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Description: For his 1978 Christmas special, the third in as many years, Johnny Cash moved the taping of the Christmas Special to Los Angeles, and, predictably, the program takes on a Hollywood feel. Guests include Kris Kristofferson and singer Rita Coolidge, both friends of the Cash family who perform a heartfelt "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends," and Steve Martin, one of America's hottest new comics at the time. June Carter Cash, as always, performs with her husband, and other family members make appearances in this special as well. The show originally aired December 6, 1978. Program Listing:
Christmas Can't Be Far Away - Johnny Cash
Ballad Of A Teenage Queen - Johnny Cash
Talking About Friends - Steve Martin Comedy Sketch
Sunday Morning Coming Down - Johnny Cash & Kris Kristofferson
I Wonder How The Old Folks Are At Home - Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson & Steve Martin
Jean-Pierre Louey - Steve Martin Comedy Sketch
Fourth Man - Johnny Cash
I Will Rock And Roll With You - Johnny Cash
You're A Part Of Me - Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash
Christmas Time's A-Comin' - Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge
Love Me Again - Rita Coolidge
Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends - Kris Kristofferson & Rita Coolidge
The Greatest Cowboy Of Them All - Johnny Cash
The Card Trick - Steve Martin Comedy Sketch
Silent Night - Johnny Cash with daughters Carlene, Tara, Rosanne, Cindy, Kathy & Rosie
Customer Reviews:
- Johnny & June; Kris & Rita - and "Wild and Crazy" comedy by Steve:
This is one of four volumes of Cash's Annual Christmas show, as broadcast on CBS, released by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Shout Factory. While the other three were recorded in Nashville with a down-home country feel, this time they took the show to Los Angeles and, to me, it just doesn't feel right.
The musical guests this time are Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge. Kris and Rita duet as do Johnny and his Wife, June Carter Cash. And, of course Kris and Johnny do a couple of duets as well, most notably, Kris's composition "Sunday Morning Coming Down".
For comedy "relief" they added Steve Martin during his "wild and Crazy" period and his bits certainly had little to do with Country music. (He's a great banjo player - and even has a banjo album coming in 2009) but that's not evident here.
This is the weakest of the four shows released - The 1977 is a MUST HAVE - but Cash completists will probably want this one too. It's not bad; just disappointing.
The quality of the video print is excellent.
Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"
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