Customer Reviews

Dressed In Black - A Tribute To Johnny Cash

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In a year that's seen the reissue of so many original Cash LPs, one might wonder what need there is for a tribute album. The answer, as unwound on this album, is obvious: the impact of Cash's music far exceeds his own recordings, having become an essential element of American music. These eighteen covers illuminate both Cash's original legacy -- his songs -- as well as the influence he's had on several generations of musicians.

Like any such various artist compilation, the results are uneven. But unlike many such collections, this one's high-points are exceptionally high, and the remaining cuts are still intriguing. Among the highlights is the opening triple-threat of Hank Williams III, Robbie Fulks, and Rodney Crowell. Others impressive reworkings include those from Rev. Horton Heat, Billy Burnette and Chris Knight.

Hank III's remake of "Wreck of the Old '97" weds the wail of his grand-dad with the locomotive energy of Cash. Williams' and Chuck Mead's guitars push the rhythm that's laid down by bassist Dave Roe and drummer W.S. Holland, and Col. J.D. Wilkes' harmonica screams like a runaway train.

Fulks attacks "Cry, Cry, Cry" with an urgency that even Cash's original (his first single for Sun) didn't register, and Rodney Crowell makes hay from one of the lightest-weight tunes in the Cash catalog, Jack Clement's "Ballad of a Teenage Queen." Though "Ballad" was a #1 country hit for Cash in 1958, Clement's production, especially the chorus and soprano backing vocals, always seemed like mismatch for Cash's presence. Not so with Crowell's take - the cleaner lines of the ringing guitar, the smoothly mixed backing vocals and the narrative lead vocal polishes the song into a true gem.

Rev. Horton Heat infuses his rockabilly mania into "Get Rhythm," while still retaining the essence of Cash's original version. Similarly, Billy Burnette modernizes "Ring of Fire" without losing its soul; the song's loping tempo and iconic guitar hook are lovingly rendered as sacred text. Chris Knight sings Cash's "Flesh and Blood" as his own, rendering it in the spare, acoustic style that's become his trademark. Stripped of the strings and female backing chorus of Cash's 1970 original, the imagery of nature is ever more potent.

A pair of duets recount the combined success of Cash and June Carter. Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis' rendition of "Pack Up Your Sorrows" hints at the Cash/Carter version with it's click-clack train rhythm, but their softer, polished voices more closely follow the song's originators, Richard & Mimi Farina. Mandy Barnett and Chuck Mead's "Jackson" can't possibly match the bristling interpersonal spark of the original, but it fully captures the songs swaggering repartee, and, unlike Nancy Sinatra, Barnett (singing the hell out of the song) gets the lyric "And I'll be waitin' in Jackson, behind my Ja-pan fan" right!

As noted at the top, a world in which Cash's originals are readily available still needs these covers, if only to remind us that Cash's songs -- those he's written, and those he's simply made his own -- are as iconic as his performances.

... You'll be her favorite.

So, what's so great about this record? In a word, Talent. Robbie Fulks doingCry,Cry,Cry is great, Rosie Flores/Big River, great, Raul Malo/I Guess Things Happen That Way, great. The two duets on the record, Bruce Robinson & Kelly Willis/Pack Up Your Sorrows, Mandy Barnett & Chuck Mead/Jackson absolutely smoke and Hank III on The Wreck of Old '97 will kick ....

I'll even give a thumbs up to the packaging, ejoyed the liner notes, The Reverend Horton Heat's comment is nothing short of haunting and the picture on the back, a young June and Johnny, damn June is Hot!

Finally, I'll leave you with this little tale. I was doing music for a friend's wedding this past weekend and I slipped this puppy in at the church after the ceremony. (They had killer sound) The groom's dad and the Bride's dad both wandered in, sat down and flat out refused to leave until it was finished. ...

The best of Americana and Real Country artists gather together to pay homage to one of America's truest and greatest living legends, Johnny Cash. From the mournful wail of Hank III to the rhythmic beat of Chuck Mead's honky-tonk; from Redd Volkaert's gravely bass to the smooth voice of Raul Malo, this disc contains some of the greatest country music ever recorded done by some of today's best country artists (i.e., the ones you generally won't hear on corporate-owned radio, but should know and love if you know and love country music: Robbie Fulks, Dale Watson, Rodney Crowell, Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis, James Intveld, and Rosie Flores, to name a few). If mainstream country music would sound a little more like this disc does, I probably wouldn't have turned off the radio.

...So, what's so great about this record? In a word, Talent. Robbie Fulks doing Cry,Cry,Cry is great, Rosie Flores/Big River, great, Raul Malo/I Guess Things Happen That Way, great. The two duets on the record, Bruce Robinson & Kelly Willis/Pack Up Your Sorrows, Mandy Barnett & Chuck Mead/Jackson absolutely smoke and Hank III on The Wreck of Old '97 will kick your ass.

I'll even give a thumbs up to the packaging, ejoyed the liner notes, The Reverend Horton Heat's comment is nothing short of haunting and the picture on the back, a young June and Johny...

I've always loved Johnny Cash's music. The artists on this album breathe new life into some of his familiar songs. Most are true to Cash's original form, but one song stands out amongst the others...Pack Up Your Sorrows by Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis. The CD is worth the purchase price for their duet alone! If you love The Man in Black, you'll truly enjoy this tribute.

There is some excellent music on "Dressed In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash." Chris Knight is one of those musicians that always sparks my interest; his version of "Flesh & Blood" is such a plaintive laid back reading of this song that it gives an emotional mix of loneliness, hope & desire. It closes the set, but is one of the highlights for me. Eddie Angel's rockabilly "Straight A's In Love" is a naughty little tune that puts a smile on my face each time it comes on the changer. :) Austin songwriter Damon Bramblett's take on "I'm Gonna Sit on the Porch & Pick on My Old Guitar" may not seem polished, but it does exude a warmth that brings me into the music. Chuck Mead from BR5-49 produced this disc and plays on every track. His lead vocals on "There You Go" set your toe tapping, "You're gone again, I should'a known I couldn't win...He's by your side, you're gonna break another heart, you're gonna tell another lie." The Mavericks' Raul Malo sounds a bit like Chris Isaak to me on the slow shuffle of "I Guess Things Happen That Way." Rodney Crowell has been recording a series of great solo sets as well as with the Notorious Cherry Bombs. Here he turns a straightforward reading of "Ballad of a Teenage Queen." Robbie Fulks' "Cry, Cry, Cry" booms with great energy. No one will ever replace Johnny Cash, but these artists do a great job with songs that he previously polished. Enjoy!

This CD has got to be the best sounding tribute I have heard in a long time. I just play this CD over and over again in my truck. I never get tired of Johnny Cash's songs and these are done as good as anybody could sing them. Simple songs done with a Luther Perkins beat and a upright bass are the best. Today's pop sounding "country" just doesn't have the appeal to me like good old honky-tonk country. Chuck Mead of BR549 produced this CD along with Dave Roe who played bass on all of the songs. They do a great job together and keep the music flowing from song to song. In fact, some of the names they picked I had never heard of but some I had. But all sound good and keep the traditional sound alive. So hats off to all who sang, played, and contributed to this CD. I just wish someone had done "One Piece At A Time".

Johnny Cash can arguably be called the greatest country music artist in the history of country music. For almost 50 years, he has shown us that true country music can surpass boundaries, and on 'Dressed In Black: A Tribute To Johnny Cash' 18 great artists repay the man in black for all of the great things that Johnny Cash has given country music, and music in general.

The album starts off with Hank III's explosive redition of the classic 'Wreck of the Old '97', and througout the album you hear other great covers like: 'Ballad of the Teenage Queen' covered by Rodney Crowell, 'Get Rhythym' covered by Rev. Horton Heat, 'Luther Played the Boogie' covered by Redd Volkaert, and my personal favorite, 'I'm Gonna Sit On The Porch And Pick On My Old Guitar' originally on 1979's 'Silver'. The next four songs sort of wain, 'I Walk The Line', 'Train Of Love', 'Straight A's In Love', and 'Jackson'. But the final song 'Flish and Blood' covered by Chris Knight, makes up for the clunkers.

So, If you are a Johnny Cash fan, or just a fan of country music in general, be sure to pick this one up.

The whole spirit of this CD takes me back to my teenage years in the late '50s, when we listened to Johnny Cash's Sun singles (along with Jerry Lee Lewis and Bill Haley) on the juke box. In addition to the excellent renditions of Cash's music, this collection introduced me to a few excellent singers who had somehow managed to slip by under my radar. In particular, I love Robbie Fulks' version of "Cry, Cry, Cry"--what a fantastic singer/songwriter! Surprisingly, the singer who sounds most like a young Cash (without seeming to imitate him) is the very Reverend Horton Heat on "Get Rhythm." Another is Chuck Mead's "There You Go." Hank III gives his own unique take on "Wreck of the Old '97." Sounding more like his own grandfather, it's certainly not the way Johnny Cash did it, but he nevertheless captures the bare tragedy and heroic spirit of the song. "Pack up Your Sorrows" was a favorite during the '60s, but I barely remember Johnny Cash singing it. The most familiar version was by Richard & Mimi Farina, and Kelly Willis and Bruce Robinson faithfully capture the spirit of their version. The other song that stands out is "Straigh A's in Love" by Eddie Angel. It's often forgotten that Johnny Cash was not primarily a country singer. Beginning with his classic work at Sun Studio, he pretty much invented the rockabilly sound, and it is this spirit that is well represented here. Get this CD and keep it in your car to brighten up those pesky commutes.

This CD has got to be the best sounding tribute I have heard in a long time. I just play this CD over and over again in my truck. I never get tired of Johnny Cash's songs and these are done as good as anybody could sing them. Simple songs done with a Luther Perkins beat and a upright bass are the best. Today's pop sounding "country" just doesn't have the appeal to me like good old honky-tonk country. Chuck Mead of BR549 produced this CD along with Dave Roe who played bass on all of the songs. They do a great job together and keep the music flowing from song to song. In fact, some of the names they picked I had never heard of but some I had. But all sound good and keep the traditional sound alive. So hats off to all who sang, played, and contributed to this CD. I just wish someone had done "One Piece At A Time".