HUGE CASH GIVEAWAY

Over the years, I’ve given away a lot of stuff here at the corner: CDs, DVDs, T-Shirts . . . But this is the first time I’ve given away Cash. Johnny Cash, that is. On November 13th, Shout! Factory will release two Johnny Cash Christmas Special DVDs, originally (and exclusively) broadcast way back in 1976 and ’77.

The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976 features Johnny giving Tony Orlando a tour of his property, and performances like Tony, Johnny, and June Carter Cash doing, “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree”; JC doing “That Lucky Old Sun”; Merle Travis doing “Cannonball Rag”; and other performances by Roy Clark,
the Carter Family, Barbara Mandrell, and, of course, Johnny.

The kitsch value of the ’76 show is only slightly surpassed by The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1977, which includes an all-star tribute to Elvis Presley (who died just two months earlier), and features a virtual Sun Records who’s who, including Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and others. In addition to performing some of their best known hits (“Blue Suede Shoes”; “Oh, Pretty Woman”; “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On”), Johnny and others (including June, Roy Clark, and The Statler Brothers) perform Christmas classics like “Blue Christmas,” “Here Comes Santa Claus,” and “Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

How can you get a copy of one of these DVDs? Simple!

Go here and provide a list of at least 10 nominees for best cover song of the Century (so far). One entry per reader. I’ll pick a winner in a few weeks, and get your address from you if you’re it.

Buy The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976

Buy The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1977

“In The Pines” by The Carter Family (from ’76) (QuickTime)

“Christmas Time’s A Comin’” by Johnny Cash (from ’77) (QuickTime)