Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Review: Latest Johnny Cash CD, "Personal File"

I blogged about Johnny Cash's Personal File when I heard news about its release a few months ago.

Thanks to the film Walk the Line, the Man in Black is black-hot again. So it's natural to assume that this Sony release is an attempt by the label and the Cash estate to rake in easy bucks on the wave of Cash's renewed popularity.

I don't believe that's the case, late in his life, Cash's career was on an upswing thanks to the Rick Rubin-produced American Recordings.

However, with "Personal File," those expecting to hear finely-tuned production gems with horns such as "Ring of Fire" may be disappointed with this release. These home-studio sessions, recorded between 1973 and 1982, sound professional-produced--because they were, but it's just Johnny and an acoustic guitar. So if you like the "American Recordings," as well as the outtake edition of those sessions, Unearthed , then this album is for you.

"Personal File" is a two-CD set. The first CD is dominated by songs that influenced Cash while he was growing up in Arkansas, such as "When I Stop Dreaming," written by the Louvin Brothers, "Drink to Me with Thine Own Eyes," was sung by Cash at a graduation ceremony while he was still in high school. "Far Away Places" was sung as a child, as Cash explains as he introduces the song, at what may have been his first public performance--a talent show in Blytheville, Arkansas. He received two votes.

Many of the songs on both discs have spoken-word introductions, such as what Cash did on Ride This Train. Like the characters from that concept album, Cash had a compelling life story, so the introductions are not intrusions.

The latter part of disc one has several Cash-penned tunes, as well a couple of covers from later artists such as Doug Kershaw and John Prine.

Disc two consists of religious songs. Cash recorded several gospel albums, but he had to be free of Sam Phillips' Sun Records to do that. Christianity played a big role in the Man in Black's personal and professional life. As for the latter, one of Cash's most popular "secular" albums, Live at San Quentin had three overtly religious songs among the mix of tunes.

Because of the recent hub-bub/furor over The DaVinci Code book and movie, the song "If Jesus Loved a Woman," quickly grabs the listener's attention. Spoiler alert: The woman was Mary Magdalene.

Two Cash-written songs stand out: My favorite is "A Half a Mile a Day," about the slow-but steady destination to heaven, and "Over the Next Hill (We'll be Home). Home means one place in Christianity.

A couple notes--Johnny Cash's American V: A Hundred Highways is set to be released today.

And here's a July 4th present from Lucky Dawg News, Johnny Cash's Ragged Old Flag.

Next review: Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint's The River in Reverse

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