America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song
Encyclopedia
America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song is a concept album
by country
singer Johnny Cash
, released on Columbia Records
in 1972 (see 1972 in music
). As its title suggests, it comprises a number of tracks dedicated to the topic of American
history, not unlike several of Cash's other Americana
albums. The record is a mix of songs and narration, in which Cash attempts to describe elements of the country's past, including famous personalities like Paul Revere
or Big Foot. America also includes a re-recording of "Mr. Garfield" and "The Road to Kaintuck", songs previously released as singles in 1965 on Sings the Ballads of the True West
. Most of the tracks on the album were written by Cash, with some exceptions, including a rendition of the well-known song "The Battle of New Orleans
" and a reading of Abraham Lincoln
's famous Gettysburg Address
.
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
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 1972 (see 1972 in music
1972 in music
-Events:*January 17 – Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee is renamed "Elvis Presley Boulevard"*January 20 – The début of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at The Dome, Brighton, is halted by technical difficulties,...
). As its title suggests, it comprises a number of tracks dedicated to the topic of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
history, not unlike several of Cash's other Americana
Americana
Americana refers to artifacts, or a collection of artifacts, related to the history, geography, folklore and cultural heritage of the United States. Many kinds of material fall within the definition of Americana: paintings, prints and drawings; license plates or entire vehicles, household objects,...
albums. The record is a mix of songs and narration, in which Cash attempts to describe elements of the country's past, including famous personalities like Paul Revere
Paul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
or Big Foot. America also includes a re-recording of "Mr. Garfield" and "The Road to Kaintuck", songs previously released as singles in 1965 on Sings the Ballads of the True West
Sings the Ballads of the True West
Sings the Ballads of the True West is a conceptual double album and the twenty-first album released by country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1965 . Covering twenty individual songs, the album, as its title suggests, contains various ballads and other songs on topics related to...
. Most of the tracks on the album were written by Cash, with some exceptions, including a rendition of the well-known song "The Battle of New Orleans
The Battle of New Orleans
"The Battle of New Orleans" is the title of a song written by Jimmy Driftwood. The song describes the 1815 Battle of New Orleans from the perspective of an American soldier; the lyrics are evidently intended to be comical. It has been recorded by many artists, but the singer most often associated...
" and a reading of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's famous Gettysburg Address
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and is one of the most well-known speeches in United States history. It was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery...
.
Track listing
- "Opening Dialogue" (Cash) – 0:23
- "Paul Revere" (Glenn D. Tubb) – 2:17
- "Begin West Movement" (Cash) – 0:26
- "The Road to Kaintuck" (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...
) – 1:21 - "To the Shining Mountains" (Cash) – 0:48
- "The Battle of New OrleansThe Battle of New Orleans"The Battle of New Orleans" is the title of a song written by Jimmy Driftwood. The song describes the 1815 Battle of New Orleans from the perspective of an American soldier; the lyrics are evidently intended to be comical. It has been recorded by many artists, but the singer most often associated...
" (Jimmie Driftwood) – 2:21 - "Southwestward" (Cash) – 0:37
- "Remember the AlamoRemember the Alamo (song)"Remember the Alamo" is a song written by Texan folk singer and songwriter Jane Bowers. Bowers details the last days of 180 soldiers at the Alamo and names several famous figures who fought at the Alamo, including Mexican general Santa Anna and Texans: Jim Bowie, William Barrett Travis and Davy...
" (Jane Bowers) – 2:26 - "Opening the West" (Cash) – 0:56
- "Lorena" (Charles Williams) – 1:50
- "The Gettysburg Address" (Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
) – 2:38 - "The West" (Cash) – 0:57
- "Big Foot" (Cash) – 3:02
- "Like a Young Colt" (Cash) – 0:38
- "Mister Garfield" (Ramblin' Jack ElliottRamblin' Jack ElliottRamblin' Jack Elliott is an American folk singer and performer.-Life and career:Elliot Charles Adnopoz was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents in 1931. Elliott grew up inspired by the rodeos at Madison Square Garden, and wanted to be a cowboy...
) – 3:53 - "A Proud Land" (Cash) – 0:24
- "The Big Battle" (Cash) – 3:05
- "On Wheels and Wings" (Cash) – 0:30
- "Come Take a Trip in My Airship" (Cash) – 1:05
- "Reaching for the Stars" (Cash) – 0:42
- "These Are My People" (Cash) – 2:38
Personnel
- Johnny Cash: vocals, acoustic guitar
- Carl Perkins: electric guitar
- Bob Wootton: electric guitar, gut-string guitar
- WS Holland: drums
- Marshall Grant: bass
- Red Lane: rhythm guitar, gut string guitar
- Chuck Cochran: piano
- Norman Blake: rhythm guitar, gut string guitar, banjo
- Mark Morris: percussion
- Charlie McCoy: harmonica, bass
- Ray Edenton: rhythm guitar
Additional personnel
- Produced by: Larry Butler
- Dialogue written by: Johnny Cash
- Cover design: Bill Barnes
- Cover photo: Al Clayton
Charts
Album - Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Country Albums | 3 |
| 1972 | Pop Albums | 176 |