J.R. from Arkansas – Part 4

By the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Johnny Cash had become a star and even had his own TV variety show. But Cash was not your typical Nashville country singer. As his fame and wealth grew, Cash’s music began to directly address social issues including the criminal justice system, drugs, Native Americans, and the war in Vietnam. At a time when America was torn by division, Cash made friends with hippies, kicked his addiction to pills, and even appeared on Sesame Street- and his country music empire grew.

With his marriage to his second wife, June Carter, in 1968, Cash married into country music royalty (the Carter Family) and as he and June settled into a comfortable domestic life in Tennessee with their little boy, Cash’s music began to soften. He was still trying to cultivate his outlaw image but was becoming more of a caricature- and his songs less interesting. By the ‘80s, he was pretty much phoning it in. Cash continued a life on the road- the country oldies circuit mostly (although Europe was always good for bringing in some money)- but the man in black was definitely now a has been (and it was around this time I discovered his music at the library). Then in the mid ‘90s Cash’s American Recordings period began- and things started getting interesting again. 

Instead of an aging country teddy bear, the Cash who turned up on those American Recordings- with producer Rick Rubin at the helm- was the gaunt, lonesome panther of his earlier days with danger, darkness, and desperation in his voice, recording whatever he damn well pleased and with nothing to lose. He was back to remind the new kids what country was all about and he still had a few things to say before he kicked the bucket. Here are some more of my favorite Johnny Cash songs. Enjoy!

01. Johnny Cash – “Dark as a Dungeon (Live)” (1968)

02. Johnny Cash – “Hurt” (2002)

03. Johnny Cash – “Cocaine Blues (Live)” (1968)

04. Johnny Cash – “I’ve Been Everywhere” (1996)

05. Johnny Cash – “Streets of Laredo” (2002)

06. Johnny Cash – “We’ll Meet Again” (2002)

07. Johnny Cash – “I Walk the Line” (1956)

08. Johnny Cash – “She Used to Love Me a Lot” (1984)

09. Johnny Cash – “Don’t Go Near the Water” (1974)

10. Johnny Cash – “Singin’ in Viet Nam Talkin’ Blues” (1971)

Listen to the playlist on Spotify...

... or check out the playlist on YouTube

(To open music in separate window, click title bar at top of video box)

Recommended Links:

60 Minutes – Johnny Cash interview

Johnny Cash – “Hurt"

Marty Stuart – What’s in My Bag?