Johnny Cash performs a historically cyclical version of “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” in the latest preview of the upcoming Bear’s Sonic Journals: Johnny Cash At The Carousel Ballroom, April 24th, 1968. Available for the first time on October 29th via The Owsley Stanley Foundation, Renew Records/BMG, and Round Records, the live album captures the Man in Black’s performance at the Haight Ashbury venue as taped by Owsley “Bear” Stanley III.
A setlist oddity for Cash’s shows at the time, “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” bears far more significance in the context of his 4/24/68 than simply a bust-out from the back catalog. The song, which tells the story of Pima Ira Hayes, who raised the flag at Iwo Jima in World War II, no doubt resonated with the shaggy youth in attendance at the Carousel. Much like Ira, tens of thousands of these youngsters and their friends and relatives were shipped off to war—this time in Vietnam—and those who made it back were given far less than a hero’s welcome and many shared the Native American’s unfortunate fate.
Cash’s April 24th show at the Carousel came just two weeks ahead of the release of At Folsom Prison, one of the most enduring live albums of all time. Just like at the California correctional facility, Johnny Cash At The Carousel Ballroom, April 24th, 1968 finds the country singer-songwriter connecting with the discarded and often villainized members of society, giving a voice to the outcasts.
The show itself was recorded by the Grateful Dead sound man and resident audio engineer at the Carousel, which was owned by an enclave of San Francisco musicians including members of the Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, and more. The unique mixing of the show places Cash’s voice solely in the right channel with The Tennessee Three on the left. The Owsley Stanley Foundation has deemed it “probably the closest to what it actually sounded like to be in the audience for a Johnny Cash show in 1968.” Vinyl and CD copies of the release feature new essays by Johnny and June Carter Cash’s son John Carter Cash, Owsley Stanley’s son Starfinder Stanley, Bob Weir, and Dave Schools, as well as new art by Susan Archie, and a reproduction of the original Carousel Ballroom concert poster by Steve Catron.
Listen to Johnny Cash perform “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” live at the Carousel Ballroom on April 24th, 1968 via the player below or on your preferred streaming platform and click here to order the upcoming installment of Bear’s Sonic Journals.
Johnny Cash – “The Ballad of Ira Hayes” – San Francisco, CA – 4/24/68
[Video: Johnny Cash]
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