The Essential Johnny Cash 1955 - 1983
It's a raining sunday afternoon and I don't have to work. I always find sundays lonely, and reflective. I don't have someone special to spend the day with, reading the paper, napping, going to church (don't ask I might tell you), cook dinner and listen to music with. I don't have that woman that I always dreamed of when I was young to walk in the park holding hands with, and so often times.... I listen to the music of Johnny Cash.
pretty much unless it was recorded between 1983 and 1992 (the mostly lame years) you can't go wrong with any of Cash's records, but I'm going to go with this 3 CD set of his music.
If you don't know Johnny's work, get thee to a record shop and educate yourself. To me there is magic in his voice, and words and the story of the Man in Black. His descent from one of the Sun Records stars to pill popping wild man, only to be redeemed with the re-awaking of his christian faith and the love of a woman, wow, we should all be so lucky as to experience such a life.
As for the music, It ranges from classic to up lifting.
Folsom Prison blues, RIng of Fire, and I walk the Line are pillars of modern music, and have endured the test of time. There is something in these songs, their tales of life, loss, faith, and honor that ring true with listeners and as much as the words and music, it's Johnny's presence, his voice and delivery that reach out and connect on that human level.
Songs on the set that I never get tired of?
Folsom Prison Blues
I walk the line
Rock Island Line
Don't Take Your Guns to Town
The Rebel- Johnny Yuma
The Ballad of Ira Hayes
THe Long Black Veil
Orange Blossom Special
Jackson
Blistered
RIng of Fire
Daddy Sang Bass
Wanted Man
Boy Named Sue
Man in Black
Rockabilly Blues (Texas 1955)
Notes:
1) if your one of those 'I don't like country music' types... Johnny Cash is the place to start
2) I don't have the Unearthed: Box Set.. yet, but I dig the American recording and consider them as good as this set
3) I start a new job in the morning yeah.....
4) I really wish that some how Johnny has found and recorded a cover of 'The Judas Kiss' by Jet Black Berries ... I think that he would have dug the song ... I guess it's up to Nick Cave to cover it.
5) leave your favorite johnny songs below
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
nordicgoddess:
Today my favorite Johnny Cash song is Folsom Prison Blues. I also really liked the song he did on a U2 album that went like "AHHHeye went out walkn' with a Bible and a gun..." and I also really liked his version of Reznor's "Hurt" that was a good/sad video. When he died I played the Live from Folsom Prison album SO LOUD and sang my guts out and jumped around. He was a great artist. Sad he is dead now.
prs2000:
i fall into your note #1 point. thus why i left no favorite johnny cash song. i have no favorite. i don't hate johnny's music or anything like that but i can't say i have a favorite... 