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The Essential Johnny Cash

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This double-CD version of "The Essential Johnny Cash," not to be confused with a three-CD set with the same title that came out a decade earlier, was issued to commemorate Cash's 70th birthday. Consequently, it has ended up serving as a fitting tribute album to remember the Man in Black who died this month. It provides a more than adequate look at his career from 1955-1993, which, unfortunately, does mean it stops before his brilliant 1994 recording "American Recordings." However, this is a minor point because that is an essential Johnny Cash album in its own right, along with the Sixties albums "At Folsom Prison" and "At San Quentin." However, for someone who discovers that they do not have a Johnny Cash album in their music library, this is certainly a good place to start.

This version of "The Essential Johnny Cash" focuses on the early years, with the vast majority of tracks coming from the 1950s and 1960s. Actually, there is only one track after 1986, which would be "The Wanderer," recorded with U2 in 1993. However, it is hard to argue with covering the first two major peaks in Cash's career like this and to leave the single album assessment of the final renaissance he enjoyed in recent years, exemplified by his cover of Nine Inch Nail's "Hurt," for down the road. The main thing is that you get his signature tunes, "I Walk the Line," Man in Black," and the live version of "A Boy Named Sue" that officially marked his crossover from country to the popular consciousness of American music, as well as his celebrated covers of "If I Were a Carpenter" and his duets with his wife, June Carter Cash, such as "Jackson." There are also a few choice gospel songs as well along with a surprisingly good duet of "Girl from the North Country" with Bob Dylan.

Several American icons have died this year and unlike what happened with Bob Hope, where the current younger generation was rather clueless as to why this old guy had been so popular for so long, the MTV generation understood Johnny Cash. The music video for "Hurt" received a lot of acclaim, even earning a nomination for video of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards. I am not particularly surprised by this, since Cash's music career began at the same time as the birth of rock `n' roll and his rebellious attitude made him at least a kindred spirit. He might not have sounded like a rocker, but he was never what Nashville would have considered to be country either. Johnny Cash was unique, with his deep, resonant baritone and spare, percussive guitar, which is why his death deserved the cover of "Time" magazine. You can quibble over whether or not these are truly THE essential three dozen tracks from the Man in Black's music career, but there is no doubt about Johnny Cash's place in the musical pantheon.

Johnny Cash was an American music icon known to the world as the "Man in Black." His booming deep bass voice is surely one of the most recognizable in country music history. While his vocal range was fairly limited, it was incredibly effective at conveying the plight of the common man. As befits a legend, there are several Cash collections available. This double disc is my favorite because it captures nearly all of the highlights of Cash's recording career between 1955 and 1993 (since then he put out four excellent albums on American Records as well).

This chronological collection begins with eights hits from his tenure at Sun Records (1955-1958). Each of these great recordings, such as his double-sided hit debut "Cry, Cry, Cry"/"Hey Porter," "I Guess Things Happen That Way," "I Walk The Line," and his biggest chart hit "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen" (ten weeks at number one!) features a "boom-chicka-boom" rhythm and sparse instrumental backing by Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant (also known as the Tennessee Two). If you are looking for more music from this period, I suggest Varese's double-disc, forty track Complete Sun Singles.

Cash left Sun in late 1958 and signed with Columbia in hopes of occasionally recording his first love, gospel music, which Sun owner Sam Phillips would not allow. Cash's productive Columbia tenure (which ended in 1986) makes up 26 of the remaining 28 recordings. The remainder of disc one takes us through 1965 and shows Cash branching out far beyond rockabilly, with the old west cautionary tale "Don't Take Your Guns To Town," the yearn-filled ballad "I Still Miss Someone," the mariachi-flavored "Ring Of Fire" (June Carter's composition detailing her then turbulent relationship with Cash), the folky "Ballad Of Ira Hayes," the bluegrass toetapper "Orange Blossom Special," and fittingly, a stark, religious number for the closer, "Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)."

The first half of disc two highlights Cash's work in the mid-to-late '60s, leading off with hit collaborations with wife to be June Carter ("It Ain't Me Babe," "Jackson," "If I Were A Carpenter") as well as megahits from his successful live prison albums ("Folsom Prison Blues," "A Boy Named Sue"). Interspersed is the less known acoustic "Girl From The North Country" duet with Bob Dylan (not a hit, but a superfine recording by two legendary artists) as well as the gospel-oriented "Daddy Sang Bass" which prominently features June Carter and the Statler Brothers (both members of Cash's late '60s/early '70s stage show, which was one of the best of its time).

As the '70s began, Cash was still making a strong impact with the weary Kristofferson ode "Sunday Morning Coming Down," the matter of fact "Flesh And Blood," and the biographical ditty "Man In Black." As the decade wore on, though, big hits became harder to come by, limited to humorous chart-topper "One Piece At A Time" and haunting chestnut "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" (both found here) as well as "There Ain't No Good Chain Gang" (unfortunately omitted). This Essential collection concludes with four diverse collaborations: "Song Of The Patriot" with Marty Robbins (1980), "Highwayman" with Kristofferson, Nelson, and Jennings (1985 - Cash's last number one single), the reflective "Night Hank Williams Came To Town" with Jennings (1987, from his otherwise unmemorable two-album Mercury Records stint), and "The Wanderer" with U2 (1993, from U2's Zooropa album, a hint of the adventurous material Cash would explore on his American Records albums, such as his recent reworking of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt").

For more material, you can go with the three-disc box set (confusingly, also titled Essential Johnny Cash), but track for track, this set is the more enjoyable listen.

This collection was released in conjunction with Cash's 70th birthday, and the CD booklet is filled with testaments to the Man in Black from the likes of Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard to Paul McCartney, Bono, Chrissie Hynde, Keith Richards, Elvis Costello, Ray Davies and Kirk Hammett. Anyone who can be an influence on such diverse artists as these has been doing something right since first stepping into Sam Phillips' Sun Studios in 1955.

The set leans awfull heavy on Cash's Fifties and Sixties material. Tracks 1-8 are from his tenure at Sun. The rest of disc one and the first seven tracks of disc two take us through the end of the Sixties. The only track from the past fifteen years is "The Wanderer," taken from U2's 1993 Zooropa album. What's missing is any of Cash's Nineties work with Rick Rubin.

But if you're looking for an inexpensive overview (with an emphasis on the hits) of one of country music's most influential artists, you can't go wrong here. (I would have given this five stars, but disc one is only 46 minutes and disc 2 is only 59 minutes.) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Though there have been several anthologies summarizing the better known material from Cash's nearly fifty-year recording career, the bulk of his work has been unavailable on domestic CD. Columbia's year-long reissue program, celebrating Cash's seventieth birthday, kicks off with this double-disc, thirty-six track overview that abbreviates 1992's seventy-five song, triple-disc box, "The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983," and adds a few choice alternate selections.

Like its big-brother, the new set spans Cash's late '50s recordings for Sun and his '60s-70s work for Columbia, and also adds a few tracks from his time at Mercury. Alternate picks from the box set include duets with Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings, and June Carter Cash, the mid-60s novelty, "The One on the Right is on the Left," a pair of patriotic tunes ("Ragged Old Flag" and "Song of the Patriot"), and a 1993 collaboration with U2. Missing (and certainly more essential than the U2 cut) are tracks from Cash's late-90s work with producer Rick Ruben.

What's here is certainly essential, and its scope fills a niche between single-disc greatest hits and the more expansive 1992 box. It trods compilation ground that's been well mapped on earlier releases, yet serves nicely as both a value-priced entry to Cash's work, and a primer to the on-going reissue campaign.

4-1/2 stars, if Amazon allowed fractional ratings.

I'm not fan of country music, but Johnny Cash isn't your average country singer. . . he incorporates everything music should be.

As a total metal fan, I never in a million years expected myself to buy country albums. But there I was in HMV one day and I Walk The Line came over the speakers. I know instantly that is was Johnny's singing because my mum was a fan. I abandoned the metal section and picked up the CD which I am now reviewing. It's interesting the amount of metal icons who cite Mr Cash as their inspiration and idol. Metallica's James Hatfield and Slipknot's Shawn Crahan are two mentioned on the inside cover of the CD booklet. I can see why they love him.

Johnny's voice is cool and calm. He is the only singer I listen to who can be tough yet gentle at the same time. Here is a man that judging only by the sound of his voice you'd know not to mess with, yet his lyrics show a man with a genuine heart. This album had classics like I Walk The Line, Don't Take Your Guns To Town, Ring Of Fire, One Piece At A Time and Man In Black.

The songs are so simple yet genius. In 50 years time people will still be listening to Johnny's music and it will still sound as fresh as it does now. That's more than cane be said about bands these days who poke fun at country music yet can't write their own songs.

Respect, Johnny, you're a legend. Folks, buy this album. If there was ever money well spent it's on this CD.

Johnny Cash is the people's preacher, his craggy voice calling down raw truths from the mountain top, and his songs are riveting sermons nobody sleeps through. He has grappled hard with demons that have scarred and nearly defeated him, martyring himself time and again to make music that is as honest and timeless as dirt. Johnny Cash looks like any one of us, just a regular Joe, and he speaks for all of us in the voice we wish we had and the words we wish we knew. That is the genius of Johnny Cash.

Personally, I'd pay good money to listen to Johnny recite the alphabet, but this collection, an eclectic and affordable Cash primer, is money more wisely spent. Released in 2002 to coincide with The Man in Black's 70th birthday, 'Essential' contains a booklet full of hosannas from his famous admirers and does a nice job of portraying Cash as the musical chameleon of uncompromising integrity that he's always been. Every phase of Cash's career is represented, from his rocking sides for Sun Records in the mid-Fifties to those nothing-left-to-prove 'vocal events' with his heavyweight Outlaw buddies in the Eighties. In between, you witness the transformation of Johnny Cash from rockabilly to poet, from hellion to repentant sinner, and from Star to Legend. It's a helluva fascinating journey.

On Disc One, eavesdrop as the Tennessee Two polish Cash's signature syncopated sound on stark and intimate Sun cuts like 'I Walk the Line,' which still inspires chills. Then, follow Cash to Columbia for his coming of age on classics penned by himself ('Five Feet High and Rising,' 'Don't Take Your Guns to Town') and others ('Ring of Fire,' a smitten June Carter's oblique declaration of love for her future husband). My favorite song from this era - and my favorite Johnny Cash song, period, since I was a kid - is 'Tennessee Flat-top Box,' a clever metaphor for Cash's rise to fame with a killer Tex-Mex guitar riff that took this middling guitarist twenty years to figure out. Cash's rebel take on 'Orange Blossom Special' - he sounds positively gassed - has always knocked me out, too.

Disc Two showcases Cash's mastery in concert and his willingness to share the spotlight with musicians he admires, with somewhat mixed results. Cash's duets with June Carter, especially the red-hot 'Jackson,' are magical, like the beatific communion of soul mates. On the other hand, the rough-hewn curio 'Girl from the North Country' finds Cash and country dabbler Bob Dylan just getting in each other's way. Two of Cash's best live prison performances are here: the incendiary 'Folsom Prison Blues' and his boisterous, off-the-cuff rendition of 'A Boy Named Sue' for an equally pumped San Quentin crowd. 'One Piece at a Time,' a funny tune from 1976, brings Cash full circle with a faithful recreation of his old Sun sound. Finally, Cash reinvents himself yet again as an Elder Statesman/Guru ministering to adoring disciples on 1993's 'The Wanderer,' a surprisingly moving electronica/gospel collaboration with U2.

An artist as prolific and important as Johnny Cash can't be boiled down to just two CDs, but this is a great place to start an appreciation that, I promise you, will enrich your life.

After 40 years or so of listening to John, this is a wonderful compilation of some of his best works from early days to more recent cuts, all presented in the order of the release date.
The sound quality of songs such as "Guess Things Happen that Way" are quite amazing, showing how much information was really being recorded in those early days, far surpassing the playback equipment of the day.
From the rousing "Five feet high and Rising", "Johnny Yuma" with the incredible imaging of the individual voices of the Carter Family on the side, the Trumpets (and again the Carter Family) on a very clean "Ring of Fire" through the haunting and gritty "Ballad of Ira Hayes".
John's guitar work on "The One on the Right..." is truly amazing and crisp and genuinely shows his imense talent!
When listening to "Flesh and Blood", "Man in Black" and the auditorium sound of "Ragged Old Flag" you feel as if big John's right there with you!
"The Wanderer" with U2 was a pleasant surprize, as I'd never heard this before. This album is also a favourite of our daughter, who learned to count with "Five feet High and Rising" and who has enjoyed the "Folsom Prison" and "San Quentin" albums for the last year. This shows the incredibly wide audience John has been playing to!
He will be sorely missed!!

To find the most essential tunes of Johnny Cash. This task is almost too monumental to undertake! Every Cash song I have listented to has touched me in some way.
But, the compilers of this two disc set have done a very good job of highlighting the career of Cash on Columbia and Sun records.
What I like best about this essential collection is that it spans the entire career of Cash (excluding his most recent and wonderful American recordings). We get to see Johnny in all his incarnations, in all his vast styles and at his country, rock, folk best.
I love Johnny Cash! I admire his honest approach to singing and songwriting. Johnny pulls no punches and tells it just like it is. The songs on these two discs will make you smile... make you laugh... make you wince... make you tear up and cry... and give you goose bumps and chills. Johnny hits all the right buttons and evokes a definite response in his listeners.
All the great hits are here... I walk the line... Ring of Fire... (My Favorite) Folsom Prison Blues... and too many others to mention.
Johnny's earliest hits such as Hey Porter and Get Rhythm are also a treat to listen to.
Heck, it's all great buy it you'll love it! :-)

I'll admit, I jumped on the Johnny Cash bandwagon after seeing the movie "Walk the Line" Mr. Cash's music had always been a favorite of mine I just never purchased any until I saw the movie. This Cd is one of my best purchases from this site to date. I have been playing it non-stop since I popped it in my disc player. I find-comfort- I would say, in many of his lyrics, not pretentious, or over sang just simply Johnny Cash.

To comprehensively represent such a towering icon of American music in only two discs is always going to be a difficult task, but this `Essential' compilation has succeeded as best as it can in doing this. It is a suitable choice for those who do not desire such an extensive compilation, (such as the Unearthed boxset) but then also want something a little more in-depth than just one disc. The first half of the first disc covers Cash's early recordings with Sun records, the most famous of which is `I walk the line'.

The second half of disc 1 and most of disc 2 then selects the highlights from the late 50s through to the early 70s. This is the strongest part of the collection and forms the main bulk of it, the most memorable tunes among this section being `Ring of fire', `Ballad of Ira Hayes', `Sunday morning coming down' and `Ragged old flag'. Not to be forgotten are the two live hits both recorded at Californian prisons - `Folsom prison blues' and the hilarious `A boy named Sue'. The closing songs of the collection are duets, the best of which is `The night Hank Williams came to town'; the lyrics evoke 1950s America like no other song. `The Wanderer', recorded with U2, is completely different from any other song on the album but still good listening.

All in all, the `Essential Johnny Cash' is a fine way to remember a legend of country music.