The earliest recording, a 1955 performance of Cash's first Sun single, "Hey Porter," is nearly breathless, as Cash, Perkins and Grant drive home their railroad rhythm. Mid-50s takes of "Luther Played the Boogie" and "I Walk the Line," songs that Cash would play thousands of times, sound fresh and new. His introduction to "I Walk the Line" ("Friends, we'd like to do one side of our latest release, on Sun, this is the one we're the proudest of...") makes it clear just how new.

A trio of tunes from 1959 includes the lesser known, but no less worthy, Cash composition "Give My Love To Rose," Gene Autry's folky "Goodbye Little Darlin'," and a master showman's reading of Leadbelly's "Rock Island Line." Ten tracks from 1962-63 highlight Cash's successes at both Sun and Columbia, including "Big River," "Five Feet High and Rising," and "I Got Stripes.". The disc concludes with a folksy 1963 take of Harlan Howard's "Busted," and a 1959 commercial Cash made up on the spot for Southern Maid Doughnuts.

Sound quality isn't state-of-the-art, but it's clear, and Cash and the band are nicely isolated (i.e., this wasn't recorded by a microphone in the audience). The tracks are framed by a smattering of stage continuity (announcers introducing Cash, Cash introducing songs, cracking jokes and ribbing his band mates), applause and cheering. It gives you a real sense of how much excitement Cash and the Tennessee Two generated on the Hayride.

By collecting tracks across an eight year period, the disc shows how Cash's stage show evolved from the bare-bones trio work of 1955 at which Cash endeared himself to the Hayride audience, to the star-turns of 1962 and 1963. These recordings are a great find on both a legendary artist and the legendary show ("The Cradle of the Stars") for which he performed.


Put it in your collection   November 28, 2003
Mark Adams (Redwood Estates, CA United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

For a collector of Cash, this one is a gem, only if your getting started, you may want to buy one of his concerts at Folsom Prison or San Quentin. The sound quality on this disc isn't excellent, though considering the times in which these recordings were made, it is atmospheric. This is a "fun" album filled with laughter, cheering and music. A good one to put in your collection.


Legendary live recordings   October 7, 2003
Darrin Warren (Osburn, Idaho)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This is the legendary program that helped many important newcomers. "The Cradle of the Stars" was another name used to describe "The Louisiana Hayride". KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana was the 50,000 watt powerhouse that introduced Elvis, Hank Williams and so many others to a national audience before most of them went to the "Grand Ole Opry". Johnny Cash was one of these young hopefuls from SUN records in Memphis. Cash had a very unique sound that from his very first record set him apart from the rest. This collection captures live vintage recordings from 1955 thru the 60's when Johnny was having success on Columbia Records. A must have for the fans of the late great Johnny Cash. Don't pass this one up!!!


Excellent look at early years   November 25, 2006
W. J KUBIK (Hanover, IN United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This is a great CD for the diehard fan. The versions of the two Leadbelly covers "Rock Island Line" and "I've Got Stripes" are dynamite. I agree with the reviewer who suggests the Folsom album for newer fans, as it as a great edgy feel as Cash was coming out of his drug-fueled years (which "Rock Island Line" gives a sense of). The Madison Square Garden album catches Cash during the same tour as the San Quentin album at one of the great peaks of his career. I would give this album 5 stars if it were not for the mixed sound quality. Several songs (including "Hey Porter," sadly) sound like bootlegs.