78 RPM JOHNNY CASH SUN 232 FOLSOM PRISON BLUES SO DOGGONE LONESOME 1955 LISTEN

$

52

Up for auction is a 1955 rock & roll / rockabilly / country 78 rpm recorded by Johnny Cash & The Tennessee Two on Sun 232.

The sides are: Folsom Prison Blues / So Doggone Lonesome.

From Wikipedia…

"Folsom Prison Blues" is the title of a song written and recorded by American country music artist Johnny Cash. The song combines elements from two popular folk genres, the train song and the prison song, both of which Cash would continue to use for the rest of his career. It became one of Cash's signature songs. It was the eleventh track on his debut album With His Hot and Blue Guitar but was also included (same version) on All Aboard the Blue Train.

In the lyrics, the jailed protagonist listens to the whistle of a train outside his cell and recounts his crimes ("I shot a man in Reno/just to watch him die"), imagines the free people inside the train ("They're probably drinking coffee and smoking big cigars") and dreams of what he would do if he were free. "I know I had it coming/I know I can't be free," sings the imprisoned man. "But those people keep a'moving/and that's what tortures me."

Cash was inspired to write this song after seeing the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison (1951) while serving in West Germany in the United States Air Force. Cash recounted how he came up with the "Reno" line: "I sat with my pen in my hand, trying to think up the worst reason a person could have for killing another person, and that's what came to mind.”

Cash borrowed the melody for the song and many of the lyrics from Gordon Jenkins's 1953 Seven Dreams concept album, specifically the song "Crescent City Blues". Jenkins was not credited on the original record, which was issued by Sun Records. In the early 1970s, after the song became popular, Cash paid Jenkins a settlement of approximately $75,000.

Cash included the song, considered one of his signature songs, in his repertoire for decades. Cash performed the song at Folsom Prison itself on January 13, 1968 and this version was eventually released on the At Folsom Prison album the same year. That opening song is more up-tempo than the Sun studio recording. The recording's most notable feature — the whoops from the audience at the "Reno" line — were added in post-production, according to Michael Streissguth. A special on the Walk the Line DVD indicates that the prisoners were careful not to cheer at any of Cash's comments about the prison itself, fearing reprisal from guards. Pitchfork Media placed this live version at number 8 on its list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s".

Below are the tracks recorded with NO filtering or noise reduction.

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Grading System:

• NM = near new condition
• E = barely played, extremely close to near new condition
• VG = played, but not abused condition, should play very well, may have light scratches, scuffs
• G = well played, but should play pretty well, will have deeper scratches, scuff; may have some background noise, scratches, scuffs, wear
• P = well used, pretty bad condition, lots of background noise

Grades VG- with decent gloss & sound. Has many light marks, scuffs & scratches. (Please use the Full Screen & Zoom features on the pictures to get a more accurate depiction of the playing surfaces).        

This record will be very securely packaged for shipment. Please let me know if you would like your records insured.

I try my best to describe and grade these as accurately as possible...I will gladly accept returns if you are not satisfied.

Good luck!