GrizClaw - Posted - 10/15/2014:  08:28:53

I found this this morning while surfing YouTube. It is a full episode from the early 60's featuring Pete, Johnny Cash and June Carter. I really enjoyed it and hope you do too. Rick

youtu.be/GDBtrzka2X4

UncleClawhammer - Posted - 10/15/2014:  10:52:01

There are lots of good acts that were featured on the show - Cousin Emmy, The Stanley Bros., Mississippi John Hurt, Roscoe Holcomb, the Clancy Bros. and Tommy Makem.. The list goes on. I wish they'd put out the whole collection on DVD. As it is, you can only get a few episodes. Pete's a pretty awkward host, but the music is fantastic. One of my favorite episodes has the New Lost City Ramblers on it. Pete plays a clip of Mike Seeger riding a unicycle.

Edited by - UncleClawhammer on 10/15/2014 10:54:38

GrizClaw - Posted - 10/15/2014:  13:29:16

You're right about Pete being a little awkward. But what struck me about this episode was the casual unplugged nature of it. Mid way through it Johnny Cash just flips off his shoes and does the rest of the show in his stocking feet. Neat glimpse of the artists in a relaxed non-stage environment.

Paul R - Posted - 10/15/2014:  21:40:47

And I get the impression that Johnny's kind of, uh, wired. Nonetheless, it's a great way to see people. Pete had lots of folks on who were, well, just folks, old blues guys, OT pickers, people the commercial television world never heard of.  The series came along when, or just after, Pete was kept off Hootenanny for not signing a "loyalty oath". And, yes, the series would be great on DVD, although most likely not a commercial success. Perhaps the Smithsonian should get a hold of it (if they don't have it already?). I'd think it would get a good reception on BHO!

​If you can find it, watch Festival, a documentary about the Newport Folk Festival in the mid-Sixties. There's a very brief shot of Mr. Cash singing "I Walk the Line". I have a DVD, maybe it can still be found, or maybe it's on YT.

Thanks for posting, Rick.

GrizClaw - Posted - 10/16/2014:  06:22:43

quote:Paul, I noticed the same thing about Johnny.

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Originally posted by Paul R

And I get the impression that Johnny's kind of, uh, wired. Nonetheless, it's a great way to see people. Pete had lots of folks on who were, well, just folks, old blues guys, OT pickers, people the commercial television world never heard of.  The series came along when, or just after, Pete was kept off Hootenanny for not signing a "loyalty oath". And, yes, the series would be great on DVD, although most likely not a commercial success. Perhaps the Smithsonian should get a hold of it (if they don't have it already?). I'd think it would get a good reception on BHO!

​If you can find it, watch Festival, a documentary about the Newport Folk Festival in the mid-Sixties. There's a very brief shot of Mr. Cash singing "I Walk the Line". I have a DVD, maybe it can still be found, or maybe it's on YT.

Thanks for posting, Rick.

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Gary Blanchard - Posted - 10/16/2014:  07:06:36

Yeah, Johnny was very wired. The way Pete treated him on that occasion was one of the reasons that Johnny Cash fought to have him on his TV show years later.

GrizClaw - Posted - 10/16/2014:  07:36:09

quote:Really interesting Gary....there was a lot of behaviors going on in that little session. May be one of the reasons Pete was awkward at times and you catch June making inquiring glances, toward Johnny, at times. Kind of a rare look at these iconic people just being themselves. Very authentic.

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Originally posted by Gary Blanchard

Yeah, Johnny was very wired. The way Pete treated him on that occasion was one of the reasons that Johnny Cash fought to have him on his TV show years later.

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UncleClawhammer - Posted - 10/16/2014:  10:40:22

It was the height of John's pill years. The worst I ever saw him was in some Hollywood country music movie where he sang "The One on the Right was on the Left." Even the movie magic couldn't hide how rawboned, scrawny, and twitchy he was. His performance of "Were You There When They Crucified my Lord?" with the Carter Family was beautiful, though.

Pete was always like that. A lot of it is just Pete, a lot of it is that the guests often had a completely different approach. I heard someone (John Pankake?) say that whenever Pete spoke to you, it was like he was addressing the masses.

Edited by - UncleClawhammer on 10/16/2014 10:43:34

Gary Blanchard - Posted - 10/16/2014:  16:01:00

quote:

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Originally posted by UncleClawhammer

It was the height of John's pill years. The worst I ever saw him was in some Hollywood country music movie where he sang "The One on the Right was on the Left." Even the movie magic couldn't hide how rawboned, scrawny, and twitchy he was. His performance of "Were You There When They Crucified my Lord?" with the Carter Family was beautiful, though.

Pete was always like that. A lot of it is just Pete, a lot of it is that the guests often had a completely different approach. I heard someone (John Pankake?) say that whenever Pete spoke to you, it was like he was addressing the masses.

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I had coffee with Pete after a benefit concert he did in Baltimore. He told some great stories. As I read his biographies, I realize those were the stories he always told. I think he was much more comfortable with a crowd that in a smaller social situation. I can identify with that.

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/16/2014:  19:06:18

June looked nervous,,probably hoping Johnny wasn't gonna do something really crazy- like the time he kicked out all the footlights at the Opry. I had his Orange Blossom Special album,,at the height of his pill days- he makes a valiant attempt at singing O Danny Boy,a tough nut to crack for even the best of singers- whew. During his continuous rehab years,he quipped once that the only people who would talk to him were Betty Ford and God. lol

Alegria - Posted - 10/22/2014:  12:43:17

Pete has a stage personality that does not harmonize very well with johnny and Junes one-on-one personalities. It's nothing bad, just people being different.

My favorite episode is the one with brownie and Sonny! They have the same kind of crowd personality as Pete. They make a good show togetter playing their roles to perfection :)

Another good one is the episode with Donovan. I did not expect the show to take a turn like that!

From Greylock to Bean Blossom - Posted - 10/22/2014:  18:29:07

quote:

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Originally posted by Montanarick

You're right about Pete being a little awkward. But what struck me about this episode was the casual unplugged nature of it. Mid way through it Johnny Cash just flips off his shoes and does the rest of the show in his stocking feet. Neat glimpse of the artists in a relaxed non-stage environment.

 

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Toshi Seeger, Pete's wife, was livid at Johnny Cash for doing the show in this high state. However they remained good friends and later, after Pete's black listing, Johnny had Pete on his show and introduced him as a great and loyal American.

ken

GrizClaw - Posted - 10/22/2014:  19:06:33

Very interesting Ken.......

chuckv97 - Posted - 10/24/2014:  20:59:01

Johnny always supported the NE folkies- Bob Dylan, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Pete ,etc. He had a lot of them on when he had his TV show (filmed at the Ryman no less)

Jim Yates - Posted - 10/25/2014:  09:37:51

And here's Pete's visit to Johnny's show. youtube.com/watch?v=ADtAU43MM14