Bitter Tears:
Ballads Of The American Indian
Columbia CS-9048
Released Original: October 1, 1964
Recorded In Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville in March, 1964
In Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville in June, 1964
Genre Country
Length Original: 31:30
Label Columbia Records
Producer Don Law, Frank Jones
Another concept album from Johnny Cahs; this time dedicated to the native americans. Johnny Cash was convinced that his ancestry included members of the Cherokee tribe, and because of this he felt compassion for the indians. This album focuses solely on the history of the native americans, and the problems they are facing.
The album is a statement wich concentrates on what Cash sees as a harsh and unfair treatment of the native americans. One of the issues he brings up is the loss of Seneca Nation land in Pennsylvania, wich is brought up in "As Long As The Grass Will Grow". The land was lost because of the construction of a dam in the early '60s.
Track listing:
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1.As Long As The Grass Will Grow (Peter La Farge) - 6:10
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2.Apache Tears (Johnny Cash) - 2:34
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3.Custer (Peter La Farge) - 2:20
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4.The Talking Leaves (Johnny Cash) - 3:55
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5.The Ballad Of Ira Hayes (Peter La Farge) - 4:07
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6.Drums (Peter La Farge) - 5:04
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7.White Girl (Peter La Farge) - 3:01
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8.The Vanishing Race (Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton) - 4:02
Personell:
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•Johnny Cash - Guitar, Vocals
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•The Carter Family - Backing Vocals
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•Luther Perkins - Electric Guitar
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•Marshall Grant - Bass
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•W.S. Holland - Drums
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•Bill Purcell - Organ/Piano
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•Bob Johnson - Guitar
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•Don Law - Producer
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•Frank Jones - Producer
Charts
"The Ballad Of Ira Hayes" was the only single released from this album, and it managed to reach the Country Singles Billboard:
Year Single Chart Position
1964: The Ballad Of Ira Hayes Country Singles 3
The album also reached the billboards:
Year Chart Position
1964 Country Albums 2
1964 Pop Albums 47
