Recordings by Johnny Cash

Album: JOHNNY CASH SILVER
Label: Columbia JC-36086
Year: 1979
Producer: Brian Ahern
Comment:  This is a crossroad album for John. This would be the last recording that Marshall Grant would play on, one of the two original Tennessee Two. Marshall would go on to manage the Statler Brothers for many years. Prophetically John's last song on the album started to outline the ending of his relationship with Columbia. 

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 Track Listing (Click to hear sample)

1. L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore, The
2. Lonesome To The Bone
3. Bull Rider
4. I'll Say It's True - (with George Jones)
5. Riders In The Sky, (Ghost)
6. Cocaine Blues
7. Muddy Waters
8. West Canterbury Subdivision Blues
9. Lately I Been Leanin' Toward The Blues
10. I'm Gonna Sit On The Porch And Pick On My Old Guitar
11. I Still Miss Someone - (with George Jones)
12. I Got Stripes - (with George Jones)

 

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Liner Notes

 

No liner notes

 

 

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Info

Personnel

  • Johnny Cash - Vocals
  • Marshall Grant - Bass
  • W.S. Holland - Drums
  • Bob Wootton - Electric Guitar
  • Jack Routh, Jerry Hensley - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
  • Jack Clement - Acoustic Guitar
  • Brian Ahern - Acoustic Guitar, Earthwood Bass, 6-String Bass, Percussion
  • Earl Ball, Charles Cochran - Piano
  • Jack Hale, Bob Lewin - Trumpet
  • Ricky Skaggs - Fiddle
  • Bob Johnson - Mandocello
  • Joel Sonnier - Concertina/Harmonica
  • Mark Morris - Percussion
  • Alisa Jones - Hammer Dulcimer
  • George Jones, Jack Wesley Routh, June Carter, Helen Carter, Anita Carter, Jan Howard - Vocals

Recorded:
1979, Jack Clement Recording Studios, Nashville
1979, Sound Spectrum Studios, Nashville

 

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)

Year Chart Position
1979 Country Albums 28

Singles - Billboard (North America)

Year Single Chart Position
1979 "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" Country Singles 2
1979 "I'll Say It's Her" Country Singles 42
1980 "Bull Rider" Country Singles 66

 

Info

Silver is an album by American country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1979 (see 1979 in music). It peaked at #28 on the albums chart. "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" peaked at #2 on the singles chart; the two other singles, "Bull Rider" and "I'll Say It's True", reached #66 and #42, respectively. Other highlights include "The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore" and "I'm Gonna Sit on the Porch and Pick on My Guitar." Recordings of "Cocaine Blues" had previously appeared on At Folsom Prison and Now, There Was a Song!, under the title "Transfusion Blues" on the latter. The album also featured production by Brian Ahern, who controversially introduced digital elements into the songs, to some disapproval of listeners. Silver was re-released in 2002 (see 2002 in music) through Legacy Recordings, with remakes of two early Cash songs, "I Still Miss Someone" and "I Got Stripes," as bonus tracks; both are duets with George Jones. This is the last album that Marshall Grant, the original Tennessee Two bass player, played on. He departed from Cash's band the following year.

Re-Release Info

Dulcimer? French horn? Mandocello? These are not instruments traditionally associated with the music of Johnny Cash. Yet 1979's SILVER features the Man in Black with these odd bedfellows, and the overall sound is given a softer, mainstream production treatment from Brian Ahern (best known for his work with Emmylou Harris). While fans of Cash's usual rough-hewn aesthetic may take affront at such lush settings, the material here is undeniably solid.

SILVER opens with an impressive interpretation of "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore," and follows with Cash originals such as "Lonesome to the Bone," mixed in with excellent versions of "Cocaine Blues" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky." In addition to the 1979 pressing's duet with George Jones ("I'll Say It's True"), the 2002 reissue contains additional songs with Jones on two Cash classics--"I Still Miss Someone" and "I Got Stripes." Throughout the album, Cash's warbly baritone is in top form, and his skills as a world-class yarn-spinner shine. Even dressed in high-gloss production finery, the true grit of Cash's musical personality comes blazing through.

***

 

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Lyrics

1.
L AND N DON'T STOP HERE ANYMORE
(Tom T. Hall)
« © '75 Hallnote Music, BMI / Acuff-Rose Music, BMI »

When I was the curly headed baby my daddy sat me down upon his knees
He said boy you go to school learn you letters don't you be a dirty miner like me
I was born and raised in the mount of the Hazard Hollow
Coal cars ramble pass my door
Now they're standin' in rusty row all empty and the L and N don't stop here anymore

I used to think my daddy was a black man
With scrip enough to buy the company store
Now he goes dawntown with empty pockets and his face is white as February snow
I was born and raised...
[ fiddle ]
Last night I dreamed I went down to the coal yard
To draw my pay like I always did before
But them ol' cuts of vine were coming through the windows
And leaves and grass are growin' through the floor
I was born and raised...
**********

2.
LONESOME TO THE BONE
(Johnny Cash)
« © '74 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »

On the park bench I slept on raindrops are fallin' on the newspapers coverin' me
I hear early morning motors and I know the world is waking for the dawn
But my mind's down in dark alley somewhere where last night you loved me
And in the early morning chill my arms remember still
But I'm droppin' like a stone lonesome to the bone
The sun is roughly rising on the roofs of stagger town
The time for sweat and poison out is just now coming round
The high flyin' last night is over with and gone leavin' me lonesome to the bone
[ guitar ]
I walked away the wind blows and any way the wind goes will be good enough for me
My mind is like that traffic jam and I walk between the cars lost and alone
Your hot breath and your laughter keep flashing through my mind to warm me
But the naked light of day soon makes it fade away
And I'm going down alone lonesome to the bone
The sun is roughly rising...
**********

3.
BULL RIDER
(Rodney Crowell)
« © '79 Happy Sack Music, ASCAP »

Well first you gotta wanna get off bad enough to wanna get on him in the first place
And you better trust in your lady luck
Pray to God that she don't give up on you right now
Live fast die young bull rider
One hand hold is all you got it's you and the bull against the clock and a cross crowd
And once upon a spinnin' ton nothin' else you've ever done can pull this way
You're just outside the buckin' shoot
Lose a spur you lose your seat and you lose yourself
By now he's buckin' mean and dirty
Slingin' mud and cowboy boots and kickin' clowns
No fools no fun bull rider

You gotta feel the way he's movin' you gotta watch his head
And brace yourself for anything that a friend of you might dead
You know the art of hangin' loose hangin' just as tight
Well there's something like a hurricane who's dancin' with the kite

Well the rodeo is more than rough
It's a fact of life it's tough to cut his fever ass
It's drinkin' beer and pullin' trailers
Tighten may on barreled razors and horse's buck
No rides no pay bull rider live fast die young bull rider bull rider bull rider
**********

4.
I'LL SAY IT'S TRUE
(Johnny Cash)
« © '79 House Of Cash, BMI »

I've never been in prison I don't know much about trains
My favorite singer cooks my breakfast I like her fancy and I like her plain
I love bright and flashin' colors like hot pink and dresden blue
But if they ask me if it's true that I still love you I'll say it's true
I'd happy in a mansion or in an old rundown shotgun shack
I like the feel of silk and satin so I don't know why I wear black
I love New York City bet ut your cowgirl boots I do
But if they ask me if it's true that I still love you I'll say it's true
I'll say it's true so don't let it bother you
Just let them old tales all stay twisted I will set 'em straight about you
I have not been in the army I'm an Indian from years ago
When they ask if I know Waylon I tell them I think so
I do not plan on retiring from anything I do
But if they ask me if it's true that I still love you I'll say it's true
I'll say it's true so don't let it bother you
Just let them old tales all stay twisted I will set 'em straight on you
I got plans to keep right on singin' and I do know Emmylou
But if they ask me if it's true that I still love you I'll say it's true
**********

5.
(GHOST) RIDERS IN THE SKY
(Stan Jones)
« © '49 Edwin H Morris Music, BMI »

An old cowboy went ridin' out one dark and windy day
Upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way
When all at once a mighty herd of red eyed cows he saw
Ploughin' through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel
Their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel
A bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky
For he saw the riders coming hard and he heard their mournful cry
Yi pi yi o yi pi yi ay ghost riders in the sky
[ guitar ]
Their faces gaunt their eyes were blurred their shirts all soaked with sweat
He's ridin' hard to catch that herd but he ain't caught 'em yet
Cause they've got to ride forever on that range up in the sky
On horses snortin' fire as they ride on hear their cry
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name
If you want to save your soul from hell a ridin' on our range
Then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride
Tryin' to catch the devil's herd across these endless skies
Yi pi yi o yi pi yi ay ghost riders in the sky
Ghost riders in the sky ghost riders in the sky
**********

6.
COCAINE BLUES
(T.J. Arnall)
« © '58 Unichappell Music, BMI »

Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds
I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down
Went right home and I went to bed I stuck that lovin' 44 beneath my head
Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun took a shot of cocaine and away I run
Made a good run but I run too slow they overtook me down in Juarez Mexico
Late in the hot joints takin' the pills in walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill
He said Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown
You're the dirty hog that shot your woman down
Said yes sir my name is Willy Lee if you've got the warrant just read it to me
Shot her down because she made me sore
I thought I was her daddy but she had five more
When I was arrested I was dressed in black
They put me on a train and they took me back
I had no friends for to go my bail
They slapped my dried up carcass in that country jail
[ ac.guitar ]
Got up next mornin' bout a half past nine spied the sheriff coming down the line
Hopped and he coughed as he cleared his throat
He said come on you dirty hog into that district court
Into the courtroom my trial began where I was handled by twelve honest men
Just before the jury started out I saw the little judge commence to look me bout
In about five minutes in walked the man holding the verdict in his right hand
The verdict read in the first degree I hollered Lowdy Lowdy have a mercy on me
The judge he smiled as he picked up his ben 99 years in the Folsom pen
99 years underneath that ground I can't forget the day I shot my woman down
Come on you hogs and listen unto me lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be
**********

7.
MUDDY WATERS
(Phil Rosenthall)
« © '74 House Of Cash, BMI »

Mary grab the baby river's risin' mudy water taking back the land
Old frame house she can't take no more beatin' ain't no use to stay and make a stand
Well the morning light showed water in the valley
Daddy's grave just went below the line
Things they say you just can't take 'em with you
The flood will swallow all you leave behind
Won't be back to start all over cause what I've held before is gone
Mary take the child the river's risin' muddy water taking back my home
[ guitar ]
The road is gone there's just one way to leave here
Turn my back on what I've left below
Shiftin' lands broken farms around me muddy water's changin' all I know
Hard to say just what I'm losin' ain't never felt so all alone
Mary take the child the river's risin' muddy water taking back my home
[ fiddle ]
Won't be back to start...
That muddy water taking back my home
Muddy water's taking back my home muddy water taking back my home
**********

8.
WEST CENTERBURY SUBDIVISION BLUES
(Jack Clement)
« © '76 Songs Of PolyGram, BMI »

I built her a castle of perma stone but I should have reigned more with her
Too often I left my queen alone and that was no way to leave her
I rode out in quest of song and wine and that was no way to treat her
I kept her hanging like grapes on the vine and that was no way to keep her
Reds Goodguy rode by on his milk white steed and casually mentioned my misdeeds
He promised her love far greater than mine
Thus pulled out and plucked my grapes from the vine
[ fiddle ]
I built her a castle with patios but I seldom cooked out upon it
I bought her a TV with stereo but I never listened much to it
Now I have a castle but the queen's not home and that is no way to have her
I have the vine but the grapes are gone and that's no way to run a vineyard
Reds Goodguy rode by...
**********

9.
LATELY I'VE BEEN LEANIN' TOWARD THE BLUES
(Billy Joe Shaver)
« © '79 Sony ATV Songs, BMI »

Lately I've been leanin' toward to blues
The lazy loafin' good for nothin' no count knock around
Ain't been worth a honky dime since country come to town
I'll tell you boys this waitin' up for somethin's got me down to nothin' left to lose
And lately I've been leanin' toward to blues
I said lately I've been leanin' toward to blues I've been leanin' lately toward the blues
I've done held on till I can't turn loose
[ guitar ]
Everything is everything and everybody knows
We can't get nowhere by steppin' on each other's toes
And when it comes to Cotton Corners baby anyway you get here is just fine
Cause lately we've been doin' double time
And lately I've been leanin' toward to blues I've been leanin' lately toward the blues
Done more soul in my old holy shoes I said lately I've been leanin' toward to blues
**********

10.
I'M GONNA SIT ON THE PORCH AND PICK ON MY OLD GUIT
(Johnny Cash)
« © '79 Song Of Cash Music, ASCAP »

I'm gonna sit on the porch and pick on my old guitar
I'm gonna lay on my back and laugh at my lucky star
And then I'm gonna fly away and never come back someday
Less I thought I would land right close to where you are
Well if I thought anybody really cared I'd send back word
Strapped to the leg of a trans-celestial bird
I wonder if I ever really did leave how many would there be to grieve
How they'd react to the word
[ ac.guitar ]
Well I wouldn't want to hurt a solitary soul
I have still got all six foot too in control
But when my obligation's load is a greasy uphill road
And pleasin' everybody but me is my first goal
I want to sit on the porch and pick on my old guitar
And just hope you're hanging loose wherever you are
And for the joy you brought to me this song I sung for Thee
While I sit on the porch and pick on my old guitar
**********

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