Johnny Cash At Town Hall Party 1958-1959

Customer Reviews:

A great gift to all who loved the man.......2007-01-21

To really get an artist's personality, sometimes you need to see them live. I don't know if that's true with Johnny but I know it sure doesn't hurt. This is a very young Johnny with Luther and Marshal. Three friends, lots of fans, and a set of songs that you'll probably recognize from his few albums that were out at that time. Yes, there are several repeat performances but nothing really overshadows the fact that you get to see this piece of music history. It doesn't take any of the shine off it is what I'm saying. Complete with some teasing onstage banter and a one or two minute bout of outright goofyness as Johnny imitates an anonymous singer...if you can't figure out that it's Elvis he's impersonating...than you don't know Elvis and you were born in a cave. This is not a rock and roll show by any means. It's perfect and original country concert and what a collectors item. A real treasure. Glad I got a hold of a copy. No problems with audio or visual quality. For the time period, having to turn the volume up a little extra is not an issue [for me atleast]. Enjoy.

A MUST OWN for Johnny Cash Fans.......2006-08-22

I'm probably one of the youngest Johnny Cash fans I know....I'm only 31. I've read several books of his, and seen many of his performances. The sound and video quality on this dvd are less than perfect, but it is VINTAGE Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two from the early years. BEST I've seen....really puts accross the style and demeanor that got them to the top.

Even with the less than perfect video and audio (restored pretty good though considering the age of the footage), ANY Johnny Cash fan will rock to the tunes....and it almost feels as if you're there back in the 50's! Highly reccommended!

Johnny Cash At Town Hall Party 1958-1959.......2006-07-01

The only reason I don't give 5 stars to this DVD is because of the quality of the sound and video. They are both good enough to allow thorough enjoyment of the DVD, but they aren't as good as is customarily expected in today's market. Having said that, if you are a long-time Cash fan, I guarantee you will enjoy watching this DVD. The experience of watching these young Johnny Cash performances rates 5 stars. Don't buy it for the quality, buy it for the fun of being entertained by Johnny. I don't know of anywhere else that a significant performance of a young JC is available like it is here. It's fun to watch. As another reviewer mentioned, it is also interesting to see the growth in young Cash as an entertainer that occurred from 1958 to 1959.
I was hesitant to buy this DVD because of different reviewers' comments on the sound and video quality. But I did buy it and I am glad I did. I enjoyed it so much I bought another copy and gave it to my Dad for his 80th birthday. So, if you're a long-time Cash fan like I am, I recommend you buy two: one for yourself and one for the person who turned you on to Johnny Cash so long ago. You'll both be glad you did.

What more could you want!?!?.......2006-05-01

I am a long time Johnny Cash fan, and a big time music collector (especially in the area of concert footage). I owned Johnny Cash! The Man, His World, His Music (along with other JC DVDs); And loved it, but I wanted some younger concert footage of Johnny. I knew it existed from seeing clips of it on documentaries and the Hurt video (the clip where he is singing Walk the Line and looks at the camera and winks...yeah its on here!). I stumbled upon and immediately had to buy it (thank goodness for one click purchasing). Here is my review of the DVD: When I first put this in I was hesitant about the quality, it was naturally black an white, and the camera moved around like a bad home video (this was less obvious after the beginning). But after the first song none of this mattered, both shows are an amazing and rare document of a young Johnny Cash adapting to the trappings of rock star fame. I agree with another review on here that, if you are a Johnny Cash fan and do not own this...wait no longer! I would give this 10 stars if I could. The second show is the stronger one (which isnt to take away from the first at all), Johnny is confident, has great stage presence...and man oh man, the performance of Big River is off the charts! We see alot of Johnnys trademark yells (whoooo), and the ever classic lifting the guitar up high to the mic. I cant say enough good things about this DVD. The sound quality is great, the picture can be daunting at first but like I said, you wont even think about it once he gets into the second song. Any fan of music would not regret making this a part of their collection.

Johnny Cash straight out of Compton.......2006-02-28

This DVD contains two excellent shows at Town Hall in Compton, California. One is from 1958 and the other is in 1959. It's interesting to see the difference that a year on the road can do to a band. In 1958 Johnny looks fresh and new and is full of wise cracks. The songs are excellent and the Tennessee Two are amazing. In 1959 Johnny is a lot more confident but looks a little tired and drained. Nonetheless, it is still an amazing show that I wish I could of experienced. The picture quality is what you can expect from the era but I feel it just adds to the essence of the experience. These two film clips are priceless and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for some old school Johnny Cash at his best.

Average customer rating:

Johnny Cash at his Best!!
This DVD is a revelation!!
Classic early Johnny Cash!
GREAT CONTENT AUDIO MIX COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER

At Town Hall Party 1958 and 1959
Starring: Johnny Cash
Manufacturer: City Hall Records
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000068TQT
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Customer Reviews:

Johnny Cash at his Best!!.......2005-09-24

This a great DVD to have. Well worth the money and then some. Cash is raw and likes to tease the girls. Sometimes he winks at them and acts a little crazy. His rich baritone/bass voice is
very distinct and powerful. The sound and picture quality is better than average considering that the performances took place in 1958 and 1959. Not much time spent on gabbing. It's just one song after another. One can also marvel over Luther Perkins' talent as a guitarist; he hardley ever looks at his guitar! Between Cash's voice and Perkins' bass guitar pickin', you'll love this DVD!!

This DVD is a revelation!!.......2003-09-16

No fan of Johnny Cash can truly know him without this precious document of him performing at the height of his 50's popularity. This DVD is 2 COMPLETE unedited concerts that were broadcast live on the Town Hall Party show in 1958 and 1959. Unlike other DVD releases, this is music and just music: no voiceovers or incomplete songs. The video is sharp and the audio is on a par with other kinescopes of the time. This is a time capsule for the ages, giving us Johnny in his charismatic prime along with the great Tennesee Two: Marshall Grant on bass and Luther Perkins on lead guitar. Another terrific release from Bear Family Records of Germany.

Classic early Johnny Cash!.......2002-10-08

This DVD offers a rare, early look at Johnny Cash BEFORE the advent of his legendary "Man in Black" image, solidified later in the 1960s. Sure, these old Town Hall Party images and mono sound are archaic (to fault these "quirks" in kinescopes as being major critical factors is ridiculous) but very few people would ever find serious criticism of rare vintage TV performances of Elvis, Buddy Holly, or Patsy Cline which are just as primative! Bear Family offers this authentic footage probably how it was seen back in the late '50s. In my opinion, the historical musical significance surpasses the limited sonic/visual expectations anyone might have about footage that's well over 40 years old! To see a young Johnny Cash perform with the legendary Tennessee Two is worth twice the asking price of this DVD, while demonstrating why Cash was never bound by musical classification, even early in his career, as he offers up selections from his rockabilly, country, spiritual, pop, and folk catalog. More so than that, it provides a rare glimpse into the early days of a unique singer/songwriter who became a true musical legend.

GREAT CONTENT AUDIO MIX COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER.......2002-08-13

I have been a fan of The MAN IN BLACK since the 50's. He has and is my hero for all time. This DVD unfortuately either due to the technology of the time, or just a rush to market is sad. Johnny Cash DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS. The mix was very noisy and not as balanced as one would hope. It was really special to see Luther who I believe has never been equalled since his passing and to see "ole shade tree" at work, especially the humor the man had. He was a super man. Anyway I just wished that engineers had the ability to try and "clean up" the audio and would've spent a little more time before this was realeased. I am happy it was released as vintage performances are priceless and this one is no exception. Johnny Cash is, in my opinion, one of the greatest performers of all time. The MASTER OF THE TRADE!

Average customer rating:

Cash, Johnny - At Town Hall Party
Starring: Johnny Cash
Manufacturer: Video Music, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B0001US7GI
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Description

Johnny had just made the jump from Sun to Columbia when he did the stellar live performances you'll see on the DVD "Johnny Cash: At Town Hall Party 1958 & 1959." This is the Man in Black at his prime, folks, singing "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues," Get Rhythm," "You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven," "I Was There When It Happened," "Don't Take Your Guns to Town," "Frankie and Johnny," "The Ways of a Woman in Love," "Give My Love to Rose," "It Was Jesus," "All Over Again," "Suppertime," "Guess Things Happen That Way," "Five Feet High and Rising."

Average customer rating:

LIVE AT TOWN HALL PARTY (CASH,JOHNNY)

Manufacturer: BEAR FAMILY
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

Rockabilly | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Music Video & Concerts | Genres | DVD | Video

Product Description

LIVE AT TOWN HALL PARTY (CASH,JOHNNY)

DVD:

DVD

DVD