Customer Reviews

Christmas With Johnny Cash

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A collection of a dozen Cash Christmas oldies, gathered from over a couple of decades. The stuff off his 1980 "Classic Christmas" album is every bit as ludicrous and appalling as folks have said: the shrill vocal chorus and cluttered "classical" arrangements are a real mismatch for Johnny's voice, and tend to drown him out. But some of the older material (which dates back to the early '60s) is pretty sweet and shows Cash at his most charismatic and committed. The disc ends with a previously unreleased live recitation tune, "Christmas As I Knew It," which is pretty nice, despite the low fidelity (and even some telephones ringing in the background during one verse!) A nice holiday offering, though the '80s stuff will probably get on your nerves.

I'll admit that I tend to love just hearing Johnny Cash's voice, but I adore this CD. The track of 'Christmas Guest' is PERFECT with Cash's deep, thoughtful voice. Although I'm not a Christian, I love listening to the undeniable sincerity with which he sings all of these beautiful songs. This CD has helped make me realize that this is one of the key factors missing in a lot of Christmas music- you just feel a lot more happy and 'Christmas-y' when you listen to someone who really sounds like he means it.

Even if you disagree with me about 'meaning it', there is still lots to like- I would never have thought Cash would be so well suited musically to Christmas songs. A lot of the songs are quite story-like, and you can really revel in JR's voice. Others are more traditional, and in my opinion the choir adds a little 'merriness' where required (like with Hark the Herald Angels). I personally haven't really felt as though he gets overwhelmed... his voice is so distinctive that I always felt like I was listning to Johnny Cash.

I hope this helps... Whatever you get, it's well worth buying some Christmas Johnny Cash music!

I never listened to this cd but bought it as a gift for some friends that seem to have all of his albums. They were really surprised that I found it and listened to it all season long! Great gift for a true Cash fan! Enjoy!

My wife found this this past weekend when we started putting up the christmas decorations. We put it in and have been enjoying it all week. We're both big Johnny Cash fans, so it was a given that we would like this CD.

Consider this if you are looking for something different for the johnny cash lover in your life.

I disagree with those that bash the 1980 cuts from Classic Christmas; In fact, I would side with the folks that prefer Cash's music that came out during "the forgotten era": 1974-1983. ...In fact, I would LOVE to see Columbia Legacy release a compilation on those singles that have been long out of print.

But - back to Christmas music.

My only gripe with this collection is that it overlooks "The Little Drummer Boy". That song - along with the rest of the cuts on this CD would make for a more-complete overview of his Christmas releases.

I love this album. Mr. Cash does admirable and enduring renditions of the classics. His more adverturesome tunes will set well with the Evangelical crowd and just pass muster with the Reformed types. Add to this, not a single song sung by a whiny, whimsical tenor and you have a solid, interesting addition to your family Christ-mas music collection.

Don't buy this album if you disparage A-N-Y Christ-mas music that departs from a strict, ONLY Bible Christmas celebration. His song of coming and going visitors is a flight of fancy - not heretical, but certainly fanciful.

Christ-mas Spirited Cashlovers and Cashloving Christ Obeyers, buy away!

This CD has Johnny Cash in good voice at a reasonable cost. He is accompanied by a chorus on most songs, but they are not too intrusive.
The songs included are:

1.I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
2.The Christmas Guest (spoken)
3. Hark the Herald Angels Sing
4.The Gives They Gave
5.Blue Christmas
6.Merry Christmas Mary
7.O Come All Ye Faithful
8.Away in a Manger
9. the Christmas spirit
10.Joy to the world
11.Silent Night
12. Christmas as I Knew It

It's still a cheery Christmas record especially if you enjoy Johnny Cash

A few tracks from his first Christmas album ("The Christmas Spirit") and his last ("Classic Christmas") and a track from his 1970's TV show thrown in. These albums are available in their entirety, so you might want to give those a try. This one is only for the casual Johnny Cash fan.

I love Johnny Cash... sometimes.

This CD was mostly the "droning" Johnny Cash, rather than the compelling Johnny Cash. It was not happy Christmas listening, and we gave it away right away.