Johnny Cash - The Best Of (CBS compilation, 1988) If you're old fashioned like me and still buy cd's, and you want a good introduction to Johnny Cash, this is it. It was reissued in 1995 with a different cover, which can be seen in the second picture. The track list is included in picture three. All songs are excellent quality studio versions, apart from three live recordings: 'A boy named Sue', 'San Quentin' & 'Folsom Prison Blues'. 'I Walk The Line" is from the 1970 movie soundtrack album, and is the best studio version in my view. What I like about this album is that it has a consistent sound, as if all songs were recorded during the same session (although they were recorded between 1958 and 1979). There are no songs from his Sun period or from the American Recordings albums (which didn't exist at the time this compilation was conceived). This was my first Johnny Cash album ever and it's still a classic in my collection.
Johnny Cash 2cd ("Essential collection", Penny label, Newsound Ltd company - 1996) A very rare double album, consisting of the "Portrait of Johnny Cash" album, and, on the second disc, the "Live in Poland 1987" album also discussed below. The first disc consists of rare early live recordings, my favourite of which were recorded on the Star Route USA in 1961 ( 'Big River', 'Pickin' Time', 'Cry, Cry, Cry', 'Five Feet High and Rising' and 'I Got Stripes'). Other highlights are 'There You Go' on the Ranch Party in 1958 and a live performance of the instrumental 'Bandana' (about 1960). The sound quality is not superb, but it's still very enjoyable. The second disc, as mentioned, will be reviewed below.
Johnny Cash - Famous Country Music Makers (Live in Poland 1987) Apart from Folsom Prison and San Quentin, this is one of the few Cash live albums that I can listen to in their entirety without getting bored. It was recorded in August 1987 at the Sopoty festival in Danzig, Poland. It can be found on Youtube and it has been available on cd in various forms, including a "Ring of Fire" live album. The setlist is top notch, as nearly all songs are classics from his early, pre-1970 period. Some songs are performed so well that I think they are the best versions Cash ever recorded, ('City of New Orleans', 'Rock Island line', 'The Wall', 'Long Black Veil', 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' and 'Highwayman'). Not included on the "Famous Country Music Makers" release, sadly, are 'These hands' and the aforementioned 'The wall'. Those songs can be found on other releases, which are harder to find (e.g. Newsound double album reviewed above). Some songs which I normally don't like, such as 'I Still Miss Someone' and 'Sunday Morning Coming Down', become a pleasure to listen to on this album because of Earle Poole Ball's excellent piano solo's. This is a live album featuring an ageing Johnny Cash at a late stage in his career, with the Great Eighties Eight as backing band. The style is more relaxed than on his raucous prison albums from the 1960's, but Marty Stuart's lead guitar and Earle Poole Ball's piano are welcome additions to Cash's sound.
Johnny Cash - More of Old Golden Throat (1969) This is a hidden gem in the Johnny Cash discography if there ever was one. Not to be confused with the Old Golden throat album (1968). The 1969 'More ...' album was only released in the UK and consisted of previously released singles. It was never re-released on cd. Most of the songs are absolutely first-class, including three of the four instrumentals ('Wabash Blues' being the weakest of the four). Other favourites of mine are 'Bottom of the Mountain', 'Time and time again' and 'Roll Call', which I all discovered on this album and which are now amongst my favourite Cash songs. On this album is a rare version of 'Girl in Saskatoon', with Cash's original, hoarse vocals. He got such negative feedback on his voice on this track that he later re-recorded it. Nearly all versions of 'Girl in Saskatoon' on later compilation albums have those later vocals, but I prefer the original.
1. Bottom of the Mountain "Boa Constrictor" B-side (August 1966) 2. You Beat All I Ever Saw Single A-side (November 1966) 3. Put the Sugar to Bed "You Beat All I Ever Saw" B-side (November 1966) 4. Blues for Two (instrumental) Single A-side (January 1961) 5. Girl in Saskatoon Single A-side (December 1960) 6. Time and Time Again "It Ain't Me, Babe" B-side (October 1964) 7. Jeri and Nina's Melody (instr.) "Blues For Two" B-side (January 1961) 8. Honky Tonk Girl "Second Honeymoon" B-side (June 1960) 9. Locomotive Man "Girl in Saskatoon" B-side (December 1960) 10. Bandana (instrumental) Single A-side (January 1960) 11. Second Honeymoon Single A-side (June 1960) 12. I'll Remember You "Little Drummer Boy" B-side (October 1959) 13. Wabash Blues (instrumental) "Bandana" B-side (January 1960) 14. Lorena "Johnny Yuma EP (1959) 15."Roll Call "Rosanna's Going Wild" B-side (December 1967)
Johnny Cash - John R. Cash (1975) At first sight this album has everything I shy away from: it's a studio album from a low point in Cash's recording career (post-1970) and it doesn't feature the Tennessee Three band, who are an essential part of the Johnny Cash sound. Even Cash himself loathed this album as the songs were chosen by the record company and the instrumentals had been recorded beforehand by session musicians, with Cash having little to say in the matter and merely being instructed to add his vocals afterwards. Somehow, though, it works. This is a good (though not great) studio album and the songs all sound different, catch your attention and they stick in your head. Weak tracks are 'Clean Your Own Tables' and 'Cocaine Carolina'. Definitely worth buying, although it's hard to find. It can be found in the "Complete Columbia Album Collection" or, if you don't intend to sell a kidney, in the "20 Original Albums" box set (2013).
Johnny Cash - Biggest Hits (1982) This is a good compilation of the best tracks on the Gone Girl (1978), Silver (1979), Rockabilly Blues (1980) and The Baron (1981) albums. Not to be confused with the various "16 Biggest Hits" compilation albums. Three tracks are from earlier albums: 'The Ballad of Ira Hayes', 'Flesh and Blood' and 'A Boy Named Sue'. This compilation would have been perfect if they had not included those old hits and instead had opted for the following songs from the aforementioned albums: 'Gone Girl', 'You and Me', (1978) 'Ghost Riders in the Sky' (1979) and 'Without Love' (1980).