Customer Reviews

Vh1 Storytellers

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of those intimate, legendary concerts that people dream of attending. And while you probably weren't there, you will at least FEEL like you were there, as you listen to this CD--all the songs, all the anecdotes, all the banter...it's captured on VH1 STORYTELLERS, one of the best CDs you could ever hope to purchase.

How good is this album? Well, if the 5-star rating wasn't evidence enough, and if the presence of two of the best singer/songwriters ever isn't enough, the how about a recap of the album's highlights: namely, all fifteen tracks. Two voices, two guitars...songs such as "Ghost Riders in the Sky" and "Funny How Time Slips Away" are given new life, with other classics (such as "Crazy," "Always on My Mind," "Folsom Prison Blues," "Don't Take Your Guns to Town," and "Me and Paul") revitalized and sounding as sweet as ever. Cash's haunting Vietnam-era track "Drive On" blends in perfectly with Willie's autobiographical "Me and Paul"--two songs of different subjects, with different atmospheres, blending together because they are performed by two friends.

Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson are the best music can get, and they're on one album. Can you resist? Probably. But why the heck would you want to?

When former Kinks frontman Ray Davies published his autobiography "X-Ray", he went on tour, playing intimate club dates, reading excerpts from the book, and telling stories about his songs and his career.
VH-1 saw the potential in that format, borrowing it for their "Storyteller" series, and while it never matched the succes of MTV's "Unplugged" concept, it did produce a few minor gems, including this CD.

The two ageing singer/singwriters clearly enjoy each others' company, telling wry anecdotes.
"We got water...coffee...and hot chocolate! What's gonna happen to our image?" muses 64-year-old Willie Nelson, and 66-year old Johnny Cash replies: "As long as we keep wearin' black, I think we might be alright!"
They don't reveal too much personal information, often talking to each other more than to the audience, but the atmosphere is nice and relaxed, making for a very pleasant listen.

The two musicians are alone on the stage with their acoustic guitars, playing warm versions of several classic tunes, including a beautiful "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" with an excellent solo by Willie Nelson, a potent "Folsom Prison Blues", a soulful rendition of the Willie Nelson-penned "Crazy", and the early classic "Me And Paul".
And we also get to hear "On The Road Again", "Funny How Time Slips Away", "Always On My Mind", "I Still Miss Someone", and a few lesser-known songs, like the fine "Worried Man". All good.

All in all, this is a welcome supplement to the catalogue of both men. Not an all-time classic, perhaps, but a really good listen nonetheless.

I've seen Willie give a live 3 hour tour-de-force performance though I wasn't able to witness Johnny in performance before his passing. The song selections here are very good...nearly every one a classic of Cash's, Nelson's, or a country standard that one (or both) have recorded.

What you get here is unvarnished...a guitar pull format. Cash, Nelson, and their acoustics....that's it. Both of them have released better albums than this one on their own (FOLSOM PRISON and STARDUST to mention two..) so those saying it's the "best I've ever heard" need to listen to more music. Nonetheless, bits of this are fabulous and it's a historic pairing of two of the finest artists ever.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Cash tears into his "Don't Take your Guns to Town" and Willie adds a whispered harmony to the choruses as pride proves literally to be a deadly sin to young Bill. Willie turns in lovely versions of "Funny How Time Slips Away" and "Crazy" ('I was gonna call it 'Stu-pid' but it wasn't as euphonious...'). There's some fine picking in "Night Life" after he commands "Listen to what the blues they're playing" (I'm not sure if Cash or Nelson's responsible..). Cash reclaims the power of "Unchained" (this was recorded shortly after his 2nd American Records album but is probably a bit overproduced on that disc) in a deliberate reading that imbues it with subtle grace. He also turns in a charging "Folsom Prison Blues". They close with a sentimental take on Willie's "On the Road Again".

LOWS:
The disc starts a bit tentatively.(nervous laughter from Cash about "well, that's ONE down" after "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky") Luckily, by the time they get to "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" he appears to have calmed down. I felt that "Family Bible" felt a bit flaccid on Cash's part, especially since he usually has a great affinity for gospel material. "Worried Man" just isn't as good a song as the other material here (this is NOT the "Worried Man Blues" Cash wrote with Bob Dylan. It's a later tune he wrote with June in Jamaica.)

BOTTOM LINE:
Fans of either Cash or Nelson should find plenty here to love and the relaxed banter between the two (at one point Willie wonders if it will ruin their image that the beverages for the pair are 'water, coffee, or hot chocolate'. Cash opines that if they keep wearing black, they should be alright.) is charming. It's the closest you'll ever get to a private concert with the pair.

The songs performed on this CD are a joy to listen to, but what gives this CD that extra little boost to lift it even higher is the great back-and-forth banter and storytelling going on between Johnny and Willie. The casual ease with which that flows gives extra depth to the music.

On a scale of 1-5, this album deserves 10 stars. You've got two musical legends hanging out, playing guitar, shootin' the s**t, playing some of their favorite songs. You can't beat that. I can't possibly pick a favorite song; they're all excellent. Nelson clear voice are Cash's low rumble are a transcendent pair. Just buy this album -- it's worth every penny.

Just went over all the reviews. Hardly a bad word to be heard. You won't get one here either. This CD just gets better with each listening. Producer Rick Rubin's gift for making stripped down music works again. He produced all John's records from 1993 until John's death. It was one of the best producer/artist teams ever. On this CD, starting with "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" right up 'till "On The Road Again," all cuts flow smoothly. Intimate? Spin this CD in your rec. room and you'll think John and Willie came over for coffee, sang some songs, said they had a ball and left. Play it in the car and it's like they came along for a ride. It's a great recording. It's highly recommended. Enjoy!

This is real music. I don't just mean the genre, which is warm folk-country; no, this are two genuine artists and friends sitting down with their guitars and singing songs they love, swapping stories and jokes, and enjoying one another's company. That there is an audience seated in the room seems almost superfluous, because it really feels like Johnny and Willie are in the room with you. Every song here is a revelation...the presentation is filled with great joy, tinged with just a hint of sadness. The majesty and frailty of age informs each song with a poignancy that is not maudlin, but adds a rich patina of meaning to every word. Hearing these two titans swap lines on "Worried Man" or "Ghost Riders in the Sky" is about as close to country music nirvana as it gets. Imagine listening to the faces of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson on Mount Rushmore sing a duet and laugh at each other's jokes...in terms of musical significance, that's what this experience is. Johnny and Waylon and Elvis and Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles and Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette and so many others have passed. We still have Willie and George Jones and Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynne around...appreciate them while you can, because when they pass, we will never see the likes of them again.

From the day I bought this cd, I've listened to it over and over. I have oer 200 cd's and this one is one of the best. The magic and energy that flows between Willie and Johnny is incredible. It's really neat to see two icons, as well as close friends, of country music sit down with their acoustics and play the songs they made famous. They feed off each other and provide the listener with one heck of a concert. It's an awesome cd.

Buy this album now!!!! I've listened to it so many times and still love it. This is such a soul-full recording. Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson have the greatest chemistry, and both are excellent storytellers. It is great to learn the inspiration behind each song.
By the way, I do not consider myself a country music fan, but I appreciate the great poetry these two artists bring to music. This is a timeless album for everyone.

This CD is excellent. Fans of either or both legendary performers will find this CD to be very enjoyable.

Every Johnny Cash song has a story behind it. We can thank the Irish song "Clancy Lowered the Boom" for Cash's song "Don't Take Your Guns to Town". Also, the story Cash tells for Folsom Prison Blues is right in line with how the movie "Walk the Line" tells the story. Willie makes it possible for Cash to perform Folsom Prison Blues at this show because he performs the two 25 second guitar arrangements the in the song. Johnny's incredible baritone voice is as rich and full as ever and you will love it here.

We all know Willie Nelson's songs, the unique sound of his guitar and his voice. This CD also tells you how funny he is. He has a sarcastic humor that will make you laugh. He is witty and just flat out humorous on this CD. Like so many other products of his work, this CD shows why he is the real legend that he is. It shows we can enjoy him with or without a band because he has such a broad ability with his guitar. Willie is just a joy to listen to no matter what is going on around him.

This CD brings together the music, talent, history and spirit of the two men because there is no band to go along with their talent and ability. It's just the two legends with guitars, singing to a small audience. Because of that, this CD helps you appreciate them as well as enjoy them.