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Albert Hammond (most famously known, probably, for 1972's "It
Never Rains in Southern California") was the writer (with Mike Hazlewood) and producer of "Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup," which
John, the Carter Family and the Oak Ridge Boys recorded at House of
Cash on April 11, 1973. Hammond also produced the first recording of
"Ballad of Barbara" (a Cash original which John has a special
affinity for--he released three different versions of the song over
the years), recorded the same day. Hammond did not appear on either
cut. Also, although the label stated that the Carters and the Oaks
were on both cuts, they were, in fact, only on "Praise the Lord," the
other being just John with no vocal accompaniment.
John had not been in the studio for five months, having finished
up the "Any Old Wind That Blows" sessions in November 1972. He would
start on what became "Johnny Cash and His Woman" the following month.
The two songs were the only ones done that day. "Praise the Lord" and
"Barbara" were released only as a single in July 1973, spending seven
weeks on the charts, getting up to #57. "PTL" was an out and out
shouter of a gospel number; even listening to it now as I write this
it sends shivers. Much like "Spiritual" from "Unchained" it shows how
powerful John was on those rare occasions when he really let loose.
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