's performance on this dvd. The problem is that the disc also contains lengthy segments from Linda Ronstadt, Foster Brooks, and Roy Clark -- great performers in their own right, but I didn't buy the dvd for their portion of the show. I bought it to see Johnny Cash. The title of the dvd, then, seems misleading to me. If you're looking for a full performance from Cash, this isn't it. The dvd cover also says that the disc runs for approximately 60 minutes. It runs 48 minutes.

By the picture on this DVD and the title you would think it's a full lenghth Johnny Cash video....but...most of this video is Linda (i stole Roy's musicians) Ronstadt, Roy Clark (which if you've never seen him before is quite a good banjo player, and Foster Brooks (i guess you have to be from another generation to get his humour).
Anyhow, the couple of numbers that Johnny Cash DOES play are really good...especially the Kris Kristofferson song "Saturday Morning Coming Down". Overall I would say buy this if you're a true country fan or if you wanna see a small glimpse of the man in Black.

I don't know what some of these other reviewers were thinking. Biggest complaint being deceptive advertising. The DVD clearly states that their are other performers in the show, maybe they missed that, how I don't know. Another gripe was the sound was bad. If I could get more footage from this era that sounded as good it would be fortunate. The audio is very good, all the different instuments come through as well as the vocals and backing vocals all clear and very audble. This complaint is my favorite. One reviewer claimed Johnny Cash delivered a poor performance. Maybe he hasn't seen much footage of The Man In Black but I have and it's standard issue Johnny, soulful, heartfelt and he rocks. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is due to the standup act from "the Drunk", I feel it takes away from the actual concert as well as there performance time, but at least his act is fairly short. All in all I thought it was a great show. Cash delivers a great performance on all the songs, not to mention Carl Perkins smokin the guitar. It's impossible to say a bad word about Mr. Roy Clark, his performance alone is worth it, incredible guitar and banjo work as always. Who wouldn't want to watch Ronstadt in her prime belt a few out, I'm pretty sure the prisoners didn't mind

I sought out and bought this DVD for one reason: to see and hear the four songs performed by Linda Ronstadt. For that alone I feel that I got my money's worth, so the performances by Johnny Cash and Roy Clark were just a wonderful bonus.

It is certainly nice to see the late Johnny Cash again, looking healthy and at the top of his form, and the high-energy pickin'and grinnin' from the affable Roy Clark just left me with a big smile on my face. But the piece de resistance is, at least for this fan, Linda Ronstadt.

This was a concert that I had seen just one time before, and that was when it ran on network television in prime time. That was back in the days (1976) before videotape machines were in practically every home, and over the years I felt that it was unlikely that I'd ever have a chance to see it again. Luckily, I saw a mention of the DVD on a Linda Ronstadt fan site, and in quick order found an available copy that was worth every penny.

Even after more than a quarter of a century, my reaction to Linda's performance is now as it was when I first saw it - wow! Let's put it this way - Johnny and Roy may have been thoroughly entertaining for the inmate audience gathered in the gymnasium at the Tennessee State Prison, but Linda's appearance there was no doubt what that (literally) captive audience never forgot.

Ronstadt's performances in this concert of "Desperado," "You're No Good," "Love Has No Pride," and "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" are exactly what you came to love as you wore out the grooves on her records when she was on the pop charts every time you turned around, with none of that irritating "I'll-sing-it-any-way-I-want-to-in-concert" attitude that leaves this music lover stone cold. Perhaps the only thing better than cranking up the old turntable and once again hearing that amazing voice of Linda's is experiencing her sweet-and-hot-as-a-just-baked-sugar-cookie presence as she does those classic songs - this DVD delivers both in good measure.

Although I can't address the core Johnny Cash fans and say whether this is one they should purchase, I must say that although I have no CDs of the Man In Black in my collection, that may soon change after having thoroughly enjoyed him in this concert.

But, to those red-blooded fans of Linda Ronstadt I can recommend, without reservation, making the investment in "Johnny Cash -- A Concert Behind Prison Walls" while this rare concert video remains available. If you don't, silver threads and golden needles won't mend that heart of yours.

I Enjoyed this DVD and I'm not sorry I purchased it however I would have liked to see Johnny preform more, not enough Johnny.

This concert is a bit decieving in that there is more of the guests than there is of "The Man in Black". Kind of a bad setting,but, considering what they had to work with it was OK. The sound was not good, course they didn't have much to work with back then. Over all if you're a real Cash fan, buy it, if not, borrow it.

I bought this DVD because it's the only DVD I know of that captures a live perfomance by Linda Ronstadt. I liked Johnny Cash and the other performers, but for me, Linda justifies the cost of this DVD. The live version of "Love Has No Pride" will send shivers up your spine. Contrary to another reviewer, it doesn't sound to me at all as if she's "wagging her finger" at the audience in "Desperado". Maybe on "You're No Good"...anyway, if you want to hear Linda do incredible versions of four of her best songs, buy this DVD. The sound isn't perfect ("aircraft hanger" comes to mind), but it's passable and you can still hear the nuances of her voice.

If you're hoping for a video of 'at Folsom Prison' or 'at San Quentin' this isn't it. It's billed as a Johnny Cash concert with special guests, but it's really more of a variety show bookended by Johnny. Johnny appears on less then half this DVD. The stuff that's there is great, but it really just wets your appetite and leaves you wanting more.