Song of the Week #89 – “Folsom Prison Blues”
Written by admin on January 16, 2012 – 7:45 pm -| Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons.
“Folsom Prison Blues” was first released as a Sun Records single on December 15, 1955, backed with “So Doggone Lonesome.” It also appeared on his first album, “With His Hot and Blue Guitar,” issued by Sun in September 1957. |
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“Folsom Prison Blues” was inspired (quite substantially) by Gordon Jenkins’ 1953 song “Crescent City Blues,” which Cash had heard while serving in the Air Force. Cash would later explain:
| “At the time, I really had no idea I would be a professional recording artist; I wasn’t trying to rip anybody off. So when I later went to Sun to record the song, I told Sam Phillips that I rewrote an old song to make my song, and that was that. Sometime later I met up with Gordon Jenkins and we talked about what had happened, and everything was right.” |
Everything was right, but only after Cash had paid Jenkins a reported $75,000 settlement.
The prison theme was inspired by the 1951 movie “Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison.” The decision to merge the themes of prisons and trains was a clever one, as the singer is hit by the contrast between the isolation and claustrophobia of a prison cell (“I ain’t seen the sunshine/Since, I don’t know when”) and the freedoms enjoyed by those passing by on the train (“I bet there’s rich folks eatin’/In a fancy dining car/They’re probably drink’ coffee/And smokin’ big cigars”).
The song is also a classic example of Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two’s use of their trademark “boom-chicka-boom” two-beat rhythm, which was well suited to the train lyric.
Billboard gave the “Folsom Prison Blues” single a positive review in their January 7, 1956 issue:
| “Cash delivers two solid, sincere and very genuine country blues sides. There is a great melancholy, minor key flavor, and the definitely above-par lyrics for both get a wonderfully expressive treatment. Two of the best offerings in the stepped-up number of country blues items. Both could break out.” |
Cash would re-record “Folsom Prison Blues” for his 1964 album “I Walk the Line,” which featured re-recordings of a number of his early Sun tracks. He also sang what would become a very popular live version of the song in front of the inmates of Folsom prison in 1968. This rendition featured on the album “Johnny Cash Live At Folsom” and was also released on single in April 1968, backed with “The Folk Singer.” The famous moment where a convict whoops after Cash sings “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die” was added in post production.
The 1968 live version of “Folsom Prison Blues” was a hit single and would earn Cash a Grammy award in the “Best Country Solo Vocal, Male” category.
Johnny Cash – “Folsom Prison Blues” (live, 1968)
Authorship
“Folsom Prison Blues” was written by Johnny Cash and, as noted above, adapted from a Gordon Jenkins composition.
Recording date/location
The original “Folsom Prison Blues” single was recorded on July 30, 1955 at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The hit live version was recorded on January 13, 1968 at Folsom Prison, California.
Musicians
The following musicians played on the 1955 recording of “Folsom Prison Blues”:
- Johnny Cash – vocals and guitar
- Marshall Grant – bass
- Luther Perkins – electric guitar.
Cash was introduced to Grant and Perkins in 1954 by his brother Roy Cash, Sr, who worked with them at the Automobile Sales Company in Memphis. The three got their break after auditioning for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Grant and Perkins would soon become known as the Tennessee Two.
By the time of the 1968 live version of “Folsom Prison Blues,” the Tennessee Two had become the Tennessee Three with the addition of drummer W. S. “Fluke” Holland. Holland had also got his start at Sun, playing on Carl Perkins (no relation to Luther) records, including the classic “Blue Suede Shoes.” Carl Perkins was also a member of Johnny Cash’s band in 1968.
Chart performance
The original “Folsom Prison Blues” Sun single was a Top 10 country hit in early summer 1956, but it was with the 1968 live single that Cash would have the biggest success. This topped Billboard’s country chart for four weeks and peaked at number 32 on the Hot 100.
Covers
“Folsom Prison Blues” became a country standard so, not surprisingly, many of the classic country artists had a crack at it, including Conway Twitty, Merle Haggard, Ferlin Husky, Waylon Jennings, Charley Pride and Porter Wagoner. Here’s two memorable covers.
Jerry Reed – “Folsom Prison Blues”
The great Jerry Reed recorded a country rock version of “Folsom Prison Blues” for his 1973 album “Lord, Mr Ford.” The funky arrangement and Reed’s distinctive guitar style make this an interesting cover that is quite a departure from the original.
Carl Perkins – “Folsom Prison Blues”
Carl Perkins was very familiar with the song as he often played in Johnny Cash’s band, but his solo version from the 1969 album “Carl Perkins Greatest Hits” takes it in a slightly different direction, with more of a rockabilly rhythm and a higher key (from E up to A) to help drive the song along. The rockabilly legend does a great job.
There will be a new Song of the Week on January 23.
Johnny Cash’s original Sun version of “Folsom Prison Blues” is available on various compilations, including the 3-CD set “Cash – Complete Sun Masters.”
The 1968 live version of “Folsom Prison Blues” is available on the 2 CD/DVD Legacy Edition of “Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison.” This includes the entire unedited 65-minute first show on disc one, with seven previously unissued tracks, and the entire 75-minute second show on disc two, with 24 previously unissued tracks. There is also a documentary with footage from the day and interviews with those involved.
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Cash – Complete Sun Masters (3 CDs) |
Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
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Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison Legacy Edition (2 CDs/DVD) |
Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now | Buy Now |
Tags: Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny Cash, Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison
Posted in Rock 'n' roll, Song of the Week |
