Wanted Man Vinyl Memories.

Johnny Cash "Live At San Quentin."

Wanted Man Vinyl Memories was co-written with Bob Dylan and recorded live at San Quentin State Prison in 1969.

I originally believed Johnny had written these Wanted Man Lyrics on his own but after the purchase of a vinyl LP record I learned that Bob Dylan actually wrote the song with Johnny.

However, what really make songs like "Wanted Man" so unique, is the between song chat with Johnny and the prisoners. It adds emotion and humor, and a real look at the kind of man he was.

San Quentin Prison; How It All Began.

It was ten years prior on Jan 1, 1959, Johnny Cash kicked off the new year on a high note when he performed at the famous San Quentin State Prison in California, beginning a series of concerts held at various prisons throughout the rest of his career.

Cash, who was arrested several times but never sentenced to prison, performed the '59 concert out of the kindness of his heart and a feeling of compassion for those who had made bad choices as he once had.

Merle Haggard, who was serving time for burglary, was in the audience during the New Year's Day show and credits the concert with turning his life around. It was this concert that helped set Merle Haggard, then a 20-year-old San Quentin inmate, on the path toward becoming a country music legend.

According to Hisory.com Merle said this about Cash's prison debut: "He had the right attitude," Haggard later recalled. "He chewed gum, looked arrogant and flipped the bird to the guards — he did everything the prisoners wanted to do. He was a mean mother from the South who was there because he loved us. When he walked away, everyone in that place had become a Johnny Cash fan.”

Wanted Man Vinyl Memories - San Quentin Or Folsom Prison. Which Album Is Better?

Johnny Cash is undoubtedly as essential to American music as Brian Wilson, Chuck Berry, Elvis and Hank Williams. His contributions are admired by both Country and Rockers alike.

I like a particular review of the San Quentin album where it was said; Asking "Which Cash prison album is best, San Quentin or Folsom Prison" is like saying "Which of your lungs is your favorite"?  They're both essential to ANY music collection.

Look at any critic's list of "Essential" country music and both will be on it. Enjoy this "Wanted Man" song and lyrics from the San Quentin album.

Wanted man in California...Wanted man in Buffalo...
Wanted man in Kansas City...Wanted man in Ohio

Wanted man in Mississippi...Wanted man in old Cheyenne...
Where ever you might look tonight...
You might see this wanted man...

I might be in Colorado...Or Georgia by the sea...
Workin' for some man...Who may not know at all who I might be

And if you ever see me comin'...And if you know who I am...
Don't you breathe it to nobody...'Cause you know I'm on the lamb.

Wanted man by Lucy Watson...Wanted man by Jeannie Brown...
Wanted man by Nellie Johnson...Wanted man in this Texas town..

Well I've had all that I've wanted...Of a lot of things I've had..
And a lot more than I needed...Of some things that turned out bad...

I got side tracked in El Paso...Stopped to get myself a map...
Went the wrong way into Juarez...With Juanita on my lap..

Then I went to sleep in Shreveport..Woke up in Abilene...
Wonderin' why I'm wanted...At some town half way between.

Wanted man in Albuquerque...Wanted man in Syracuse...
Wanted man in Tallahassee...Wanted man in Baton Rouge...

There's somebody set to grab me..Anywhere that I might be..
And wherever you might look tonight..You might get a glimpse of me...

Wanted man in California...Wanted man in Buffalo...
Wanted man in Kansas City..Wanted man in Ohio...

Wanted man in Mississippi...Wanted man in ol' Cheyenne...
Wherever you might look tonight...You might see this wanted man... 

 

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