Pages

14 March 2010

Ray Charles On The Johnny Cash Show (1970, 1978)

The Johnny Cash Show was a musical variety program. Johnny was backed up by members of his road show, including The Tennessee Three: Marshall Grant, bass; W.S. Holland, drums; Bob Wooten, guitar.
The shows were taped at the Ryman Studios in Nashville (also read this story, p. 171-3). The series ran for two seasons on ABC, with 58 episodes aired - from 7 June 1969 to 31 March 3 1971. Ray performed at least 3 times.
Photo: ABC / Getty.
  • Season 1, Episode 19, aired on 11 February 1970 (taped in first week of February, in Nashville): Ray played I Can't Stop Loving You, Take These Chains From My Heart, That Thing Called Love and Them That Got. Ray and Johnny did a duet on  Wrinkled, Crinkled, Wadded Dollar Bill and Busted. Neil Diamond also guested.
  • Season 2, Episode 1, aired on 23 September 1970: Ray performed (a way too short version of) I Walk The Line, a fabulous rendition of Ring Of Fire, and Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers. Ray may also have joined in on the show's finale, Peace In The Valley.
A few versions of a 30-DVD box are offered on the web (none of them looking 100% legit), containing all 58 episodes from seasons 1 and 2.

Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Johnny Cash: Spring Fever, announced as a "Johnny Cash Special" and "a musical salute to Spring", was recorded at the Grand Ole Opry House on March 28, 1978, directed by Walter C. Miller, and aired on 7 May 1978 by CBS. Ray Charles performed Half As Much. This performance was part of the DVD added to the photobook Yes Indeed! Read a behind the scenes story here

1st show, complete:


First show - Them That Got + Wrinkled, Crinkled, Wadded Dollar Bill + Busted:

First show - Take These Chains From My Heart:

First show - That Thing Called Love:

Second show - I Walk The Line + Ring Of Fire:


Second show - Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers:
     [video removed from Youtube]

1978 Spring Fever show:
     [video removed from Youtube]

No comments:

Post a Comment