Johnny Cash: When Uncle Bill Quit Dope

Cash's show-opener from the January 13, 1971 episode of "The Johnny Cash Show." The title says it all except that he didn't write it himself, he gives credit to a Nashville songwriter apparently named "Dick Feller." Also includes Cash's trademark opening greeting, in response to a commenter's request. This one's for you!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• americana
• johnny cash
• redemption
• rehabilitation
• Grand ol Opry
• Norman Blake
• The Statler Brothers
• Carl Perkins
• The Carter Family Anita Carter
• addiction
• recovery

[luxurytheme]

At 1:17 the crowd breaks into applause all at once. Hmmmm wonder if an applause sign turned on?

[abargle]

@luxurytheme It is strange, but I'm guessing something happened out of camera range the Ryman audience saw that the TV audience didn't. Why would they hit the Applause sign in the middle of the song except maybe by accident, but I don't buy it.

[moproducer]

Dick Feller, a Missouri native, was fairly prolific in the 70s, writing hits for Sheb Wooley, Jimmy Dean, Tex Williams ("Miss Nancy Ann's Hotel"), Jerry Reed ("Lord, Mr. Ford"), John Denver ("Some Days Are Diamonds") and Cash ("Any Old Wind That Blows").

He had a few charted hits himself, including "Biff, the Friendly Purple Bear", "The Credit Card Song" and "Makin' The Best of a Bad Situation".

Feller made his network TV singing debut on the Cash show with "Georgia Clay".

[abargle]

@moproducer Do you know if he wrote this song specifically for Cash? Man, it sure sounds like it.

[abargle]

I Googled it and came up with this: Uncle Bill And The Cocaine (aka When Uncle Bill Quit Dope). Apparently kudos go out to Dick Feller, who wrote the tune. Thanks for keeping me honest!

[cashfan85]

Awesome! I`ve never heard this before!

[vortexspiral]

Awesome performance. Johnny Cash was the greatest!

[SelfTubeFreak]

Do you have ears X better?

[XbetterXhunterX]

hey guys i love music and i need some advice... so if u can tell me any good country songs just give me a shout.

[teabaggervance8]

@luxurytheme they were clapping for June whom entered stage left-everyone knew if she wasn't there the beloved Johnn would be gone

[musicmandon1]

I've mentioned how Mom taped the Johnny Cash show on reel-to-reel. considering I was 7 when this was aired, somehow I think she cut this out of the tape. I hadn't heard the name "Paul Goebbels," then, and wouldn't for another decade, but she would have kept this song away from my impressionable ears the way Goebbels kept the truth about Max Schmeling's defeat by Joe Louis from the German people in 1938--by pulling the plug.

[moproducer]

@luxurytheme Exactly. The producers of the Cash show wanted applause at every turn, including response to a song lyric or an instrumental break. I can tell you that it got to be annoying, because they would usually mix the audience so loud that you couldn't hear the music.

In this instance, the cue for the audience to affirm Uncle Bill's pledge came a couple of measures too late. But this was a not exactly unusual on the Cash show.

[jazzaste123]

Uncle bill done well well done uncle bill it's not easy hahaha love u jr

[dandae64]

KEEP PRESSING 5!

[TheLegendJohnnyCash]

@MrPeachlover Me too! haha but im pre sure he dont do dope!