*(1955) Sun ''Folsom Prison Blues'' (Take 5 Master) Johnny Cash

STUDIO SESSION FOR JOHNNY CASH
AT THE MEMPHIS RECORDING SERVICE FOR SUN RECORDS 1955

SUN RECORDING STUDIO
706 UNION AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
SUN SESSION: SATURDAY JULY 30, 1955
SESSION HOURS: UNKNOWN
PRODUCER AND RECORDING ENGINEER - SAM C. PHILLIPS

''FOLSOM PRISON BLUES''
Composer: - Gordon Jenkins-Johnny Cash
Publisher: - B.M.I. - Hi-Lo Music Incorporated
Matrix number: - U 173 - Master (2:48)
Recorded: - July 30, 1955
Released: - December 15, 1955
First appearance: - Sun Records (S) 78/45rpm standard single Sun 232-B mono
FOLSOM PRISON BLUES / SO DOGGONE LONESOME
Reissued - 1995 Bear Family Records (CD) 500/200rpm BCD 15802-1/7 mono
THE SUN SINGLES COLLECTION - VOLUME 2

Sound familiar? Gordon Jenkins thought so when he finally heard "Folsom Prison Blues". Although he waited until Cash's tenure at Sun was over to sue, Cash suffered a major blow to the ego as well as pocketbook. Regardless of authorship, the original version of "Folsom Prison Blues" is a fine record, featuring one of Luther Perkins' most memorable solos.

Luther, Sam had long since come to realize, could barely pick one string at a time, and then with very little sense of certainty. It almost defied belief to watch him try to find his way to the simplest statement of melody, while Johnny Cash, whom Sam otherwise considered as patient and even-tempered a man as he had ever met, would grow increasingly choleric at Luther's seeming inability to stumble through a single phrase. Sam Phillips took Luther aside. ''I had him pick to me, you know, just by himself, we'd go through it and get that take, that feel, that essence, till, everybody knew, 'This is it'''. Then they would try another take, and at just about the point that it seemed they might actually get through it, Luther would hit a note that had never been heard before. ''I mean, you would utter a little prayer'', Sam said, ''sometimes even close your eyes and not move a meter, and you'd want to stuff cotton in your ears and say, 'Let him get through it, let me just wake up, and find out, that he made it''. But he never did. And yet when Johnny Cash expressed his embarrassment and displeasure, to Sam, not to Luther, and even suggested replacing his lead guitarist just so they could get the cut, Sam held firm and said, ''Look, John, you can take your ass out the front door, but leave me Luther''. Because Luther was one of the key elements to the absolute distinctiveness of their sound.

Name (Or. No. Of Instruments)
Johnny Cash - Vocal and Rhythm Guitar
Luther Perkins - Lead Guitar
Marshall Grant - Upright Bass

Source and more information see: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

* - Digitally Remastered

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