Cash: The Autobiography (30 page)

Months have a passed since I wrote the last chapter. Now I'm back where we began, sitting on my porch in Jamaica, high on my hill, looking out northward over the Caribbean. People say that on a clear day you can see Cuba from here, but I never have. There's that mockingbird again. The mockingbird is the Tennessee state bird, and they're everywhere in Jamaica. They make me feel at home. This one, a mama bird with a nest somewhere in a nearby mahogany tree, perches on our sundial, which was calibrated for Cinnamon Hill in 1794. She's watching a little hawk on top of a telephone pole, and when he tries to dive past her and pluck one of her babies from the nest, she zooms around behind him—she's much faster than he is—and then nosedives onto the back of his head and sends him away shrieking. You'd think it would be just a matter of time until the hawk prevailed, but he's been trying for fif- teen days now, and he still hasn't managed it. I'm cheer- ing for the mockingbird. So is June, who is here by my side. We've been on an incredible journey of trauma, oblivion, and pain. It began one day last October (1997) when I found myself walking backwards on a street in New York. Backsliding is nothing new to me, of course, but this was different. There I was, proceeding down Madison Avenue in a perfectly normal manner, when I looked up for some reason and my next step was back- wards. It was completely involuntary; it happened with- out any intention or control on my part. It was very weird. We went back to the hotel immediately and called a doctor, who examined me and told us that we needed to get me home and into the hospital right away. Which we did.

To make a short story shorter, I came very close to death. Double pneumonia, then blood poisoning, hit me in the hospital, and I spent ten days and nights uncon- scious. I was in such bad shape that for my first couple of nights on the ventilator, my doctor, Terry Jerkins, didn't know whether I'd live until dawn. On the tenth night, when her strategies for keeping me breathing had been reduced to a tracheotomy that might have well destroyed my singing voice, she told God that she and medicine had done all they could, it was in His hands now, and she spent the whole night praying. She wasn't the only one praying for me. June had put out a call, so my family and friends were in a circle around me, both in my room and out in the world. That morning, I woke up. Just like that. Everybody was crying for joy and singing around my bed, praising God. If I hadn't had a tube down my throat, I would have been praising Him myself. By eight A.M. I was sitting up in bed and asking for coffee. The immediate crisis was over, but the long-term problem remained. I learned from Terry Jerkins that I had Shy-Drager syndrome, a neurological disorder simi- lar to Parkinson's disease but a little nastier and a lot rarer. It's in the Parkinson's Plus category. It was bad at first. I had a tremor so severe that I had to hold onto the side of the bed. I staggered when I tried to walk. My eyes blinked spasmodically, uncontrollably. When I stood up from a sitting or lying position, my blood pressure dropped so quickly that I almost blacked out. A couple of times there was no almost about it. And on top of all that, having double pneumonia was like get- ting kicked in the lungs by a pair of Clydesdales, only worse. But I'm healing well. Though I still don't have much energy, I'm getting better all the time, and we've tackled each of the Shy-Drager symptoms and adjusted my med- ications to the point where everything feels pretty nor- mal. Shy-Drager, I hear, involves symptoms I haven't experienced, but I don't know what they are, and I haven't asked. I've been sent a stack of reading material ten feet high, and I haven't read a word of it; I'm content to live in complete ignorance of what might be in store for me. Dr. Jerkins agrees. “If things happen,” she says, “you just tell me about it, and then we'll talk.” As it is, I get up in the morning, and it's a normal day. It looks good, it feels good, and I feel good. I'm not scared. For one thing, I think the Parkinson's-like disease that killed Mother Maybelle was probably Shy-Drager—a strange coincidence—and it wasn't that bad; she died in her sleep. For another, I just don't have any fear of death. I haven't lost a minute's sleep over it. I'm very much at peace with myself and with my God. I accept this disease because it's the will of God; it's Him working in my life. And when He sees fit to take me from this world, I'll be reunited with some good people I haven't seen for a while. Don't get me wrong: I don't want to die. I love my life. I'm very happy. I'd like to live as long as my mother and father, 87 in both cases. I don't know, though; I might not have pulled it out of overdrive quite soon enough to make it that far. But whatever time God gives me, I glory in it. I just hope I can spend it never making another enemy, and bringing happiness to the people around me. I have no regrets, I carry no guilt, and I bear no ill will toward anybody. As to my musical future, my prospects look good. I can whack on a guitar as incompetently as I could a year ago, probably more so. I think I can sing just as well, or as badly, as I ever could. And I've got more songs trying to go through me than ever; I've written three in the last three weeks.

The road may be another question. I'm not ruling it out—not at all—but right now, I can't pack those black suitcases, put them on an airplane, go to the hotel, unpack those black clothes and black shoes, and head out to do a show. Someday, maybe. It was a traumatic thing, being forced to suddenly stop doing what I'd been doing for over forty years, but on the other hand, I've had a beautiful few months of rest and relaxation, gathering strength and enjoying the peace and quiet of the world with which I've surrounded myself. I'm thinking of this as my Jubilee year. I haven't been in the business fifty years yet, but forty-three is close enough, and anyway, I'm taking my Jubilee whether I'm entitled or not. I'm looking forward to making another record in a few months, and I've been offered enough work to keep me busy every hour of every day—commercials, TV specials, guest spots on other people's records, and so on. At this moment, though, I'm not ready. I think I'll rest a little while longer before I go jumping onto that stage with my tail up and my stinger out.  I'm enjoying these days. This new life inside me is inspiring. I really feel the love of my family, who were there when I needed them. The breeze on my hill is beautiful, and my Cinnamon Hill iced tea tastes good in my mouth. I still can't see Cuba, but I can go on watching the hawk and the mockingbird fight their battle in the eternal war of life and death. I can finish my tea with the knowing satisfaction that the mockingbird is going to win, that she'll fight the hawk off until her babies are old enough to fly. And when her job is done—which is the most important thing in my life at this moment—we'll fly- home to Tennessee. 

Lord, let me do a little more pickin' 

Before I get my cotton weighed 

And ramble around Your footstool    

Until my last song is played.

JOHNNY CASH is a singer and songwriter who first sang publicly while in the Air Force in the early 1950's. His 1955 contract with Sam Phillips's famous Sun Records label marked the beginning of his professional singing career. In 1996, Cash received a Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award and released his American Recordings album Unchained. Cash resides in Tennessee with June Carter, his wife of twenty-nine years. 

Patrick Carr, a veteran journalist of the country music scene, has been acquainted with Johnny Cash since 1972. His magazine credits include Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Village Voice, and Playboy. A contributing editor of Country Music Magazine and editor of The Illustrated History of Country Music, Carr co-authored Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side with David Bowie with Angela Bowie. He lives in Tampa, Florida.

Bestselling intimate portraits of the people behind the personalities

 NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY: The Accidental Life of the World's First Supermodel 

by Janice Dickinson 0-06-056617-5/$7.99 US/$10.99 Can 

GEORGE AND LAURA Portrait of an American Marriage by Christopher Andersen 0-06-103224-7/$7.99 US/$ 10.99 Can 

HAVE A NICE DAY! A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mankind 0-06-103101-l/$7.99 US/$10.99 Can 

THE ROCK SAYS The Most Electrifying Man in Sports-Entertainment by The Rock, 

with Joe Layden 0-06-103116-X/$7.99 US/$10.99 Can 

CELINE DION My Story, My Dream by Celine Dion 0-380-81905-8/ $7.99 US

WALK THIS WAY: The Autobiography of Aerosmith by Aerosmith, with Stephen Davis 0-380-79531-0/ $7.99 US/ $10.99 Can

EINSTEIN: THE LIFE AND TIMES by Ronald W. Clark 0-380-01159-X/$7.99 US/$10.99 Can

 A Johnny Cash Discography Prepared by John L. Smith 

Over the past forty-plus years, the career of Johnny Cash has literally reached international proportions. His record- ings have been released in over twenty-six different countries and he has recorded material in both Spanish and German. Worldwide, the number of releases of Cash mate- rial is staggering: over 2.z8 different record labels, close to 450 singles, 108 extended-play albums, over 1,500 long- play albums, and more than 300 compact discs. From the first Sun Record release in 1955 through his most recent, Unchained, Johnny Cash has kept his early audience while expanding his appeal to a younger generation of fans and fellow musicians. What follows may seem very sparse to longtime Cash followers, but it will provide a starting point for the new wave of international country fans. For those wishing to delve deeper into the recording career of Johnny Cash, the following books are recom- mended: The Johnny Cash Discography (1984); The Johnny Cash Discography, 1984-1993 (1994); and The Johnny Cash Record Catalog (1994), all from the Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport, Connecticut. A fourth vol- ume, Another Song to Sing: The Recorded Repertoire of Johnny Cash, is now being readied for publication by Scarecrow Press. The following, then, is a chronological listing of major releases, with annotation, from both the United States and foreign markets.

1955 Hey, Porter / Cry, Cry, Cry (SUN—221) The first single released by Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Marshall Grant and Luther Perkins. “Cry, Cry, Cry” spent one week on the Billboard charts at num- ber 14. Folsom Prison Blues / So Doggone Lonesome (SUN—232) The initial release of “Folsom Prison Blues.” It entered the Billboard charts on February n, 1956, remained for twenty-three weeks, and peaked at number 5. On January 13,1968, Cash recorded this same song again in a live per- formance at Folsom Prison, in California. 1956 I Walk the Line / Get Rhythm (SUN—241) “I Walk the Line” would become Cash's theme song. It entered the Billboard charts on June 9, 1956, and remained there for forty-three weeks, reaching number z. 1957 Hot and Blue Guitar (SLP—1220) The first album released by Johnny Cash on the Sun label. In all, Sun Records released seven albums of Cash material extending well into his early Columbia years. 1958 What Do I Care / All Over Again (CBS/4—41251) Cash's first single on his new label, Columbia Records.

It became a double-sided hit, appearing not only on the Billboard country charts but on the pop charts as well. Songs That Made Him Famous (SLP—1235) 1959 The Fabulous Johnny Cash (CBS/CL—1253/CS—8122) Although Cash signed with Columbia Records in August 1958, this, his first album release on the new label, appeared in January 1959. Hymns by Johnny Cash (CBS/CLr-1284/CS—8125) Even though Cash had originally portrayed himself as a gospel singer to Sun Records, Sun released only a hand- ful of religious songs. This was the first of many religious albums Cash released during his career. Songs of Our Soil (CBS/CL^-1339/CS—8148) This album contains probably the first protest song Cash ever recorded, “Old Apache Squaw”; Columbia finally consented to its release on this album. Greatest Johnny Cash (SLP—1240) 1960 The Rebel—Johnny Yuma (CBS/B—2155) This extended-play release includes the theme song for the ABC TV series The Rebel, starring Nick Adams. Cash guest-starred at least once on the show. Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams (SLP—1245)

Ride This Train (CBS/CLr-1464/CS—8255) Cash's first concept album, a historical travelogue combining narrations and songs. Several more concept albums would follow. Now There Was a Soi (CBS/CL—14a3/CS—8254) This album is a departure from past Cash releases in that it is made up of old country standards. It is also unique in that it was recorded at only one session and no master required more than three takes to complete. 1961 Now Here's Johnny Cash (SLP—1255) Lure of the Grand Canyon (CBS/CL—1622/CS—8422) Cash narrates a trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on mules. 1962 Hymns from the Heart (CBS/CL—1722/CS—8522) The Sound of Johnny Cash (CBS/CL—1802/CS—8602) All Aboard the Blue Train (SLP/1270) 1963 Blood, Sweat and Tears (CBS/CL—1930/CS—8730) This album includes a lengthy version of "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer“ reworked by Cash and June Carter. The Carter Family—Mother Maybelle, Anita, Helen, and June—appear on this album. From this point on, this famous family would become an almost perma- nent part of the Johnny Cash road show and appear as vocalists on many future albums. Ring of Fire / I'd Still Be There (CBS/4—42788) ”Ring of Fire“ debuted on the Billboard charts June 8, 1963, and remained there twenty-six weeks, with seven weeks at number 1. Ring of Fire (CBS/CL—2053/CS—8853) The Christmas Spirit (CBS/CLr-2117/CS—8917) 1964 Keep on the Sunnyside (CBS/CLr-2152/CS—8952) A Carter Family album release with Cash appearing as a ”special guest" performing the parts A. P. Carter performed on the original version of the included songs. Wide Open Road / Belshazzar (SUN—392) After 1958, when Cash left the Sun Record label, Sam Phillips continued to release Cash material. This was the last Sun single to appear until 1969, when Shelby Singleton began reissuing the original Sun masters on his Sun International label. Bad News / The Ballad of Ira Hayes (CBS/4—43058)

When “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” was released, radio stations around the country felt it was too controversial and, for the most part, refused to play it. It was only after Cash himself took out a full-page ad in Billboard magazine challenging disc jockeys to show some “guts” that it finally got airplay. It entered the Billboard charts on July 11, 1964, and remained for twenty weeks, topping at number 3. I Walk the Line (CBS/CL—2190/CS—8990) The Original Sun Sound of Johnny Cash (SLP—1275) The last Sun album for Cash. Appearing in November, it contained some previously unissued material. Bitter Tears (CBS/CL—2248/CS--9048) This album includes “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” and could probably be considered Cash's first protest album. “As Long As the Grass Shall Grow” became somewhat of a national anthem for some Native American groups around the country. 1965 Orange Blossom Special (CBS/CL—2309/CS—9109) Country performer Boots Randolph played saxophone on the title song on this album. “Orange Blossom Special” would become a regular feature of the Johnny Cash road show, supplemented with railroad footage and climaxing in an on-screen collision between two steam engines. Ballads of the True West (CBS/C2L38/C2S838)

A double album showcasing Cash's talent at concept albums. The color and characters of the Old West are depicted in song and narrative. Cash also provided exceptional liner notes. Maybelle Carter plays autoharp on much of the material. 1966 Mean as Hell (CBS/CL—2446/CS—9246) Everybody Loves a Nut (CBS/CL—2492/CS—9292) Happiness Is You (CBS/CL—2537/CS—9337) 1967 Jackson / Pack Up Your Troubles (with June Carter) (CBS/4—44011) “Jackson” entered the Billboard charts on March 4, 1967, remained for seventeen weeks, and peaked at num ber 2. In spite of the numerous duets Cash and June Carter have done, “Jackson” remains the most popular and is always an audience favorite at any Johnny Cash concert. Johnny Cash's Greatest Hits (CBS/CL—2678/CS—9478) Carryin' On (CBS/CLr-2728/CS-9528) A full album of duets with June Carter, with the entire Carter Family (Maybelle, Anita, and Helen) providing background vocals. 1968 From Sea to Shining Sea (CBS/CLr-2647/CS—9447)

Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison (CBS/CL—2839/CS—9637) This album was recorded live at Folsom Prison on January 13, 1968, and started a second career for Cash. The live single release of “Folsom Prison Blues” entered the Billboard charts on June 1, 1968, and remained for eighteen weeks, with four weeks at number 1. The album itself spent eighty-nine weeks on the country charts, four of those weeks at number 1, and one hundred and twenty two weeks on the pop charts, reaching number 13 there. 

1969 The Holy Land (CBS/KCS—9726) A combination of narratives, recorded on site in the Holy Land using a cassette recorder, and songs. It was during the making of this album that Luther Perkins, one of the original Tennessee Two, died in a house fire. Johnny Cash at San Quenttn (CBS/CS—9827) Cash's second live prison album, recorded February 24, 1969. It includes the smash hit “A Boy Named Sue.” The album entered the Billboard charts in July 1969, spending seventy weeks on the pop charts while peaking at number 1 for four weeks. During the same time period it spent fifty-five weeks on the country charts, maintaining number 1 for twenty weeks. San Quentin / A Boy Named Sue (CBS/4—44944) “A Boy Named Sue,” written by Shel Silverstein, was recorded live at the San Quentin Prison performance in February 1969. It was a number-1 chart hit for five weeks on the country charts and reached number 2 for three weeks on the pop charts. Original Golden Hits, Volume One (SUN—100) In 1969 Sam Phillips sold his entire inventory of Sun masters to Shelby Singleton. Singleton, in turn, created a Sun International label and began reissuing the original Sun material. It had long been thought that Phillips had not actually released all the masters Cash cut during his Sun days and Singleton's reissues revealed that to be true. Not only did Singleton release unissued material but he also, either purposely or inadvertently, released a large number of alternate takes of previously released songs. These reissues, coming during Cash's current popularity with the Folsom and San Quentin albums, brought to a new generation of country music listeners the original Sun sound of Johnny Cash. Original Golden Hits, Volume Two (SUN—101) Story Songs of Trains and Rivers (SUN—104) Get Rhythm (SUN—105) Showtime (SUN—106) 1970 Thanks, in part, to the Sun International reissues, Cash ended 1969 with nine albums on the Billboard pop charts and started 1970 with no less than eight albums on the country charts. Hello, I'm Johnny Cash (CBS/KCS—9943) This album includes, in addition to fine music, the best set of liner notes ever appearing on any Cash album to date. They were written by the producer of the album, Bob Johnston. The Singing Story Teller (SUN—115) This Sun International album includes the previously unissued “I Couldn't Keep from Crying.” The Johnny Cash Show (CBS/KC—30100) This “live” album is a combination of material from several of the Johnny Cash television shows that aired during 1969-70 on ABC TV. The Rough Cut King of Country Music (SUN—122) Included in this Sun International release are three songs previously unissued: “Cold, Cold Heart,” “You're My Baby,” and “Fools Hall of Fame.” I Walk the Line (CBS/S—30397) The soundtrack album of the motion picture of the same name, starring Gregory Peck and Tuesday Weld. Little Fauss and Big Halsy (CBS/S—30385) Another soundtrack album release of a motion picture, this one starring Robert Redford. 1971 Man In Black (CBS/C—30550) This album release entered the Billboard charts in June 1971, remained for twenty-nine weeks, and stayed at number 1 for two weeks. 1972 A Thing Called Love (CBS/KC—31332) America (CBS/KC—31645) Some of the material included in this album had originally been intended only for the crew of the Apollo 14 space flight. For whatever reason, it was not used for that flight but instead was included in this release. This album, again, is a Cash concept album as only he can do it. Each song is preceded by a narrative adding background. This album includes the song “Big Foot,” which was written by Cash as he drove through the Badlands of South Dakota immediately following a tour of the Wounded Knee Battlefield in December 1968. 1973 Any Old Wind That Blows (CBS/KC—32091) Gospel Road (CBS/KG—32253) A two-record set of the soundtrack to the motion picture Cash produced and narrated depicting the life of Jesus. Johnny Cash and His Woman (CBS/KC—32443) 1974 Ragged Old Flag (CBS/KC—32917) The title song for this album was recorded live at the House of Cash complex on January 28, 1974, at a luncheon for CBS Records. It was reissued as a single in 1989 as a result of the Supreme Court's flag-burning ruling. The Junkie and Juicehead (Minus Me) (CBS/KC—33086)

This album includes Rosanne Cash, Carlene Carter, and a Cash duet with Rosie Nix. Carlene and Rosie are June's daughters and Rosanne is John's daughter. At Ostraker Prison (CBS—65308) Yet another live prison album, recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 3,1972., and only released by CBS in Europe in December 1974. The concert was also filmed 1975 Children's Album (CBS/C—32898) Unfortunately, Cash's only children's album to date. Precious Moments (CBS/C—33087) This album of religious music was dedicated to Cash's brother, Jack, who died at the age of fourteen. John R. Cash (CBS/KC—33370) Look at Them Beans (CBS/KC—33814) 1976 Strawberry Cake (CBS/KC—34088) This live release is a compilation of two shows done at the Palladium Theater in London, in September 1975. During one of the performances the theater had to be evacuated because of a bomb threat. One Piece at a Time (CBS/KC—34193) The title song from this album, when released as a single, spent fifteen weeks on the charts, reaching number 1 for two weeks in a row.

1977 The Last Gunfighter Ballad (CBS/KC—34314) The Rambler (CBS/KC—34833) Another Cash concept album. 1978 The Unissued Johnny Cash (Bear Family/BFX—15015) Second only in importance to the Shelby Singleton reissues of the original Sun material is the catalog of Bear Family Records of Germany. Beginning with this album, Bear Family began reissuing much early CBS material including many unissued masters. This album includes two songs in German that had been originally released as a single only in Europe. I Would Like to See You Again (CBS/KC—35313) On this album John Carter Cash appears for the first time, on “Who's Gene Autry.” Gone Girl (CBS/KC—35646) Cash's producer at Sun Records in the late 1950s, Jack Clement, produced this album. 1979 Johnny and June (Bear Family/BFX—15030) This European album includes several previously unissued masters, including the very first duet with June

Carter, “How Did You Get Away from Me.” Two more songs Cash recorded in German are included. Silver Anniversary Album (CBS/JC—36086) Tall Man (Bear Family/BFX—15033) Another European album containing some unissued material. A Believer Sings the Truth (Cachet/CL3—9001) This double gospel album was Cash's most ambitious project aside from the Gospel Road motion picture soundtrack. It took the better part of six months in 1979 to complete, with some very extensive overdub sessions. 1980 Rockabilly Blues (CBS/JC—36779) Earl P. Ball produced the album, with Nick Lowe and Jack Clement each producing one track. 1981 The Baron (CBS/FC—37179) A music video was made from the title song of this album featuring Cash and a very young Marty Stuart. 1982 The Survivors (CBS/FC—37916) A live performance of a Stuttgart, Germany, show from April 23, 1981. During the show Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, former label mates with Cash at Sun Records, appeared unexpectedly and joined Cash on stage.