New DVDs capture Johnny Cash Christmas shows

This summer, Shout! Factory acquired a goldmine. The company signed a deal with the Country Music Hall of Fame which allowed Shout! to package the Hall's vast archive of musical television performances into DVDs. On Nov. 13, Shout! will release its first offerings from the Hall of Fame's vaults: a pair of Johnny Cash Christmas specials recorded in 1976 and 1977.

The 1976 show features Johnny and June Carter Cash at their homes in Bon Aqua and Hendersonville, Tenn., alongside guests such as Tony Orlando, Roy Clark, Merle Travis, Barbara Mandrell and Billy Graham. The 1977 special, meanwhile, arrived in the wake of Elvis Presley's death. Performed at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry House, the '77 show includes a tribute to Presley features rock icons Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison.

Presumably, the specials feature the warmer side of the Man in Black, though it would be cool to see Cash tear into "Cocaine Blues" and start kicking over Christmas decorations. The track list, available here, tells a different story. Perhaps it's for the better that way.

Got news tips for Paste? Email news@pastemagazine.com.