Orange Blossom Special (album)
Encyclopedia
Due to the acclaim that the cover of the song "Orange Blossom Special" received from the audiences that attended live concerts of Cash, a single of the song was released previous to the album, in February of 1965 reaching number three in the Billboard singles
. During the mid 1960s, the authorship of the song was not widely known. Cash asked Maybelle Carter
during the recording session about the original author, Carter stated that the song was written by Ervin T. Rouse
and his brother Gordon. Carter also told Cash that the songwriter resided in Florida. Cash called Florida disk jockey Jim Brooker, who told him that he lived with the seminoles on the Everglades
. In order to locate him, Brooker announced on air during his radio show, that if Rouse was listening to call the station to give him the phone number of Cash. Rouse called the station and contacted Cash who told him that he would be soon in Miami, Florida
for a scheduled concert.
During an intermission of the show in Miami, a man approached Cash backstage claiming to be Ervin Rouse. Cash recalled hearing the name but he could not remember who Rouse was. After clarifying that he had written a few songs, he remarked that one he co-wrote with his brother, named "The Special", was particularly successful. Cash recognized that he was talking about Orange Blossom Special. Cash believed the man, that actually was Rouse, that had traveled from his house in the everglades in a custom-made swamp buggy
to the house of her sister in Miami, where he borrowed her bicycle to ride ten miles to be on the concert. Cash invited the man to perform the song with him on the concert, receiving the acclaim of the audience. Later Rouse stated: "The Special belongs to everybody by now, I guess, but it used to be my best number"
Complementary to the standards, the album also featured covers of Bob Dylan
. Cash had met Dylan briefly backstage during one of his performances at The Gaslight Cafe
, but they talked extensively after a show in Newport, Rhode Island
. Cash and Dylan traded songs in a motel, where Joan Baez
wrote for cash the lyrics of "It Ain't Me Babe
" and "Mama, You've Been on My Mind". The first song was originally released in Dylan's Another Side of Bob Dylan
, but the second was only recorded as a demo by Dylan. In addition "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
" was included. To publicize both of their artists, Columbia Records
released the single "It Ain't Me Baby" with the liner: "A new song from Bob Dylan on a new single sung by Johnny Cash".
respectively. The single "Orange Blossom Special" peaked number three on Billboards Hot Country Singles as well as eighty in the Hot 100
. The duet with June Carter "It Ain't Me Babe
" peaked number four in Hot Country Singles and number fifty-eight in the Hot 100.
Billboard wrote: "Cash is in fine form here and he has been coupled with a great selection of material. Cash displays a sense of drama and wit". Meanwhile, Western Folklore
also praised the album as well as the recognition of the original author of the title song: "Johnny Cash offers an interesting collection of songs, partially reflecting the Folk Song Revival's influence, in Orange Blossom Special. While the album is good, the notes are even better for they give information previously unreported on the title tune of the album and its credited composer, Ervin Rouse." Allmusic later wrote about the album: "Even if the best and most popular of the songs on this 1965 album are the ones most likely to show up on greatest-hits compilations, it certainly rates as one of Cash's finer non-greatest-hits releases".
Side two
Singles - Billboard (North America)
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. During the mid 1960s, the authorship of the song was not widely known. Cash asked Maybelle Carter
Maybelle Carter
"Mother" Maybelle Carter was an American country musician. She is best known as a member of the historic Carter Family act in the 1920s and 1930s and also as a member of Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters.-Biography:...
during the recording session about the original author, Carter stated that the song was written by Ervin T. Rouse
Ervin T. Rouse
Ervin Thomas Rouse is a fiddler and songwriter largely known for his widely recorded "Orange Blossom Special" bluegrass standard....
and his brother Gordon. Carter also told Cash that the songwriter resided in Florida. Cash called Florida disk jockey Jim Brooker, who told him that he lived with the seminoles on the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
. In order to locate him, Brooker announced on air during his radio show, that if Rouse was listening to call the station to give him the phone number of Cash. Rouse called the station and contacted Cash who told him that he would be soon in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
for a scheduled concert.
During an intermission of the show in Miami, a man approached Cash backstage claiming to be Ervin Rouse. Cash recalled hearing the name but he could not remember who Rouse was. After clarifying that he had written a few songs, he remarked that one he co-wrote with his brother, named "The Special", was particularly successful. Cash recognized that he was talking about Orange Blossom Special. Cash believed the man, that actually was Rouse, that had traveled from his house in the everglades in a custom-made swamp buggy
Swamp buggy
The Swamp Buggy is a vehicle used to traverse the vast, boggy swamps of the American South. Invented by Ed Frank[1], in Naples, Florida, the swamp buggy proved valuable during early development of the Everglades in the 1930s and 1940s....
to the house of her sister in Miami, where he borrowed her bicycle to ride ten miles to be on the concert. Cash invited the man to perform the song with him on the concert, receiving the acclaim of the audience. Later Rouse stated: "The Special belongs to everybody by now, I guess, but it used to be my best number"
Complementary to the standards, the album also featured covers of Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
. Cash had met Dylan briefly backstage during one of his performances at The Gaslight Cafe
The Gaslight Cafe
The Gaslight Cafe was an American coffee house located in the basement of 116 MacDougal Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York...
, but they talked extensively after a show in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
. Cash and Dylan traded songs in a motel, where Joan Baez
Joan Baez
Joan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
wrote for cash the lyrics of "It Ain't Me Babe
It Ain't Me Babe
"It Ain't Me Babe" is the title of a 1964 song by Bob Dylan, first included on his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. The song's opening line is allegedly influenced by musicologist/folk-singer John Jacob Niles' composition "Go 'Way From My Window." Niles is referred to by Dylan as an early...
" and "Mama, You've Been on My Mind". The first song was originally released in Dylan's Another Side of Bob Dylan
Another Side of Bob Dylan
Another Side of Bob Dylan is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. It was released August 8, 1964 by Columbia Records....
, but the second was only recorded as a demo by Dylan. In addition "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962, and released on the 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.-Context:...
" was included. To publicize both of their artists, 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...
released the single "It Ain't Me Baby" with the liner: "A new song from Bob Dylan on a new single sung by Johnny Cash".
Release and reception
The album was released on February of 1965, it reached number three in Billboards Country albums and forty-nine in pop albumsBillboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
respectively. The single "Orange Blossom Special" peaked number three on Billboards Hot Country Singles as well as eighty in the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The duet with June Carter "It Ain't Me Babe
It Ain't Me Babe
"It Ain't Me Babe" is the title of a 1964 song by Bob Dylan, first included on his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. The song's opening line is allegedly influenced by musicologist/folk-singer John Jacob Niles' composition "Go 'Way From My Window." Niles is referred to by Dylan as an early...
" peaked number four in Hot Country Singles and number fifty-eight in the Hot 100.
Billboard wrote: "Cash is in fine form here and he has been coupled with a great selection of material. Cash displays a sense of drama and wit". Meanwhile, Western Folklore
Western Folklore
Western Folklore is a quarterly academic journal for the study of folklore published by the Western States Folklore Society. It was established in 1942 as the California Folklore Quarterly and obtained its current name in 1947...
also praised the album as well as the recognition of the original author of the title song: "Johnny Cash offers an interesting collection of songs, partially reflecting the Folk Song Revival's influence, in Orange Blossom Special. While the album is good, the notes are even better for they give information previously unreported on the title tune of the album and its credited composer, Ervin Rouse." Allmusic later wrote about the album: "Even if the best and most popular of the songs on this 1965 album are the ones most likely to show up on greatest-hits compilations, it certainly rates as one of Cash's finer non-greatest-hits releases".
Track listing
Side one| Track | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Orange Blossom Special Orange Blossom Special (song) The fiddle tune "Orange Blossom Special", about the passenger train of the same name, was written by Ervin T. Rouse in 1938. The original recording was created by Ervin and Gordon Rouse in 1939. It is considered the best known fiddle tune of the twentieth century and is often called simply The... " |
Ervin T. Rouse Ervin T. Rouse Ervin Thomas Rouse is a fiddler and songwriter largely known for his widely recorded "Orange Blossom Special" bluegrass standard.... , Gordon Rouse |
3:06 |
| 2. | "Long Black Veil" | Marijohn Wilkin Marijohn Wilkin Marijohn Wilkin , née Melson, was an American songwriter, famous in the country music genre for writing a number of hits. Wilkin won numerous awards over the years and was referred to as "The Den Mother of Music Row," as chronicled in her 1978 biography from Word Books--Lord, Let Me Leave a Song... , Danny Dill Danny Dill Horace Eldred Dill , known professionally known as Danny Dill, was an American country music singer and songwriter... |
3:06 |
| 3. | "It Ain't Me Babe It Ain't Me Babe "It Ain't Me Babe" is the title of a 1964 song by Bob Dylan, first included on his album Another Side of Bob Dylan. The song's opening line is allegedly influenced by musicologist/folk-singer John Jacob Niles' composition "Go 'Way From My Window." Niles is referred to by Dylan as an early... " |
Bob Dylan Bob Dylan Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly... |
3:03 |
| 4. | "The Wall" | Harlan Howard Harlan Howard Harlan Perry Howard was a prolific American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote a large number of popular and enduring songs, recorded by a variety of different artists... |
2:09 |
| 5. | "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right Don't Think Twice, It's All Right "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" is a song written by Bob Dylan in 1962, and released on the 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.-Context:... " |
Bob Dylan | 2:56 |
| 6. | "You Wild Colorado" | 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... |
1:45 |
Side two
| Track | Song Title | Writer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mama, You've Been on My Mind" | Bob Dylan | 3:02 |
| 2. | "When It's Springtime in Alaska When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below) "When It's Springtime in Alaska " is a 1959 single by Johnny Horton. The single was Johnny Horton's sixth release on the country chart and the first of three number ones on the country chart . The single spent twenty-three weeks on the chart.... " |
Tillman Franks Tillman Franks Tillman Ben Franks was an American bassist and songwriter who was also the manager for a number of country music artists including Johnny Horton, David Houston, Webb Pierce, Claude King and the Carlisles.-Biography:... |
2:36 |
| 3. | "All of God's Children Ain't Free" | Johnny Cash | 2:11 |
| 5. | "Danny Boy Danny Boy -Background:The words to "Danny Boy" were written by English lawyer and lyricist Frederic Weatherly in 1910. Although the lyrics were originally written for a different tune, Weatherly modified them to fit the "Londonderry Air" in 1913, after his sister-in-law in the U.S. sent him a copy. Ernestine... " |
Frederick Weatherly Frederick Weatherly Frederic Edward Weatherly was an English lawyer, author, lyricist and broadcaster. He is estimated to have written the lyrics to at least 3,000 popular songs, among the best-known of which are the sentimental ballad Danny Boy set to the tune Londonderry Air, the religious "The Holy City", and the... |
5:08 |
| 6. | "Wildwood Flower Wildwood Flower "Wildwood Flower" is an American song, best known through performances and recordings by the Carter Family. However, the song predates them. The original title was "I'll Twine 'Mid the Ringlets"... " |
A.P. Carter | 2:10 |
| 7. | "Amen Amen (The Impressions song) "Amen" was a song popularized by The Impressions. The song was written by Jester Hairston, for the Sidney Poitier film Lilies of the Field . Curtis Mayfield said "I'd gone to see 'Lilies of The Field,' and the song in it, 'Amen,' was very inspiring for me as was the movie . . . Of course, I'd... " |
Jester Hairston Jester Hairston Jester Joseph Hairston was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor. His notable compositions include "Amen," a gospel-tinged theme from the film Lilies of the Field and a 1963 hit for The Impressions, and the Christmas song "Mary's Boy Child".-Early life:Hairston... |
2:05 |
2002 re-issue
Complementary to the original released songs from tracks 1 to 14, the 2002 reissue featured:- 15. "Engine 143Engine One-Forty-Three"Engine One-Forty-Three" is a ballad in the tradition of early American train wreck songs, based on the true story of the wreck of the FFV near Hinton, West Virginia on 23 October 1890. The train was on its way to Clifton Forge, Virginia, when it hit a rock slide...
" (unknown/A.P. Carter) – 3:31 - 16. "(I'm Proud) The Baby is Mine" (Cash) – 2:30
- 17. "Mama, You've Been on My Mind" (Dylan) – 2:54
Personnel
- Johnny Cash - Vocals, Guitar
- June Carter - Vocals
- Luther PerkinsLuther PerkinsLuther Monroe Perkins was an American country music guitarist and a member of the Tennessee Three, the backup band for singer Johnny Cash. Perkins was an iconic figure in what would become known as rockabilly music...
, Norman BlakeNorman Blake (American musician)Norman Blake is an instrumentalist, vocalist, and songwriter. In a career spanning more than 50 years Blake has played in a number of folk and Country groups...
, Ray Edenton - Guitar - 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
- Bill PursellBill PursellBill Pursell is an American composer and former session pianist. He had a brief but successful career as a pop musician before continuing on as a session player....
- Piano - Charlie McCoyCharlie McCoyCharles "Charlie" Ray McCoy is an American musician noted for his harmonica playing. In his career, McCoy has backed several notable musicians including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Tom Astor, Elvis Presley and Ween. He has also recorded thirty-seven studio albums, including fourteen for Monument Records...
- Harmonica - Bill McElhiney, Karl Garvin - Trumpet
- Boots RandolphBoots RandolphHomer Louis "Boots" Randolph III was an American musician best known for his 1963 saxophone hit, "Yakety Sax"...
- Saxophone
Album
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Country Albums | 3 |
| 1965 | Pop Albums | 49 |
Singles - Billboard (North America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | "It Ain't Me, Babe" | Hot Country Singles | 4 |
| 1964 | "It Ain't Me, Babe" | Pop Singles | 58 |
| 1965 | "Orange Blossom Special" | Hot Country Singles | 3 |
| 1965 | "Orange Blossom Special" | Pop Singles | 80 |