Search - Johnny Cash :: Legend (W/Book)

Icon, Titan, Sinner, Saint, Legend...the Man in Black

Dr. Emil "Tom" Shuffhausen | Central Gulf Coast | 08/23/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It has been said that if Mt. Rushmore could sing, it would sound like Johnny Cash. He was a living legend, and his status has only grown even greater since his passing. This latest CD box set is perhaps the most definitive, at least of his Columbia years, and it's a doozy.



Spanning 4 discs is pretty much the history of American music in the 20th Century...everything from folk, country, blues, soul, rock, patriotic Americana, gospel, novelty...songs from the mountains and the plains and the factories and the fields and the rivers and all points in between.



Johnny could (and did) take any song and make it his. His voice was that of Everyman, a little battered, a little bruised, a little sad, a little mad, a little bent...but never broken, never quitting, mostly hopeful, and oftentimes smiling that crooked smile. This box set does a masterful job of encompassing all of that, and even offers seven previously unreleased gems, such as "When I'm Gray," "Doin' My Time," and the emotionally resonant and wry "It Takes One to Know Me" (an instant classic).



One hopes that Columbia will continue to release all of the albums in their Cash catalog, especially some of his missing 70s and early 80s work. This box set is a giant step in the right direction, and will be treasured by music fans of all backgrounds and ages. Couple this set with his amazing American Recordings UNEARTHED set (and even his 20th Century Masters single disc) and you have a pretty fair overview of Johnny's life in music."

A Satisfying Study of the Man in Black

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 03/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The 104 tracks on this 4-disc box set goes a long way toward making the case for the impact Johnny Cash has had on music during a nearly fifty-year recording career. If there is a single criticism to be leveled against this collection, it's that there are few songs included after 1986-the year Columbia unceremoniously dropped him from the label. And of those seven songs, none of them are from the string of Rick Rubin-produced albums beginning with 1994's AMERICAN RECORDINGS.



Disc 1, Win Place and Show-The Hits (76:58)



As the title of this disc indicates, these are some of Cash's biggest hits and best known songs, beginning with perhaps his most enduring hit "I Walk the Line" from 1956. This was one of a string of hits Cash had while at Sun (1955-1958) recording with the Tennessee Two (guitarist Luther Perkins and bassist Marshall Grant). Tracks 1-6 are Sun recordings. By late-1958, Cash was signed by Columbia and his popularity only increased. His 1963 Columbia single, "Ring of Fire," went to No. 1 on the country charts (and No. 17 on the pop charts).



Disc 2, Old Favorites and New (77:56)



The thematic groupings of some of these discs are a little puzzling. For example, "Cry, Cry, Cry" and "Tennessee Flat-Top Box" were huge hits; why weren't they on disc one? [Okay, it's a minor complaint.]



Again, there are several Sun recordings (tracks 1-7), including "Hey Porter" and "Get Rhythm."



There are also several tracks that illustrate Cash's willingness to work with material outside the country mainstream. On 1979's "Without Love," Cash returns to his rockabilly roots on the Nick Lowe-penned tune with Lowe on bass and Dave Edmunds on guitar. Cash also turns in a haunting version of Bruce Springsteen's "Highway Patrolman." Equally impressive is the raucous version of Elvis Costello's "The Big Light" (one of two tracks from the 1987 Mercury album JOHNNY CASH IS COMING TO TOWN-the other is "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" on disc four).



In addition, there are three previously unreleased tracks: "Doin' My Time" (1981), "I'm Never Gonna Roam Again" (1980) and "When I'm Gray" (1981). [Note: in the 72-page booklet, the producer says that all the previously unreleased tracks (except "It Takes One To Know Me") were taken from the "House of Cash tapes." This cache of literally hundreds of tapes included demos and outtakes that had never been commercially released. I have read recent articles promising the release of many of these songs, but in the meantime this box set offers a small sampling. All three tracks on disc two are full band recordings.]



Disc 3, The Great American Songbook (71:59)



Like the previous discs, Disc three starts with five Sun tracks, including a couple of Leadbelly songs ("Rock Island Line" and "Goodnight Irene"). Also of note is an alternate take of "Delia's Gone." Moreover, there are two more previously unreleased tracks-"I've Been Working on the Railroad" and "Down in the Valley." On these two demos Cash performs solo accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.



Disc 4, Family and Friends (79:25)



As the title suggests, these are recordings with Cash and special guests. Among the family members he performs with his wife June ("Jackson," "If I Were a Carpenter"), his mother-in-law Maybelle ("Diamonds in the Rough"), his son John Carter ("Who's Gene Autry?"), his daughter Roseanne ("September When It Comes") and his former son-in-law Rodney Crowell ("I Walk the Line (Revisited)").



Friends include Dylan ("Girl from the North Country"), Doc and Merle Watson ("One More Ride"), Ray Charles ("Crazy Old Soldier") and Elvis Costello ("We Ought To Be Ashamed").



There is also a pair of unreleased songs. The first is a toe-tapping duet with Billy Joe Shaver on "You Can't Beat Jesus Christ." The second, "It Takes One To Know Me," closes the set, a song written by Carlene Carter. An attempt was first made by John and June in 1977 to record the song. In 2005, John Carter Cash produced the overdub sessions, including adding a featured vocal turn by Carlene. It's a fitting way to conclude this box set.



There have been dozens of compilations released since Cash's death in 2003, but this is hands-down the most thorough. For longtime and casual fans alike, this is a welcome addition to your music library. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

"

Great set... but does it stand out?

Mark Adams | Redwood Estates, CA United States | 08/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Legend" box set is tremendous, especially considering its offering of seven unreleased songs and several hard to find tracks, but given other recent issues of box sets, what's the point?



Consider that "Love, God, Murder... (and now) Life" was only recently issued, covering Cash's entire career, including the American Recording years, which "The Legend" overlooks.



Also consider that American Recordings issued a five disc set called "Unearthed," offering dozens of unreleased songs, and a "best of" disc of Cash's American songs.



Then there's Columbia's "The Essential Johnny Cash" (2 discs) and "The Essential Johnny Cash, 1955-1983 (3 discs).



I could also mention Sun Records unlimited issues of the Sun years, or the classic Bear Family Records, which is truly remarkable offering two versions of "Delia's Gone" to "Legend's" one.



The market for Cash "best of" sets must be growing thin. I would have vastly preferred having four discs of unreleased Cash material (apparently there's enough unreleased material of dozens of discs).



However, among the better collections of Cash's work, "The Legend" does stand out, offering songs not typically offered in box sets, while not overlooking the classics. If you don't already own a box set or much of Cash's material, this is a good set, though you'll need to buy some American Recordings to round it out. And for avid collectors, well, it does offer some unreleased material and some never-before-issued-on-CD songs.



Still, I am critical of Columbia for issuing yet another, albeit great, collection of Cash songs. Even more appalling is the limited edition of "The Legend" which offers a fifth disc of some very rare material. However, at over $200 for that set, it's simply not worth it.



So, five stars because of the set really is that good, only remember there are several other very good sets, which begs the question, what's the point of issuing another?"