Johnny Cash, Ragged Old Flag

Johnny Cash, Ragged Old Flag (Columbia-1974)

Mr Cash had up till now some big selling albums. And one of them the 'At Folsom Prison' for me is one of the best live albums ever recorded. The live album was the second of live recordings from inside a prison. But those two albums were so successful I really can't put them in here so I have chosen this one. 

And a good choice I would think, this album was his first ever album where he wrote all the material himself. That is quite unusual for country back in 1974 and a kind of gutsy move. Not only that he did also have quite a political subjects included on the album. Again not the sort of thing you get that often in mainstream/radio music never mind country.

Title song 'Ragged Old Flag' is a spoken word tribute to patriotism. Released as a single it really shows how good a story teller he is. Back when he was young he would write poems and you can tell he loved a good story. Written during the Watergate scandal many Americans were questioning what they country had really done. 

Other songs have the classic man in back themes as he deals with working in jobs with long hours 'All I Do is Drive' and jobs where promotion offers very little in reward 'King of the Hill'. He delves into environmental subjects with ' Don't Go Near the Water' questioning where the fish are going and how clean the water may well be upon getting to the sea. Although the subjects for the songs can be regarded as being negative the album is helped with the inclusion of the Oak Ridge Boys. Mr Cash for me had one of the most unique voices in the world and on this album the crystal clear production does him justice but the Oak Ridge Boys give this some volume and wealth. 

This album is a great start for anyone who is just getting into Johnny Cash as it is a classic country album. Filled with messages and content and made more special as it is all his own (Bar 'I'm a Worried Man' co written with his wife June). The whole album is from his experiences and understanding. As I mentioned the two prison albums near the end of the album 'Please Don't Let Me Out' is about a prisoner who fears being released. Or does he simply think he has more freedom in prison? After all they then have to get a job and work for the man before dieing 'Pie in the Sky'. 

Many who are not used to country may dislike the title song but I love it, remember country music was the first style of music to really rebel like the punks did in the later 70s people had to break away from the so called proper way to play music. And like many punk bands this album is quite simple in structure but the content is what makes you think. As the pistols sang God Save the Queen a few years before Johnny had Ragged Old Flag out. Both to me are similar and can be taken by each of us differently. That to me is good songwriting.

Twitter: 29xthefun 

Classic album review. Jason and the Scorchers, LOST & FOUND

Some you may have missed.

Right I have ran out of stuff to moan about so I will hand over this blog (moan page) to some classic albums that people for some reason have missed. It will be a real mix of music so if you only like 90s music or only listen to rap don’t bother looking back again.

First up is the reason I am doing this as I am still totally shocked they never made it.

Jason and the Scorchers, LOST & FOUND (EMI – 1984)

This band formed and done three full albums (this being the first) and then split after not making it in 1990. Just a year later you had the alt rock explosion from the likes of the Pixes, Nirvana and REM. They would all go on to sell millions and change music history by killing the glam rock/metal crap of the 80s.

The band came about as Jason Ringenberg (Vocals) was told his voice was crap when he sung other peoples songs. He decided to form a band and do it himself and not long after the self funded debut came out. An EP called Fervor in 1983 got them signed to EMI and then a proper full on album to be made.

Mixing country and punk rock the band made a new sound and most of all a great sound. Hated by both country and rock they done something similar as REM as they were just not taken well with the AOR fans. Many big REM fans don’t know that Michael Stipe co-wrote a song with Jason and can be found on the first EP.

The band were getting a lot of heat from country fans as the cross of punk and country was so unpopular that people picketed the gigs. I think this helped fuel the band to make them hate them even more and the band entered the studio. 

With no real budget they could only really capture the bands live sound and record it. And by hell they did, this album rocks like a motherfucker from start to end. Opening up with a big guitar drum harmonica start that you will never hear ever again. ‘Last Time Around’ is one of the best starts to an album I have ever heard it just sets the whole band up so well and I am sure it made many mums and dads scowl in hatred. The second track is the anthem ‘White Lies’, a real punk song that should have been a hit. A good video was made but MTV just don’t get it. The band was only really able to play the south and try and exploit the country link. 

‘Shop it Around’ was released and even managed to top 40 in the UK. But the band was busy in the US and could not do anything about it. I often think that this was a big mistake as Top of the Pops would have loved a band like that and I do think UK country and punks fans would have got it. This is a rare album where just about all the songs could have been released as singles. ‘Broken Whiskey Glass’ again a popular song here and a song Jason is still mostly recognized for mixes the styles of music so well that you just can’t believe a band can do this all on one grove of a 12” LP

Even listening to this now it is so much fresher now than it ever was. The guitars sound so loud and sharp something you just don't get now. This is one of those albums when yo put it on you have to turn the volume down a little. The way this album sounds is like a blueprint for the alt rock bands who came along after them. 

The album is out in the UK as the EMI Years and has extra tracks included. In the US you can get it as a double album Fervor and Lost and Found.