Search - The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show on DVD

Come along and ride this train

Jerry Block | Anaheim, CA | 10/01/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Oh how young they looked and how few of these stars are still with us today. Johnny Cash was the true Nashville rebel, bringing to the country music stage for his TV show such hippy-dippy heroes as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Creedence Clearwater Revivial, Joni Mitchell and Eric Clapton in their prime along with traditional country stars of the day. The Cash show aired from 1969-1971, right in the middle of the most exciting, dynamic era of America popular culture. The Cash "larger-than-life legend" has always eluded me, however. I never liked his constipated vocals, the strange haunted look, or some of the twitching mannerisms. I always got the impression the years of drug abuse in the '60s did some lasting damage. The whole Man In Black routine seemed like a cheap gimmick as well, or worse, a sort of messiah complex. Why should Johnny Cash have the weight of the world on his shoulders? (Even Billy Graham is able to wear a blue suit.) So I purchased this video for the guest stars, and they're great! A heavily made-up Bob Dylan does "I Threw It All Away" and you can actually understand his vocals. It's a definite highlight. Neil Young does "The Needle And The Damage Done." A bright-eyed Kris Kristofferson does "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)." You also get Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, Merle Haggard, Ray Charles, Carl Perkins, Tammy Wynette and the Statler Brothers. The most interesting performance for this reviewer has to be Eric Claption fronting Derek And The Dominos on the countryish song "It's Too Late." This early 1971 performance was probably one of the last times Clapton was able to perform on stage before his heroin jones put him out of commission for a while. (Check out his tragic showing with George Harrison at the Concert For Bangladesh later that year.) Though it was taped in Nashville, the Cash show had a decidedly urban look, with bright, garish, psychedelic stage sets that really catch the eye. This video has aired on PBS stations across the country but it's certainly worth owning on DVD."

Have been waiting for this!

nvillenavy | Brentwood, TN, USA | 09/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am a longtime fan of Johnny Cash and have been waiting for a release on CD of the LP from decades ago, and never expected to see a DVD. While I would have particularly liked to see selections of just his own performances from the show, the DVD includes a wonderful mix of other performers, many of whom were introduced to a TV audience for the first time, thereby detailing Cash's contribution to the music of the day and his own musical range. This is a must-have for any serious Cash fan. That it is an outstanding selection, and the quality production is icing on the cake!"

Great Collectors Item

Sam Spade | Australia | 12/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For all Man In Black fans this is a must buy. Highlights from his show are fabulous, with great guest stars including Dylan,Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong and many others."

Classic Johnny!

MamaJeannine | Southern California | 03/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Awesome, just awesome! It was so nice to see him young and strong and as confident as he has always been. It took me right back to sitting on the living-room floor with a soda pop, popcorn, and the rest of the family (all 10 of us!). Johnny Cash is, and always will be, a national treasure!

...........and the others on the DVD were great too. Back in the day when teeth weren't straightened or whitened, there was no lazer eye corrections, and the future *stars* looked like they were playing at the local fair. That's AMERICA right there!"