Third Man Records has announced the latest in its Vault subscription service which has previously featured music from Captain Beefheart, Margo Price, Wanda Jackson, Willie Nelson, and a host of Jack White-fronted projects.  For the 45th title in the series, Third Man and Sony Music Entertainment turn back the clock to May 5, 1973 when Johnny Cash and his band performed as part of then-President Clive Davis’ famed “A Week To Remember” concert series highlighting the best that Columbia Records had to offer.  And it doesn’t get much better than Cash’s performance which included guest appearances from June Carter Cash and Carl Perkins.  From “Jackson” and “I Walk the Line,” to “A Boy Named Sue,” “Hey Porter,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” and “Daddy Sang Bass,” the show is full of hits and favorites – 18 of them in total.

For this deluxe presentation available exclusively to Third Man Vault subscribers, the label has pressed the concert on two slabs of white vinyl.

The album is paired with a 7″ single featuring two tracks from the new sessions for an upcoming second volume of the Forever Words project that pairs Cash’s unreleased lyrics and poems with music from some of today’s most important artists.  Both tracks on the single are making their debut here and will be pressed on gold vinyl. On the A-side is The Lumineers’ unreleased track “Pretty Pictures In My Mind.” The B-side is a new track by Ruston Kelly, “Dark and Bloody Ground.”

If that weren’t enough, Third Man is also including a DVD of select performances from the 1973 Cash concert featuring camerawork shot from multiple angles and intimate backstage footage.  While it’s not the full show, it’s a gorgeous document of Cash and company in full command of the audience and a welcome addition to an already impressive collection.

The deadline to sign up to receive the Vault package of 2 LPs, the 7″ single and the DVD is July 31.  You can sign up for a quarterly Vault membership or an annual one at a discount.  Pressing runs will depend on how many are signed up to receive the album.  This package will not be available through traditional retail outlets, so be sure to sign up before time runs out at the Third Man Vault online shop.

Johnny Cash and Friends, A Night To Remember–May 5th 1973 at the Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles, CA [2LP/DVD/7″] (Third Man Records/Columbia/Sony, 2020) (Third Man Vault)

2-LP Track Listing:

1. Big River
2. Sunday Morning Coming Down
3. The City Of New Orleans
4. Ballad Of Barbara
5. A Boy Named Sue
6. Going To Memphis
7. That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine – with Carl Perkins
8. Medley: Hey Porter/ Folsom Prison Blues/ Wreck Of The Old 97/Orange Blossom Special
9. I Walk The Line
10. Jackson – with June Carter Cash
11. If I Were A Carpenter – with June Carter Cash
12. Help Me Make It Through The Night
13. Help Me with June Carter Cash & Larry Gatlin
14. Lord, Is It I?/The Last Supper
15. If I Had A Hammer with June Carter Cash
16. Will The Circle Be Unbroken with June Carter Cash & Carl Perkins
17. Daddy Sang Bass with June Carter Cash & Carl Perkins
18. Folsom Prison Blues (outro)

DVD:  Track Listing TBD

7″ Single:

Side A: Ruston Kelly, “Dark and Bloody Ground”
Side B: TBD