Johnny Cash on CD

[sburrell]

I'm listening to some Buddy Holly right now, and it's reminding me how much I need to pick up a good Johnny Cash album or two. I'm sure the folkses here must be acquainted with this fella, so - which are the two albums you'd most recommend? I'm hoping you can steer me towards CDs that exemplify his music, are well-recorded and well mastered to CD. After the trip to Ali's to hear his open-baffle design, I'm painfully aware of how poor some CDs can be.:eek:

Oh, if it helps, I'm a fan of that track used so well by Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill 2: "A Satisfied Mind." I also like one of his earlier tracks, something about a train driver lying to the guy at the toll booth and chugging away singing, "I got pig iron, I got pig iron..."

Look forward to your suggestions.:cool:

[Tim]

Are you looking for early Johnny Cash recordings and have you heard any of his final work - 'The American Recordings', produced by Rick Rubin? These IMO are outstanding and presented Johnny to a whole new audience and I highly recommend giving them a listen. They are all superbly recorded too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Recordings_%28album%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unchained_%28album%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_III:_Solitary_Man
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_IV:_The_Man_Comes_Around
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_V:_A_Hundred_Highways
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_VI:_Ain%27t_No_Grave
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unearthed_%28album%29

Satisfied Mind is on American VI, not sure if this is the Kill Bill version?

I also think this is a real bargain The Complete Sun Masters (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Sun-Masters-Johnny-Cash/dp/B0014VCFWU/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1311793618&sr=1-1)

At Folsom Prison is a must too. :)

Top 10 Best Johnny Cash Albums (http://paulgoodman67.hubpages.com/hub/Top-10-Best-Johnny-Cash-Albums) open to discussion if these are his top 10, but I wouldn't argue too much - they are certainly a good place to start ;)

But his American Recordings really are quite something.

[camtwister]

Hello Simon.

The pig iron lyrics to which you refer are from Rock Island Line, which was a prison work song first recorded in the 1930s and then popularised by Leadbelly in the '40s. Johnny Cash's version was the opening track on With His Hot And Blue Guitar, the debut long player for both artist and label, released on Sun Records in 1957.

If you are looking for 'modern' standards of recording, then Rick Rubin's productions that Tim mentions, are the place to start.

My personal favourite is the 1965 Columbia album, Orange Blossom Special.


http://img854.imageshack.us/img854/9879/johnnycashorangeblossom.jpg


In second place is the highly charged live album from 1968, on Columbia, At Folsom Prison.

I'm fortunate to own several Cash 45s on Sun. Amongst them, Guess Things Happen That Way, Big River, Straight As In Love and Cry, Cry, Cry blast out when I'm combing my quiff before a night in the saloon.


http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/2141/folsomprisoncover.jpg

[sburrell]

I knew there'd be good Johnny Cash info here. Thanks guys! :)

I've decided to pick up Folsom Prison on CD, and go from there. I like the notion that you can hear announcements over the tannoy.

I'll pick up the first in the American Recordings series next.

Looking forward to expanding my audio horizons. :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Those two are the ones that I'd be buying in your position. Both brilliant records - one from each end of the telescope!
You will love 'em!
Let us know what you think will you?

[sburrell]

Will do Chris :)

Also, Tim, the version of Satisfied Mind on VI is the same as the Kill Bill version. Great tune.

Just wanted to add that iTunes now seems to be giving 90 second previews of all songs! I've tried Johnny Cash and Paul Weller and both clips were 90 seconds.

Apple pushes the boundaries - yes, they make a mint, but the consumer gains too. I'm sick of the Winblowze slaves knocking Apple. Grrr.

Anyway, yes, I'll post my opinions of Folsom Prison when it gets here.

Cheers dudes :)

[griffo104]

I can't add much to the recommendations already listed except to re-iterate how wonderful the American Recordings series are. A fitting testament for one of the THE great musicians.

[camtwister]

Simon,

If you enjoy At Folsom Prison
(http://www.johnnycashonline.com/music/at-folsom-prison-legacy-edition-2cd1-dvd)
and American Recordings I, you may wish to slide a little deeper into JC's music.

The Sun recordings are essential listening but I recommend the early Columbia albums. Between 1963 and 1968, Cash matured and produced work which stands alongside Dylan's, acknowledging and understanding the legacy of American country and folk music, and interpreting it uniquely.

I prefer to listen to Cash on vinyl but if you're putting a CD collection together, the Sony Legacy re-issues are good.
I've placed links, after the following covers, to the official Legacy edition web-pages.

In addition to Orange Blossom Special (http://www.johnnycashonline.com/music/orange-blossom-special),
look out for these:

Ride This Train

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/659/ridethistrain.jpg

http://www.johnnycashonline.com/music/ride-this-train


Blood, Sweat and Tears

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/8676/johnnycashbloodsweatand.jpg

http://www.johnnycashonline.com/music/blood-sweat-tears


Bitter Tears

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/2023/bittertears.jpg

http://www.johnnycashonline.com/music/johnny-cash-sings-the-ballads-of-the-american-indian-bitter-tears


Mean As Hell

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/7654/johnnycashmeanashellfro.jpg

http://www.johnnycashonline.com/music/mean-as-hell

[sburrell]

First of all, sorry for not acknowledging more recent responses - I didn't get an email notification!

At Folsom Prison is great so far. I've been listening to The Hitch-Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy radio series (first two "phases") instead, recently picked up in a charity shop on tape. But the first half-dozen tracks on the album are great, and the interaction between Cash and the inmates is awesome - Cash reminding them that this "concert" was being recorded ("don't say Hell or Shit").

I'll post back later once I've got through the whole album. I'm taking my time, similar to the way you savour a fine wine. I'll be sure to refer to the responses hear as I move on in my musical education, later on.

Tx guys.