Hello, I'm Johnny Cash

Fresh off the career-defining *At Folsom Prison* and *Johnny Cash at San Quentin*, just-married to June Carter, and newly (if temporarily) sober, Cash had become one of the biggest stars not only in country but also in pop, while still retaining his outlaw aura. Named for his customary introduction at live shows, *Hello, I’m Johnny Cash* showcased the lean sound of the Tennessee Three at its peak, including a Grammy-winning performance of “If I Were a Carpenter” with June and the first of what turned out to be many Kris Kristofferson covers (“To Beat the Devil”). Though the image remained tough, Cash’s delivery was steady, almost meditative—a simmering intensity that made performances like “Blistered” among the best of his career.

The energy that Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Three captured on the legendary Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison live record can probably never be duplicated.