Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Live at Folsom Prison

Today's Music of the Day is none other than Mr. Johnny Cash, At Folsom Prison. And I wish I had more to write! This is the essence of Johnny Cash, singing to a group of lucky convicts (ha ha) for about an hour. It's classic Cash, from the music to the demeanor. I like a lot of things about this album - Cash doesn't do most of his better-known songs, but some of them show up here ("Jackson", "I Still Miss Someone", "Cocaine Blues"). If you like Johnny Cash, you have to know about this album. And if you don't like Johnny Cash, well, best of luck to you.

I suppose this album has more significance than its songs would have you believe. Cash was always a religious man, and the concept of the saint sitting with the sinners is something he probably would have appreciated if he were a more arrogant man, or at least something of a saint and less of a sinner. The album was also recorded at a time when live concert recordings were not unheard of, but certainly less common than they are today. Mostly, though, the idea of a concert at a prison is great, and it's something that I am surprised hasn't been done again (outside of Cash's visit to San Quentin a few years later). Finally, Johnny's famous use of profanity on this album always makes me laugh a little bit.

I wish I had something to tell you about this album that hasn't already been said. It's a fine album, and a major milestone in a career filled with highlights. Mostly, though, this album deserves to be listened to and enjoyed, even forty years later. So get yourself a copy of it, set aside 45 minutes or so to yourself, open a beer or pour some whiskey, and relax.

"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash..."

In Other News:
My knee hurt all day yesterday, and against my better judgment, I went to capoeira. And somehow the stretching and movement fixed it? I'm still not sure what happened, but it feels better than it has in a month or more. I don't even know, any more.