All Things Considered had a story this evening about Gene Beley, a reporter for the Ventura Star Free Press who accompanied Johnny Cash to Folsom Prison for his famous performance there. Beley recorded Cash’s first attempt at “Greystone Chapel” the night previous, in Cash’s hotel room. Beley also recorded the concert from his seat in the audience, which makes for an interesting alternate recording.
Beley’s article on the topic, “Folsom Prison Blues,” appeared in the Winter 2005 issue of Virginia Quarterly Review (my employer). My favorite bit:
“Do you ever work on a stool?” [A&R man Bob] Johnston asked Cash.
“Yes, that’s what I plan to do,” Cash said.
“Are you going to have someone introduce you?”
“I thought I’d come out and introduce myself and sing.”
“Great!” exclaimed Johnston. “Come out and say, ‘I’m Johnny Cash!’ They’ll go wild!”
Learning about Glen Sherley and how “Greystone Chapel” made it onto the set list was particularly great.
I’m headed out now to see “Walk the Line.” I have high hopes.
Waldo wrote:
I saw the matinee today. It’s good. Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon sing all the songs themselves, and in my opinion do a pretty good job of it. It’s 132 minutes, but it only feels long because the theater “Carmike” packs on 20 minutes of advertisments and previews. ABC News has an Article today that echos what Joaquin Phoenix said on one of the late night talk shows this week (either Leno or Conan- I forget), which is that Johnny Cash gave his stamp of approval on the choice of Phoenix to play him in the film. You can read that article
If you like his music it’s definately worth the price of admission.
Is it better than “Beyond the Sea”? I like Bobby Darin’s music AND Kevin Spacey, but the movie wasn’t very good. It was a standard overcoming hardship movie who gets the girl at the end.
I haven’t seen it yet, but plan to. Today’s print edition of the Roanoke Times has a very good review, but it doesn’t seem to be online for me to link it for you.
Briefly, the review is by a writer who stumbled upon Cash by attending one of his early concerts in Salem primarily to enjoy June Carter’s Appalachain Folk music. Therefore the review is by a very longtime fan, yet he was sufficiently impressed to write a (almost) rave review.
I’m afraid I haven’t seen “Beyond the Sea,” though I’d quite like to, so I can’t say.
I saw “Walk the Line” yesterday and I really, really liked it. I’m a diehard fan anyhow, and I was glad to see that the movie is almost 100% factually accurate.