There is another memory, also related to TV, that still burns bright. Back in those days, with only three networks and no cable, the summers were filled with either repeats of last seasons shows – or summer replacement shows. (Do they do this anymore?) These were the days when variety shows (try explaing those to kids!) were still popular.

On June 7, 1969 the Johnny Cash show premiered on ABC-TV. I can’t remember if I was watching that particular night, but I do know that the Cash show became a favorite in our home. Not that my parents were country music fans. I think it was the fact that Johnny Cash’s personality and honesty came across on those shows and anyone watching him would quickly respect him.

The show had elements of many variety shows of the time – I remember watching Soupy Sales when he was a guest (yes, I was a big fan of Soupy!!). Stars like Bob Hope would drop in, and the program did have some of the commercial aspects that was typical of variety shows of the time – music, comedy, monologues, etc.

What really set the show apart was the music. Cash handpicked many of the artists who appeared on the program, and the diversity of talent gives you an idea of how innovative the program was. One of my favorite moments on the video is watching Johnny Cash and Louie Armstrong team up to sing “Blue Yodel #9” – the Jimmy Rodgers classic. Armstrong actually played trumpet on a recording of the song with Rodgers back in the 1930’s. With examples like that, Johnny Cash was showing his audience the connections that existed in music and among people – an important reminder during the changing times of the 1960’s.

The two disc DVD set features a documentary-style commentary between songs throught the set – but the songs are presented in their entirety and the documentary footage does not intrude on the historic footage. Kris Kristofferson narrates, appearing on the stage of Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium – the “holy ground” of Country Music, and the place where Cash taped his program.

Taping the show in Nashville was also a radical idea at the time. By 1969, practially all television programming was coming out of California. Nashville had recording studios, but television production in the town was practically nil. Cash knew that the program would work best from the Ryman stage, and he brought the crew into town. You will also notice some of the performers sweating on the video. This is not a staged effect – there was no air conditioning in the theater at the time.

Folk fans will enjoy the collection with footage of Bob Dylan. Dylan, at the height of his “mystique” at the time, made a rare television appearance to be on the progam. It is considered that Dylan did the program as a way of thanking Cash for his support early in his career when Cash was one of Columbia Records biggest artists.

The same program with Dylan also featured Johnny Mitchell. Also included in the DVD collection are Pete Seeger (who appeared at the insistence of Cash, overcoming objections by ABC), Neil Young, and James Taylor. Linda Ronstadt and Johnny Cash performed a beautiful duet on the traditional song “I Never Will Marry”, and the documentary describes June Carter’s strong objections to Linda Ronstadt’s lack of panties! While they are not included on the DVD set, the television series also featured Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Ian & Sylvia, Arlo Guthrie and other “folkies” of the era.

I throughly enjoyed Cash making connections with other genres of music. An appearance of Derek & Dominoes leads into an exiting version of “Matchbox” featuring the groups guitar wizard Eric Clapton and Cash regular Carl Perkins.

Another moving moment was a segment that featured the Everly Brothers and their father sitting in a living room set and swapping tunes with Johnny and his brother Tommy Cash. Of course, the Carter Family is well represented – and a segment with Maybelle Carter clearly shows why music owes her so much respect. Toward the end of disc 2, Johnny Cash appears with Hank Williams Jr. who pays tribute to the two giants of country music – his father and Johnny Cash. An unrehearsed moment occurs in the scene, and you can see Cash’s genuine reaction that makes it magical.

The list goes on – Bill Monroe, Chet Atkins, Stevie Wonder, Merle Haggard, Ray Charles, Glen Campbell, Tammy Wynette, Roy Orbison, Conway Twitty, Creedance Clearwater Revival and many others. Their performances will have you longing for the days when television took chances and allowed artists to be themselves and not dress up for some hokey music video that has nothing to do with the song.

And of course, there are many songs and stories from the man in black himself. Many of the “classic” Johnny Cash songs are performed and delivered with a passion. Cash was at the top of his game during these years.

The show ran from 1969 to 1971 – the year when primetime hours changed and the networks “gave” back one hour of programming to the local stations. This change was the death knell for variety programs. In addition to Cash, many stars lost their variety programs . There was an offer made to Cash to move his show to another network, but Cash turned it down. His career had other plans. The 58 shows that were produced made his point and it was time for him to move on.
His integrity was more important than pursuing easy commecial success.

This past weekend I was having a discussion with a friend about music. We noted the fact that commercially successful artists today rely so little on their musical skills. Can you name more than one song from Britanny Spears, 50 Cent, or Kanye West? Can you even name one? I don’t mean to denigrate their skills, but the concentration seems to be more on style and attitude.

With this collection from the Johnny Cash show, you will be reminded of why music was so important to the generation that group up during this time. While many artists had their personal problems (including host Johnny Cash), they were judged as entertainers, musicians and writers. I would hope this DVD set can inspire not only musicians, but television executives who rely on “focus groups” and charts to create programming. The Johnny Cash TV series has seen a few re-airings on television, but not nearly as much as it deserves. This DVD collection will serve as reminder to music fans of how to properly combine music and television.