Johnny Cash-American V: A Hundred Highways
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 13 July 2006
I 'got' Cash late, only really after seeing 'Walk the Line' and have bought a 'Best of..' and the American Recordings series.
This final collection is sublime. Simple, personal, intimate and un-self conciouslessly melancholic. The sound of a man quietly singing himself into the long dark night, performing his epitaph perhaps. It is the most consistent of the series, and by some distance the best IMHO.
I have genuinely never heard such an affecting album.
Cash fans will surely love it but if you are just curious about Johnny Cash then go buy this one.
Bruce
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by BigH47
I have heard a few tracks of his last album. To be honest I think the one before should have been the last. I thought he sounded really bad and the album serves no purpose as to who he was. IMHO.
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Bruce Woodhouse
I think this final album feels more personal and less like a 'performance', and therefore more authentic.
Unlike most post-mortem collections it seems very consistent too, in both quality and atmosphere.
Each to his own!
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Proggy
I'm shocked at the high quality of this release. For me, it falls right into the middle of the American Recordings pack. I prefer Unchained and The Man Comes Around by a narrow margin, but that doesn't take a thing away from V.
In addition to the strong material, as with earlier American Recordings, the fidelity is top notch.
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Huwge
I find it a humbling book end to an extensive collection of his work. Yes, he was falling apart at the seams - age, illness and grief for June but this puts most popular music to shame.
Hard core.
Huw
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by sjust
quote:
Hard core.
But worth every second. THE most emotionally moving record I've heard for at least a year.
Stefan
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Rasher
I have IV: The Man Comes Around, but I might have to get this.
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Derek Wright
Can you post more info re your recommended Cash CDs - either a link to Amazon or other source or a specific unique ref for the CD
Thanks.
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Huwge
All of the American recordings produced by Rick Rubin are very good.
I have a soft spot for the early Sun recordings and the sets at San Quentin & Folsom prisons. I have other favourite albums, mostly on Columbia and original vinyl.
This This box set summarises his earlier work.
He also enhanced the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the circle be unbroken, vols. 1&2"
Happy listening, even if the emotional content won't always necessarily leave you happy
Huw
Posted on: 13 July 2006 by Bruce Woodhouse
This is a good Cash 'primer' and helped me to decide what era I wanted to explore next. It goes up to and including American IV.
Posted on: 14 July 2006 by Chumpy
IMO they should have stopped releasing American at the 4th.
'Hurt' said it all.
Despite for 1st time in 37 years topping US charts, the often great Johnny Cash should not be extended to American 6 released later in 2006.
Posted on: 14 July 2006 by Derek Wright
Thanks for the links
As an aside
On the Rodney Crowell "Houston Kid" CD Cash sings along with Crowell in "I walk the Line"
Houston KidPosted on: 18 July 2006 by Tim E
Haven't picked up the new Cash yet, but I would also strongly suggest a listen/look at the American box set if you can afford it. It contains (if I recall) a best of the first 3 or 4 american albums and then 3 discs of unreleased material from American sessions. 2/3rds of which are excellent. So really wonderful stuff in there.
Is there anything else out there that can compare to something like this? A lifetime of musical achievement and such an intimate look into someones mind?
Not really a good comparison, but have people discussed the last Loretta Lynn album with Jack White? Good fun from an old country lady.
