The historic Bob Dylan/ Johnny Cash recording sessions that resulted in one duet, “Girl From the North Country,” being officially released took place on February 17 and 18, 1969 in Nashville.
The recordings are so casual, and at times joyous. These guys are having fun, fooling around, making music.
It’s a total gas.
Here is a wonderful version of Cash’s “I Walk the Line.”
Here’s more of the sessions – note that after “I Still Miss Someone” there’s a silent gap and then the music starts up again:
Setlist:
1- MOUNTAIN DEW
2- I STILL MISS SOMEONE
3- CARELESS LOVE
4- MATCHBOX
5- THAT’S ALRIGHT MAMA
6- BIG RIVER
7- I WALK THE LINE
8- YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
9- RING OF FIRE
10- GUESS THINGS HAPPEN THAT WAY
11- JUST, A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
12- BLUE YODEL
13- BLUE YODEL #5 ~THE JOHNNY CASH SHOW:~ 05-01-69
14- I THREW IT ALL AWAY
15- LIVING THE BLUES
16- GIRL, FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
[I just published my rock ‘n’ roll/ coming-of-age novel, “True Love Scars,” which features a narrator who is obsessed with Bob Dylan. To read the first chapter, head here.
Or watch an arty video with audio of me reading from the novel here.
Of just buy the damn thing:
–- A Days of the Crazy-Wild blog post: sounds, visuals and/or news –-
Yesterday I did a post about the first Nashville Skyline session to produce music that ended up on the album. (There was an unproductive session the previous day but no information about what was recorded has surfaced.)
Aside from the resulting album, Nashville Skyline, a country gem that is as peculiar as it is enjoyable, what is most interesting about the making of the album has to do with a guest artist who joined Dylan in the studio on February 18, 1969.
Johnny Cash!
Previously Dylan hadn’t had much luck working with other big stars. Things were awkward with John Lennon, and he didn’t care for Andy Warhol at all, according to those who were at the Factory when Dylan met Warhol.
But with Johnny Cash Dylan hit pay dirt. Their recording of “Girl From the North Country” is terrific, and some of other others are wonderful.
So today I’m posting a bunch of songs from the Dylan/Cash session plus an alternative take of “Country Pie” from the February 14, 1968 session.
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “One Too Many Mornings” take 1:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “One Too Many Mornings” version 2:
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash, “I Still Miss Someone”:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Careless Love”:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “That’s Alright Mama”:
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash, “Big River”:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Girl From the North Country,” this is on Nashville Skyline but it’s awesome so I couldn’t leave it out:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “I Walk the Line”:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Ring of Fire”:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Guess Things Happen That Way”:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee”:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Blue Yodel” version 1:
Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, “Blue Yodel” version 2:
“Country Pie,” alternative version with steel guitar:
