August 7:  Song of the Day.  Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, & Eric Clapton–Matchbox

In answer to a comment posed in yesterday’s post Johnny Cash:  The Man, His World, His Music I mentioned a performance that featured three greats from the world of country, blues, rockabilly, and rock n roll. It aired on The Johnny Cash Show, a television variety show hosted by the Man in Black himself that aired on ABC from 1969 - 1971.  The performance brought together Johnny, rockabilly legend Carl Perkins, and Eric Clapton, who was booked to perform with Derek and the Dominos.

Over the two season span of the show, which was recorded at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Cash highlighted not only some of the great country stars of the day including George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, and Tammy Wynette, but he also showcased a wide-range of artists from across the musical spectrum including Bob Dylan (he was the special guest performer on the very first show in June of 1969), Stevie Wonder (who played piano/organ/harmonica/drums with Johnny on “Get Rhythm”), Neil Young at the onset of his solo career, Tony Joe White (who performed “Polk Salad Annie” which is a personal favorite), Louis Armstrong (a duet with Cash on the Jimmy Rodgers tune “Blue Yodel #9), and  a rare TV appearance by Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys.

The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show was released as a 2 DVD set in the fall of 2007 and aired on PBS that same year as part of their fall fund drive.  All of the performances listed above are included.  There are 66 performances in all.  [The video for “Matchbox” featuring Cash, Perkins, and Clapton from January 1971 is included after the break.]

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Matchbox by Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, & Eric Clapton

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