Johnny Cash liked an audience. That’s a conclusion easily derived from the first two Johnny Cash Christmas Specials, released on DVD this month by Shout! Factory and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The second CBS special, drawn primarily from a concert at the Grand Ole Opry House, aired 30 years ago (Nov. 30, 1977). It was markedly better than the 1976 effort, shot privately at Cash’s homes in Bon Aqua and Hendersonville, Tenn.
The earlier special is marred by problems both technical and conceptual. Billy Graham is too preachy; Tony Orlando dashes off some stereotypical (and not funny) city boy-visits-the-country jokes; Roy Clark sings “The Christmas Song” with a banjo on his knee, although no banjo notes are heard; and at the close of Barbara Mandrell’s “Steel Guitar Rag,” the clapping in the room is inaudible for a couple seconds, a sign that the performance was taped. Cash frequently seems wooden and uneasy.
The 1977 show demonstrates great progress. With people to play to, Cash is engaged, smiles often and makes a natural connection with his guests and the Opry House audience. At the time, Cash hadn’t yet been remade as a mythic figure. Standing on three-inch heels, he has a command that makes him a bit taller physically, and figuratively, than his fellow performers: Clark, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Statler Brothers, the Carter Sisters and Jan Howard. There’s also a moment of irony. Just 12 years prior, a chemically-altered Cash dragged the mic stand across the footlights at the Ryman Auditorium during an Opry performance, destroying each of the bulbs. In the 1977 special, a shot from the base of the stage presents Cash with the Opry House footlights commanding the foreground.
Cash shot at least 10 Christmas specials, so it’s possible that more DVDs may appear in coming years. Quality-wise, they’re likely much closer to the 1977 show, which is far superior to the inaugural installment. But that ’76 edition has one small charm: Cash’s former home burned to the ground this year, but this show captures a view of its quiet majesty from Old Hickory Lake and a peek at the living room, with its stone walls and wagon wheel beams. The structure underscored the solid and earthy nature of the Man in Black, who came alive most when he had people, and not just a camera, to entertain.
It’s finally here, dear friends! The new CD is finally out! This past Tuesday, May 6th, marked the official release date for my first album with Rounder Records, Secrets. Little can explain what a rewarding experience it is to have worked so hard on something such as this, and then to finally see it all come together to be released. I feel so blessed that I was able to make this album and to have some of my favorite people and musicians as a part of it. To celebrate the day, I visited Kyle Cantrell of XM’s Bluegrass Junction, and did an interview alongside the playing of a few tracks. Later that evening, ASCAP so kindly held a wonderful press party for me at their beautiful office building on Music Row. Thanks to Dan Keen and all the lovely ASCAP people, it was a total blast and a great way to share the excitement of the day.
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