Johnny Cash Album: “The Legend”

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

"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?

The mind reels at the wealth of Johnny Cash material that has been reissued in the last few years, including multiple passes over his Sun material, expanded editions of original Columbia albums, a double-disc "Essential" set (in addition to the triple-disc "Essential" set of a few years earlier), the thematically drawn triple-disc "Love, God Murder," the quintuple-disc American Recordings "Unearthed," and now this affordable four disc set and it's pricier five-disc collectors edition. That's a lot of Cash!

Like several of the other multi-disc sets, this is a good overview of Cash's career. Organized into four thematic discs, each is a self-contained near-chronological slice of Cash's career: the hits, the deep well of album material, the Americana songbook, and the duets. Discs one through three each follow individual arcs that begin with Cash's days on Sun in the mid-50s and follow through to his work in the '70s and '80s. The duets disc catalogs his work with the revised Carter Family (Mother Maybelle and her daughters) in the early '60s on through to his 2002 memorial to his mother-in-law, "Tears in the Holston River" for the Dirt Band's third "Circle" album.

Those who've purchased one of the earlier box sets may be tempted by the seven previously unreleased tracks ("Doin' My Time" "Never Gonna Roam Again" "When I'm Gray" "I've Been Working on the Railroad" "Down in the Valley" "You Can't Beat Jesus Christ" and "It Takes One to Know Me"), but this set is aimed primarily at those who've yet to explore Cash's enormous catalog. Patrick Carr's liner notes tell Cash's story with some revealing detail, interweaving his life and music into the seamless whole that was his career. Those who need more Cash should look into Bear Family's extensive box sets, or the original album reissues of recent years; those who just want a good helping of the Cash catalog riches will find these four full CDs a good fit. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

When I opened this Christmas gift from 3 grandchildren,I thought I'd heard most of his songs and not only that,I already have many of his records,tapes and CD's;so I thought this would be the same songs,just repackaged again.Boy!,what surprise was in store for me as I started to play them.Sure a lot of the song are familiar and for some reason a lot of them seemed different from how I remember them.

Disc 1 covers the 27 hits and it is great having them all on one disc.

Disc 2 covers old favorites and though I knew most,there were several I don't recall hearing for a long time,or not at all.

Plus there are 3 that are released for the first time.

Disc 3 covers great american songs.Again ,I knew most of these songs;but I don't remember Cash doing them and they are also done by many other artists.However,I think I enjoyed this disc the most because most of the songs here are with Johnny and his guitar and little or no back-up.You tend to feel he is just sitting beside you on the porch and singing to you and himself.The warmth that comes through is fantastic.The next time I listen to this disc,I plan to sit back,turn off the lights and let the music really sink in.

Disc 4 covers family and friends and has a completely different atmosphere than the other three.Like the others,some are familiar,but several were new and there were a couple of new releases.I find this disc really brings out the love Cash had for life and his family.One song,new to me was "Far Side Banks of Jordan.It was recorded in 1976,30 years ago,and you would think it was done only a couple of years befor the passing of Johnny and June...it was uncanny.Another song unfamiliar to me was "Tears In The Holston River" .It is about losing Mother Mayelle in 1978 and Sarah Carter in 1979.When Johnny wrote this song he poured his heart in it and his feelings come through greater than any other song of his that I can think of.This may influenced me so much because I just finished reading "Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone?" by Mark Zwonitzer;a must read for any fan of the Carter and Cash Familys ,see my review of December 2,2005.

A few reviewers suggested that the songs should have been presented in the order in which they were recorded,but I feel that would have missed what the producers were trying to do,and the thing that really gives this set such a great impact.

If I could make a suggestion it would be to try and find the time to listen to the 4 discs without interruption;and by the way you'll need about 4 hours.

Along with the discs we get a wonderful book of very personal photos,most that I've never seen.

If you want a package that covers Johnny's life and music that made him the Legend he was,you'll not find anything to compare,at least up till now.

We all were familiar with Cash for all these years,and as much as we loved him and his music;it is just now beginning to sink in how great this man was and it's unlikely that we will see his likes again.

Let's hope that more of the music that Johnny recorded ,but didn't get released,might come out in the future.

He'd go from singing "Cocaine Blues" to "Daddy Sang Bass" and never bat an eye, and sing both from the very depths of his soul. He'd sing in Folsom Prison and on stage with Billy Graham. So how do you capture him, even in four packed CD's?

You do the best you can-and that's what the producers have done here. The Hits, The Great American Songbook, Old Favorites and New and Family and Friends span the years. Each CD stands alone and at the same time connects to the other three in an unusual way. You go from 1956 to 1995 and you never miss a beat.

It's by no means exhaustive, or even the definitive Cash, but it's a pretty decent slice and a double-helping of the man who defied every attempt to define him, his life or his craft.

The book is very touching, and a fitting tribute. Expect some laughs, some tears, some resonant blues in your gut and rhythm in your toes as you listen to the latest attempt to box The Man in Black.

An entire era died with Johnny and June. CASH The Legend is a great way to remember. I miss 'em bad.