The Essential Johnny Cash

Awesome

Some years ago I heard Johnny Cash on the U2 tune "The Wanderer", and thought he had a wonderful voice and "poise" about him. Unfortunately, it took me until he died and I saw him sing on TV before I bought this album -and I was really impressed!This does not sound at all like "traditional" Country, and in fact, the Nashville music scene agreed with this for years, as they wouldn't play Cash on country music radio -Why?Well, I would say this music sounds like a bluesy/gospely folk music that just didn't fit the mold at the time.So if you are not a big Country Music fan, but you do like blues, gospel, or folk singing, you will very likely enjoy this album.So many of the songs on this double-album are great, that I will only mention my absolute favorite 10 songs (due to space constraints)."Hey Porter" was his breakthrough, and it is a truly fantastic rhythmic/driving song about riding a train and getting closer and closer to his home in Tennessee, and it sets the tone for the rest of the album."I Walk the Line" is his next "hit" and really showcases his deep voice that he became famous for, and I understand became of one Country music's "classic" songs.I really like "Get Rhythm". It is a "popping" song with a great beat, and it just pulls you along. It seems more like a top 40 song that could have very well been sung by Fats Domino in the 50's! -no surprise then that Little Richard covered it on a Johnny Cash Tribute Album."I Guess Things Happen That Way" is such a short poignant piece of music, I am really surprised that it never became a standard at campfires or in movies."Ring of Fire" -his other HUGE country smash -another amazing song -from the introduction of horns (which the Country Music world was dumbfounded by at the time) to the rich deep bass of his voice, it is no wonder this became a classic."Were you There (When they crucified my Lord)" is a true gospel tune with the fantastic female voices that help carry the song along. I'm surprised I haven't heard this before, as it is really good!"Folsom Prison Blues" (live) -another smash hit, and a really cool song. Who else could ever get away with the line "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die"!"A Boy named Sue" (live) -this live version is absolutely fantastic and is sung to an enthusiastic audience who is just eating it up!"Man in Black" -a truly definitive song, that really gives you insight into Cash's character, and shows you why he really was considered a man of the people."The Wanderer" -this was a tune off of U2's Zooropa Album, and it really sounds like an apocalyptic end of the world tune -a fine closer to this album.Though this double set is really impressive, it is way too short to truly measure Cash's career. For those who want more than just this taste, I'd recommend also looking at some of last albums (the "American Recordings" collections -produced by Rick Rubin), or the much longer 3-CD box set (that has more that 25 songs than this 2-cd set), or his seminal live masterpieces "Live at Folsom Prison" and "Live at St. Quentin Prison". I am definitely going to continue my "research"!

This is the best CD I own; not just the best Cash CD, not just the best country music CD, but the best CD, period. Anyone who wants to understand why they're making films about the Man in Black in 2005 needs to listen to this compilation of Johnny Cash's work.If your introduction to Johnny Cash was his rendition of 'Hurt' on his last album, you will be surprised by this album. Hurt was the result of a changed concept of remastering that left Cash's voice sounding more human, and at times more feeble, than at any point during his career. By contrast, the music on the Essential Johnny Cash are the highlights of his early and middle career, and represent his guitar playing and singing style before producer Rick Rubin decided to focus on his vocals.The Essential Johnny Cash contians virtually every major hit he had with Columbia. As a body of work, it shows what he does best - sing songs about the downtrodden, the angry, and the left behind. Cash grew up in poverty (though he was never in prison) and was able to speak in a language that represented the disenfranchised while still being able to communicate to the upper classes. You aren't going to find a lot of upbeat Johnny Cash songs. You will find songs that represent aspects of what it means to be American and human, so much so that I buy copies of this album for foreigners who want to hear American music.I'm a big fan of country music and of Cash, though I'm not fanatic enough to know every song he ever did. I am sure that all the songs I think of when I think of Johnny Cash - from 'Ballad of a Teenaged Queen' to 'Tennessee Flat-Top Box' - are on here. There's some duets and other experiemental songs, like 'The Wanderer' (with U2) and Girl From the North Country (with Bob Dylan) that I frankly could do without. But that may well be because I want to hear a steel guitar, which is what I think Johnny Cash does best. And these pieces do nothing to take away from the overall impact of this outstanding album.The bottom line is that if you want to get only one Johnny Cash CD (or, in this case, CD set) or one country music CD, this is the one to buy. Like Cash himself, this is something that will stand the test of time.

Most of the best music Johnny Cash put out was picked out and recorded in these Cds. You kind of have to be a Johnny Cash fan to appreciate this set because of his singular voice but it's a great one from the past. For me worth the money.

Great cds. My Mom would play Johnny Cash when we were little while we all cleaned house. Brings back fond memories BUT it didn't make me clean house. Humpf!

I was going to return it because the front cover of the jewel case got cracked in shipment. I just swapped the cover out with and old jewel case I had laying around and kept it.

I love these 2 CDs that have my favorite songs. A great value getting 2 CDs at this low price.

Perfect for the casual fan. I truly enjoy this.