[.ca] Classic Cash

From Amazon.com:
The Man in Black always knows. At least he always sounds like he does. These days he's been Rick Rubinized, covering Soundgarden and Beck and toying with severe production techniques and Cash is all the stronger for it. But this is a late '80s collection of songs Cash made famous many years ago in a context far different from his original intentions. (Horns and synthesizers are hardly the tools of the country music trade). These re-recordings prove he could still breathe life into songs that have followed him his whole career ("Long Black Veil," "Ring of Fire," "Folsom Prison Blues"). --Rob O'Connor

The Purists are Purely Annoying:
I own lots and lots of Johnny Cash, but I always grab this one when I'm heading out the door and hanker for some Classic Cash. No one wants to jam to the dunka dunka rhythms of the sun recordings when theyre barreling down the road, come on! This rawks, good stuff. This is that bridge for the modern ear to some of the best cash songs ever written. If that's wrong, then I don't ever want to be right.

I Love Johnny Cash, But I Hate Re-Makes!:
I want the ORIGINAL recordings, that I grew up with -- not re-recordings! Gimme the originals! The "Man In Black" series on the Bear Family import label from Germany IS kind of expensive -- but WELL WORTH IT, if you can afford it. GET THE ORIGINALS!!!

I AGREE:
I couldn't agree more with Tim from New York. I myself have many albums of this great performer and he does an excellent job on this one. If you have ever seen him live you would appreciate this album a lot more. Definitely a five star album.

Give it a break.:
I have a couple of dozen Cash albums, I know his originals note by note, and if he ever performs again I'll be buying two tickets - one for the plane and one for the door. And I like these remakes; on several songs, such as "I Got Stripes," "Long Black Veil," and especially "Sunday Morning," he delivers a considerably more powerful performance than he did on the originals, and "Ira Hayes" benefits not only from the new, more nuanced vocals, but also from a more direct and less dated arrangement. And I'll just bet that Cash himself would take exception with any purist manque who told him that his work after leaving Columbia just wasn't up to par with the old stuff. So if anybody's looking at buying this one, sure, be apprised that these aren't the original versions, and that you certainly should check out the originals as well; but these are some ... good remakes, and if you're looking for an intro, this ain't half bad.

A Johnny Cash Update:
Johnny is among my favorite musicians. With his voice and careful delivery of lyrics with a heavily played guitar, I can listen to just about anything he'll sing. Now, to be noted, some of these songs are remakes. That's not a curse, until you are an originals purist. You know that. Give a listen to a few samples and see how they pan out. They work for me. I hope you'll like them too. This isn't the last word on Johnny. It is a good CD to play in your truck on the way to town, or to \oturn\c up in the rec room while playing a bit of pool. "Boy Named Sue" and other aren't on this one. None of his gospel stuff either, but those can be found on other albums. I fully recommend "Classic Cash" by Johnny Cash. Buy it, listen to it, enjoy it, and remember, don't bring your guns to town. Anthony Trendl

• Get Rhythm
• Tennessee Flat Top Box
• Long Black Veil
• Thing Called Love
• I Still Miss Someone
• Cry Cry Cry
• Blue Train
• Sunday Morning Coming Down
• Five Feet High and Rising
• Peace in the Valley
• Don't Take Your Guns to Town
• Home of the Blues
• Guess Things Happen That Way
• I Got Stripes
• I Walk the Line
• Ring of Fire
• Ballad of Ira Hayes
• Ways of a Woman in Love
• Folsom Prison Blues
• Suppertime