"Ring of Fire", Dylan and Johnny Cash, February 18, 1969
Valerie June Carter Cash was born on June 23, 1929. Johnny Cash was her third husband, she was his second wife. She died on May 15, 2003. He joined her in heaven less than four months later.
It's no secret that Johnny Cash was not only an influence and supporter, but that Johnny and June were friends with Dylan as well. While Dylan covered many of Johnny's songs throughout his career, including his early days in Minnesota, one the the songs he's returned to over the years, and has actually released, is "Ring Of Fire", written by June Carter and Merle Kilgore. Cash's original reading of the song was somewhat controversial, as he added Mexican horns to the arrangement after hearing them in a dream. It became a world-wide smash.
There are three documented versions of the song as performed by Dylan:
1. Columbia Music Row Studio A, Nashville, TN, Feb 18, 1969 (with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and others).
2. Columbia Music Row Studio A, Nashville, TN, May 3, 1969 (Self Portrait sessions).
3. Unidentified studio, probably Los Angeles, California, January 1996, produced by Nile Rodgers, for Feeling Minnesota soundtrack. Bob Dylan (vocal, keyboards & acoustic guitar), Nile Rodgers (electric guitar, baritone guitar), Richard Hilton (keyboards), Bernard Edwards (bass), Omar Hakim (drums), Tawatha Agee, Robin Clark, and Dennis Collins (background vocals).
"It Ain't Me, Babe", from a Christmas special Cash and Carter recorded Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me, Babe", on August 27, 1964, in Nashville. It was included on their 1967 album, Carryin' On with Johnny Cash & June Carter. Here's a quote by June from the liner notes of the CD: " Later, "It Ain't Me, Babe" left me remembering Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Later still, it really stuck with me - a beautiful girl with long raven hair named Sara who became one of my best friends and is one woman I will never forget. She was Bob's wife and the mother to all of his children." In 1992 at "Bob-fest", Johnny and June sang "It Ain't Me, Babe", introduced by Kris Kristofferson.
"It Ain't Me. Babe", from "Bob-Fest", 1992 Related articles : Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash - Part One, Part Two, Part Three. Keep up with Bob Dylan Examiner news. Just click on Subscribe above, or follow @DylanExaminer on Twitter. Thanks for your support
Comments
Didn't the greatest bard in recent living memory once refer to these fine people as Country Royalty, obviously the only Kings outside Eden are musical ones!!
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