A truly free voice
Johnny Cash at San Quentin (The Complete 1969 Concert)
Johnny Cash
Columbia/Legacy
REVIEW BY BILL NEVINS
Prison sucks, and Johnny Cash makes no bones about that. In this defiant 1969 prison concert, he pulls fire, freedom and even fun out of that long darkness.
The Man in Black, himself an ex-con, stood proud in front of a roomful of tough convicts. He joked, swore and took shots at the warden, the guards and the whole prison racket ("San Quentin, you been living hell to me! San Quentin, I hate every inch of you! San Quentin, what good do you think you do? San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell, may your walls fall ... and may all the world regret you did no good!").
It was his third trip there, and the roars, whistles and cheers let you know he was very welcome. These cons know a strong man, and a true one, when they see and hear him.
Johnny Cash has long been the most credible country singer alive, as his recent albums and anthology attest. His personal endorsement of Bob Dylan in 1969, included on this CD, and on his TV show were milestones for Dylan.
Cash never shied away from telling hard truths, delivered straight up. To his great credit, Cash was the first Nashville artist to condemn the Vietnam War — a brave step, indeed.
At San Quentin was Cash's most popular album. It was released in 1969 and was number one on Billboard's album chart for four weeks that Woodstock summer. Its popularity was well-deserved. This CD is close to the definitive record of Johnny Cash at his most powerful and wide-ranging.
Oldtime folk music ("Wreck of the Old 97"), touching spirituals ("Peace in the Valley"), rockabilly ("I Walk the Line"), a Dylan cover ("Wanted Man") and a song so corny only Cash himself could pull it off to laughter and wild applause ("A Boy Named Sue").
The reissued CD includes a half-dozen songs that were not included on the original album, interesting liner notes by Merle Haggard (who was a prisoner when he first saw Cash perform) and June Carter Cash (who admits she was scared half to death standing next to Cash in that jail) and some great photos.
Cash's backup singers on the album include June and the Carter Family, the Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins ... and a fierce audience, clapping, singing, stomping and hooting along ("Folsom Prison Blues" suggests a jailbreak might be imminent!). A great, exciting recording by a truly free voice.