Thirteen Previously Unreleased Songs
The original recording of Johnny Cash live at San Quentin was a ground-breaking single LP; but this Legacy reissue features some 13 tracks that have been previously unreleased.Among them are incredible performances by Cash, The Carter Family, Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers. Possibly the most stand-out moment, aside from Cash's own performances, is that of Carl Perkins' rockers, "Restless" and "The Outside Lookin' In," which presumably encapsulated and released all the thoughts and tensions of the San Quentin inmates and their evening's entertainers.
Other stellar moments from the unreleased material include Cash's "Blistered," the Statler Brothers' folk tune, "Less of Me," and The Carter Family's "Wildwood Flower." There's also the fabulous, memorable moment when June Carter addresses the audience. Snarkily, she says, "I don't know what kinda show you're expecting out of us. Sometimes they do girlie shows ... but this is as sexy as I'm gonna get." She then breaks into an hysterical poem about a cow, of all things.
Incredible Johnny Cash Classics
However you choose to describe Cash's music (country, rock, or classic roots music), Johnny Cash at San Quentin has a little bit of each, ready to please any fan of music.Also thick and unignorable on these discs is the presence of the artists' eager audience. When Cash sings, at the beginning of Disc Two, "San Quentin, I hate every inch of you," his audience pauses a moment before erupting into extraordinary approval and applause. It's as if each man in the audience was checking to see how the guards may respond to such an uproarious response. Then they remembered this was Johnny Cash and why should they care?
They also erupt in applause when Johnny and June sing together, in outstanding performances of "Jackson" and "Darlin' Companion." Another extremely bright moment comes at the end of Disc Two when Cash, The Carter Family, The Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins all come together for a medley: "Folsom Prison Blues / I Walk the Line / Ring of Fire / The Rebel-Johny Yuma." And, of course, you can't beat "A Boy Named Sue," "I Walk the Line," "Wanted Man" ...
Johnny Cash in San Quentin DVD Documentary
As if the 31 songs spread out between Discs One and Two weren't enough intensity, emotion, artistry and plain old rocking out to float your boat, the documentary DVD on Disc Three is there to astound you.Produced originally for Granada TV in the UK, the film follows Johnny Cash, et al, through the performance. Key moments with June Carter and Carl Perkins are featured, and Cash's inimitable stage presence can reach through 40 years and a TV screen to electrify you.
Still, the most haunting images from the documentary include interviews with prisoners at San Quentin, many of whom are in prison for life or longer. Interviews focus on topics that result in the men discussing facing the gas chamber or trying to visit with their family members. The disenfranchisement and dehumanization of the prisoners becomes less apparent as they talk about growing up in poverty and living with severe guilt for the wrongs they've done.
Then it cuts back to Cash singing "San Quentin," like he knows what he's talking about. His head cocked back, a half-grin crawls across his face. "San Quentin," he sings, "May you rot and burn in hell," and the men you just watched lamenting on their wives hoot and whistle, hollar and scream like it's all they have left. After the song, ever the smart aleck, Cash says, "If the guards are still speaking to me, can I have a glass of water?" Naturally, a guard complies, so Cash plays the song again.
