Strawberry Cake
Encyclopedia
Strawberry Cake is a live album
by country
singer Johnny Cash
, released on Columbia Records
in 1976
. In it, Cash tells stories about the recording of each song, and also the history of the United States
, in a precursor of sorts to the VH1 Storytellers series, for which he would go on to record a live album entitled VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson
.
The album includes several of Cash's most well-known early songs, such as "Big River
", "I Still Miss Someone" and "Rock Island Line", as well as a number of more obscure compositions, some of which were performed by Cash for the first time; this includes "The Church in the Wildwood
", "Lonesome Valley", "Strawberry Cake" and "Navajo". The title track was released as a single, but did poorly on the charts, peaking at No. 54.
The concert was held and recorded at the London Palladium
on September 21, 1975. An IRA
bomb threat warning given as June Carter Cash
started to sing "The Church in the Wildwood" meant the theatre had to be evacuated but the show continued after the building was searched.
Singles - U.S. Billboard charts
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
by country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, released on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1976
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
. In it, Cash tells stories about the recording of each song, and also the history of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, in a precursor of sorts to the VH1 Storytellers series, for which he would go on to record a live album entitled VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson
VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson
VH1 Storytellers is a live album by Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, released in 1998 on American Recordings. The album was produced by Rick Rubin and was the third record released as part of Cash's 9-year period of collaboration with Rubin.The opening track is a duet with Cash and Nelson, followed...
.
The album includes several of Cash's most well-known early songs, such as "Big River
Big River (Johnny Cash song)
"Big River" is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash. Released as a single by Sun Records in 1958, it went as high as #4 on the Billboard country music charts and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks...
", "I Still Miss Someone" and "Rock Island Line", as well as a number of more obscure compositions, some of which were performed by Cash for the first time; this includes "The Church in the Wildwood
The Church in the Wildwood
"The Church in the Wildwood" is a song that was written by Dr. William S. Pitts in 1857 following a coach ride that stopped in Bradford, Iowa. It is a song about a church in a valley near the town, though the church was not actually built until several years later...
", "Lonesome Valley", "Strawberry Cake" and "Navajo". The title track was released as a single, but did poorly on the charts, peaking at No. 54.
The concert was held and recorded at the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
on September 21, 1975. An IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
bomb threat warning given as June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash
Valerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
started to sing "The Church in the Wildwood" meant the theatre had to be evacuated but the show continued after the building was searched.
Track listing
- "Big RiverBig River (Johnny Cash song)"Big River" is a song written and originally recorded by Johnny Cash. Released as a single by Sun Records in 1958, it went as high as #4 on the Billboard country music charts and stayed on the charts for 14 weeks...
" (Cash) – 3:07 - Dialogue – 0:39
- "Doin' My Time" (Jimmie SkinnerJimmie SkinnerJimmie Skinner was an American country and bluegrass music singer and guitarist. He also was known for a mail-order record business and retail store in Cincinnati, Ohio.-Biography:...
) – 2:28 - Dialogue – 0:23
- "I Still Miss Someone" (Cash, Cash) – 2:55
- Dialogue – 0:43
- "I Got Stripes" (Cash, Charlie Williams) – 2:19
- Dialogue – 0:45
- Dialogue – 0:38
- "The Church in the WildwoodThe Church in the Wildwood"The Church in the Wildwood" is a song that was written by Dr. William S. Pitts in 1857 following a coach ride that stopped in Bradford, Iowa. It is a song about a church in a valley near the town, though the church was not actually built until several years later...
" / "Lonesome Valley" (A. P. CarterA. P. CarterAlvin Pleasant Delaney Carter , best known as A.P. Carter, was an American musician and founding member of The Carter Family, one of the most notable acts in the history of country music.-Life:...
) – 3:03 - Dialogue – 1:18
- "Strawberry Cake" (Cash) – 3:06
- Dialogue – 0:44
- "Rock Island LineRock Island Line (song)"Rock Island Line" is an American blues/folk song first recorded by John Lomax in 1934 as sung by inmates in an Arkansas State Prison, and later popularized by Lead Belly. Many versions have been recorded by other artists, most significantly the world-wide hit version in the mid-1950s by Lonnie...
" (LeadbellyLeadbellyHuddie William Ledbetter was an iconic American folk and blues musician, notable for his strong vocals, his virtuosity on the twelve-string guitar, and the songbook of folk standards he introduced....
) – 3:25 - "Navajo" (Cash) – 2:59
- Dialogue – 1:09
- "Destination Victoria Station" (Cash) – 2:48
- "The Fourth Man" (Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith) – 2:34
Personnel
- Johnny Cash - vocals, acoustic guitar
- June Carter CashJune Carter CashValerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
- vocals, acoustic guitar - The Carter Family - vocals
- Marshall GrantMarshall GrantMarshall Garnett Grant was the upright bassist and electric bassist of singer Johnny Cash's original backing duo, the Tennessee Two, in which Grant and electric guitarist Luther Perkins played. The group became known as The Tennessee Three in 1960, with the addition of drummer W. S. Holland...
- bass - W.S. Holland - drums
- Bob WoottonBob WoottonBob Wootton is an American guitarist. He joined Johnny Cash's backing band, the Tennessee Three, after original lead guitarist, Luther Perkins, died in a house fire.- Biography :...
- electric guitar - Jerry Hensley - electric guitar
- Larry McCoy - piaino
Additional Personnel
- Producer: Charlie Bragg
- Engineer: Charlie Bragg
- Mixed at House of Cash Recording Studios, Hendersonville, Tennessee
- Album Design: Bill Barnes
- Cover Photography: Chance Martin
- Flyleaf Photography: Hope Powell
- Linear Notes by: Johnny Cash
- Linear Notes by: Charlie Bragg
Charts
Album - U.S. Billboard chartsBillboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Country Albums | 33 |
Singles - U.S. Billboard charts
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | "Strawberry Cake" | Country Singles | 54 |