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With Johnny Cash’s final recordings, discussions centered naturally on the legend’s uncanny ability to allow his musical gifts to shine through his increasing frailty. Although it was often painful to hear Cash’s cracked vocals and the effort he was exerting to record in his life’s twilight, the passion and conviction of his earliest work were as unmistakable as the crags on his wonderful, weathered face. The latest series of remastered/expanded releases from Cash’s voluminous catalog brings the focus back to the time when he was at the peak of his powers and building his iconic status. At San Quentin represents one of the most potent periods in Cash’s career, coming a year after the raucous rejuvenation of his first prison concert album, At Folsom Prison. The vibe surrounding At San Quentin was considerably different; Cash had accepted Jesus, given up drugs and married his longtime love, June Carter. The darker undercurrent of San Quentin was Cash’s lingering despair over the death of his Tennessee Two guitarist Luther Perkins. With all of this in place, Cash brought Carl Perkins, the Statler Brothers, the Carter Family and June into the chilling reality of San Quentin to perform the concert of their lives. The original release of the 10-track album in the summer of ’69 rocketed Cash to the top of the charts. This two-CD/one-DVD box set recreates the entire set list and features a number of unreleased Cash tracks from the show including “Blistered,” “Orange Blossom Special,” “Long Black Veil/Give My Love to Rose,” and his duet with June, “Jackson.” It is stirring to hear Cash stand and deliver as only he could. (Brian Baker) Grade: A
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2006.
