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The Essential Johnny Cash [Limited Edition, Original recording remastered]

Johnny CashAudio CD
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (150 customer reviews)

Price: $11.88 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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MP3 Music, 36 Songs, 2002 $11.99  
Audio CD, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered, 2002 $11.88  
Audio Cassette, Limited Edition, Original recording remastered, 2002 --  

Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         


Disc 1:

Samples
Song TitleArtist Time Price
listen  1. Hey PorterJohnny Cash 2:13Album Only
listen  2. Cry Cry CryJohnny Cash 2:23Album Only
listen  3. I Walk The LineJohnny Cash 2:43Album Only
listen  4. Get RhythmJohnny Cash 2:12Album Only
listen  5. There You GoJohnny Cash 2:17Album Only
listen  6. Ballad Of A Teenage Queen (mono)Johnny Cash 2:09Album Only
listen  7. Big River (mono)Johnny Cash 2:30Album Only
listen  8. Guess Things Happen That Way (mono)Johnny Cash 1:49Album Only
listen  9. All Over AgainJohnny Cash 2:12$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen10. Don't Take Your Guns To TownJohnny Cash 3:02$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen11. Five Feet High And RisingJohnny Cash 1:45$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen12. The Rebel-Johnny YumaJohnny Cash 1:52$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen13. Tennessee Flat-Top BoxJohnny Cash 2:58$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen14. I Still Miss SomeoneJohnny Cash 2:34$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen15. Ring Of FireJohnny Cash 2:35$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen16. The Ballad Of Ira HayesJohnny Cash 4:08$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen17. Orange Blossom SpecialJohnny Cash 3:06$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen18. Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)Johnny Cash 3:51$0.99  Buy MP3 


Disc 2:

Samples
Song TitleArtist Time Price
listen  1. It Ain't Me, BabeJohnny Cash (with June Carter Cash) 3:03$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen  2. The One On The Right Is On The LeftJohnny Cash 2:47$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  3. JacksonJohnny Cash with June Carter Cash 2:44$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen  4. Folsom Prison Blues (Live)Johnny Cash 2:42$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen  5. Daddy Sang BassJohnny Cash 2:20$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  6. Girl From The North CountryBob Dylan;Johnny Cash 3:42$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  7. A Boy Named Sue (Live)Johnny Cash 3:46$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen  8. If I Were A CarpenterJune Carter Cash;Johnny Cash 2:59$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen  9. Sunday Morning Coming DownJohnny Cash 4:09$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen10. Flesh And BloodJohnny Cash 2:36$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen11. Man In BlackJohnny Cash 2:52$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen12. Ragged Old FlagJohnny Cash 3:08$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen13. One Piece At A TimeJohnny Cash 4:01$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen14. (Ghost) Riders In The SkyJohnny Cash 3:44$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen15. Song Of The PatriotJohnny Cash;Marty Robbins 3:28$0.99  Buy MP3 
listen16. HighwaymanJohnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings & Kris Kristofferson 3:03$1.29  Buy MP3 
listen17. The Night Hank Williams Came To TownJohnny Cash 3:23Album Only
listen18. The WandererJohnny Cash 4:43Album Only


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I Walk The Line

Biography

Beginning his career as an outlaw to the Nashville establishment, Johnny Cash has come to define country music over the last 40 years. At first, his unique mix of hillbilly music with gospel and blues made him a perfect fit at Sam Phillips' Sun records, where he recorded such classics as "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk The Line." From there, Johnny signed with ... Read more in Amazon's Johnny Cash Store

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Product Details

  • Audio CD (February 12, 2002)
  • Original Release Date: 2002
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Format: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
  • Label: Sony
  • ASIN: B00005Y1M2
  • Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Music
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (150 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,015 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's a great and perhaps impossible challenge to encapsulate the highlights of Johnny Cash's vast musical catalog in a two-CD, 36-song collection like this. Yet, though it barely scratches the surface, 2002's The Essential Johnny Cash--part of a series of compilations and reissues celebrating Cash's 70th birthday--does present three-dozen satisfying and balanced snapshots of some of the Man in Black's most memorable work for the Sun, Columbia, and Mercury labels. Above all else, these 36 selections are wonderful reminders of Cash's rustic eclecticism. Cuts range from '50s Sun rockabilly classics like "Hey Porter" and "I Walk the Line" to '60s country-folk gems like "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" and Cash's memorable duet with Bob Dylan on Dylan's "Girl from the North Country." Also included are more recent samplings of Cash's celebrated collaborations, including "Highwayman," which he recorded in 1984 with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson as part of the on-again, off-again supergroup the Highwaymen, and "The Wanderer," a fervent gospel collaboration with U2 that appeared on the band's 1993 album, Zooropa. --Bob Allen

Product Description

The only 2-CD collection to date to span his entire career, 36 tracks from Hey Porter to his collaboration with U2, The Wanderer . And in between? I Walk the Line; Get Rhythm; Ballad of a Teenage Queen; Big River; Ring of Fire; Guess Things Happen That Way; I Still Miss Someone; Don't Take Your Guns to Town; Daddy Sang Bass; A Boy Named Sue; It Ain't Me, Babe and Jackson with June Carter Cash, and more.

Customer Reviews

Lots of good songs! katiefromiowa  |  17 reviewers made a similar statement
This 2-disc set is great for those who want to have all his "greatest hits." M. Patterson  |  17 reviewers made a similar statement
He was truly a treasure and a credit to American musical artistry. JAG 2.0  |  9 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
257 of 264 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The "early "essential Johnny Cash and a fitting tribute September 18, 2003
Format:Audio CD
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....

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. Read more ›

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115 of 118 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Retrospective September 16, 2003
Format:Audio CD
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 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. Read more ›

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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Complete History, But Still a Winner October 17, 2002
Format:Audio CD
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

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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars 2-CD best-of revisits familiar territory March 15, 2002
Format:Audio CD
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.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Buy it now!!!!
Quality tunes for every collection, a must have, will stand the test of time with catchy hooks and nice rhythms. good buy.
Published 17 days ago by Donovan Markiewicz
4.0 out of 5 stars Cash at his best!
Johnny Cash is one of my favorite artists. You will not be disappointed! Great music for a legendary artist! YAY!!
Published 25 days ago by JW_Nerd
5.0 out of 5 stars The "Man"
This is a good collection, can't think of any songs they should've included. Well recorded/remastered. Brings back a lot of memories.
Published 1 month ago by J. Holmes
4.0 out of 5 stars Great bargain
This 2 disc CD has most of the Johnny Cash hits I wanted - suposedly this was a used CD, but it played perfectly.
Published 1 month ago by pattyn
5.0 out of 5 stars Great album!
Great album! A must for any Johnny Cash fan. I think you will enjoy every song on this album. Great sound quality.
Published 1 month ago by Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars The man in black ROCKS!!
I have always loved Johnny Cash's music and this collection is best I have ever owned.It contains songs I haven't heard in years. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephen M. Dryden
3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
I liked the selection of songs. The quality of the recording is excellent. I was satisfied that I had chosen this collection of Johnny Cash songs.
Published 2 months ago by DR HOWARD
5.0 out of 5 stars All the popular hits!
This Cd contains the "Must Have" hits for everyone. If you are a Johnny Cash fan, you need this CD. Great sound.
Published 2 months ago by James Knecht
5.0 out of 5 stars Young Johnny Cash Fan
This CD is EXACTLY what I need to expand my Johnny Cash music collection when starting from scratch, but I don't need all of his albums. I just need the good Johnny Cash songs. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kathleen M Holmes
3.0 out of 5 stars johnny cash
new cd sounds great but poor packikng left the jewell case cracked a b c d e f g h
Published 2 months ago by Steve R. Hartman
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JC and RO
Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings were roomates for awhile. I think it was in 1969.
May 19, 2011 by Terri |  See all 2 posts
Censored?
I don't know if it's censored on this album but if you get the At San Quentin album, it's uncensored on there. Even the single disc one...
May 14, 2009 by Joshua Francis |  See all 2 posts
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