Customer Reviews

Ring of Fire

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

 

 

I bought this album after watching "Walk the Line," a film which turned me into some sort of Johnny Cash fan. There are a handful of quality tracks on this album, including "Boy Named Sue," "Sixteen Tons," and "Get Rhythm." There is nothing quite like Cash's baritone voice, and he gets to demonstrate his vocal range throughout the album.

My hesitation to more fully endorse this particular album is several-fold. First and foremost, it is just too short. There just ought to be a few more tracks on it. Second, it is a live album, but even so, the quality of the recording could have been better. Finally, there are some real clunkers on the album, which is inexcusable for a late-career, randomly-assembled album. It's not as if this is a studio-recorded release of freshly written songs. With the ability to pull from his entire career, the producers could have included a few more of his best hits.

At the end of the day, it's a Johnny Cash album, so it's not bad. I just imagine that there are any number of his albums that would be a much better investment.

Despite the total lack of liner notes and recording information, this inexpensive import item hosts a treasure-trove of rare Johnny Cash tunes and not just another repackage of familiar recordings. Split up over CD one and two is an early 70's concert recording which is fine, but the real treat is the remainder of CD two and all of CD three which is a radio broadcast transcription from the late 50's (I'n guessing)that showcases the Tennessee Two w/ Cash with a live fire that I've only witnessed on the Live at Town Hall Party DVD. The closest Cash came to being a rocker and a dynamic set.

I purchased this cd as a gift for my son and the whole family ended up singing along.....the cds contain many of his best songs!

The most frustrating aspect of this box set is the complete lack of liner notes. These are fine live recordings, but the listener is left only to wonder as to their origins. I want to give this package two stars for the lack of notes, but the music is deserves five, so I give it a four.

What more could be said! Probably the best song ever done by Johnny Cash. Not only a #1 hit in Country Music, But also a Top 5 song in the Pop charts in 1963. (Ring of Fire) If you buy this box set, you will NEVER find a better CD of Mr. Cash's Greatest Music!