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:: Track list & details
After the groundbreaking Live At Folsom Prison stayed on the album charts for 39 weeks—becoming the Man in Black's biggest hit up to that point—Cash had the leverage to double down, giving us this sequel, originally recorded and filmed onstage back in 1969, a year and change after Folsom.
The first two CDs of this new three-disc edition contain the entire all-star show's lineup in the order that it was performed. Highlights come early, with Carl Perkins' performance of his classic "love song" "Blue Suede Shoes," followed by the (then-fledgling) Statler Brothers, who kick into "Flowers On The Wall" giving a sped-up, stripped-down but refreshing take on the recording best known today for it's appearance on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack. Following a bit of aw-shucks banter, the Carter Family perform a passable version of their signature "Wildwood Flower" (but the inmates are into it).
When Johnny strolls on, introduces himself and chugs right on into "Big River" the shift in gears is palpable—dude really knew how to work that baritone. Other highlights on the first disc include "Wreck Of The Old 97," and a medley of "The Long Black Veil" and "Give My Love To Rose." Although the tension in the air jumps out at the listener from note one, John stays cool, and his banter with the inmates and the cameramen is not to be missed.
Standing tall with the newly christened Tennessee Three at his back (W.S. Holland, Marshall Grant and the new guy, Bob Wooten), it's easy to hear that Cash was in his element. The live dynamic of performing in front of hardened criminals who loved his tunes is that lightning in a bottle that gives the whole recording the thrust that Cash was trying to point out to the naysayers in suits (who questioned him the first time around). That pulse puts the listener right in the front bench, and you actually forget about the potentially volatile scenario.
The second disc begins with two versions of "San Quentin," during which the inmates hang on every note (by the time he gets to "San Quentin, may you rot and burn in hell" he's got the whole place in the palm of his hand, lyrically)... then he breaks everything down with "Wanted Man" (which he co-penned with longtime friend Bob Dylan). Perkins returns with the rockabilly "Restless," which paves the way for the highlights "A Boy Named Sue" and "Blistered." Later on, the Statlers resurface with Glenn Campbell's gospelly "Less Of Me," that leads into "Ring Of Fire," with backing vocals from the Carter clan.
The San Quentin show came after Cash had fought hard with his inner demons and addictions, so as he was often wont to do, the closing numbers on of the second set are churchy, peaking with "Daddy Sang Bass" (with backing from the Statlers, the Carters and Perkins). Cash continues into a closing medley with everybody in tow, riding into the sunset with "Folsom Prison Blues"/"I Walk The Line"/"Ring Of Fire"/"The Rebel-Johnny Yuma."
And if listening weren't enough, as mentioned earlier, the whole of these performances were filmed for a Granada TV (UK) documentary (this is the performance where Johnny's infamous "bird flipping" photo was snapped). Thus the third disc is a 60 minute DVD with filmed footage of excerpted performances of the show (Cash and crew actually performed more than once for the recordings), and the resultant documentary program, which is filled with an hour's worth on footage, interviews and the full performance of "A Boy Named Sue." While this set might throw off the uninitiated, fans of the Man in Black will have the most fun they can with all their clothes on.
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