Johnny Cash Album: “Life”

Johnny picked these 18 tracks covering more than 40 years of his career just before he died. Most fans will already have most of these on original albums remastered on CD. I bought this because it contains two of my favorites that I did not possess, "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" written by Peter LaFarge, which was part of his "Bitter Tears" LP, and "Man in Black." The other picks are pretty darn good as well, from "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" and "Time Changes Everything" to "Where Did We Go Right" and "These Are My People." Few of these personal choices were hits on their own, but "Ira Hayes" was, and ought to be considered for reissue as a radio single since a big screen production of "Flags of Our Fathers" is in the works by Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood. In case you are too young to know what I'm talking about, the real Ira Hayes was one of the flag raisers on Iwo Jima toward the end of World War II, and the new movie will tell the tale of that group of Marines and Navy fighters. Another good song included here is "Wanted Man." If you like Johnny and do not already own all of these tracks, put this one on your "Wanted CD" list. You won't be sorry.

That alone would make this album touching. What makes it especially meaningful is that Cash sings these songs, wrote many of them...and lived most of them.

This album is, of course, all about life. He sings the praises of country life on "Country Trash" and "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town"; puts Jesus before all of Hollywood's best (some people today wouldn't do that) on "I Talk to Jesus Every Day"; sings his eternal love of June on "You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven"; stands up for the downtrodden on "These Are My People," "The Ballad of Ira Hayes," and the autobiographical "Man in Black"; sings of reform and redemption on "I Wish I Was Crazy Again" (with Waylon) and "I'm Alright Now"; speaks for outlaws everywhere on "Wanted Man"; and tells one of the most touching and lasting patriotic stories on "Ragged Old Flag".

Johnny Cash was--is--a legend. LIFE is a collection of songs chosen by him, to describe not only his life, but the life of his listeners, as well. Johnny Cash was a common man singing to common men everywhere. You could think of this album as a eulogy, of sorts; but then, with a legacy as great as the one he left behind, it's safe to say that Johnny Cash will never die.

Over and over you will hear how "bigger than life" Johnny Cash was. And for sure he was one of the greatest singers ....ever. Everyone knows a Johnny Cash song, and there are too many we don't know.

Tthe first country song that left its impression on me was "I Walk the Line". It was that first 15-20 second-intro that did it for many who listened to the man with the voice. That song, and many of his others that followed got airtime on rock and roll stations. And it was that song that I will never tire of, but it is not on the CD.

The musical selections reflect various stages in his career. Many of these have not been played often and they provide a refreshing sound.

You will hear the music about his early home life like "Suppertime"; "Country Trash"; "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" to the inspirational "I Talk to Jesus Everyday"; and "Nearest Thing to Heaven" and those where he stood for some cause, "Man In Black" or storytelling about an Indian man, "Ballad of Ira Hayes". A couple of songs feature his longtime colleague, Waylon Jennings while June Carter appears also.

Johnny Cash always had something to say in his music, and if he didn't write it, he sure picked them good!

There are many songs here that are new to me. And if you have just discovered the greatest country singer and storyteller with the most unique deep voice, this CD is a great start....MzRizz

I've ordered probably close to 50 Johnny Cash, Johnny and June, and The Highwaymen CDs. I'm addicted to J.R.C. And I've not heard a bad CD yet.

The world of popular music in the late 20th century was filled with troubadour singers, whose songs can be a soundtrack to our lives. The best of them, like Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen, wrote songs that transcend any genre and become immortal. Johnny Cash's genius was not in his songwriting - it was in his voice.

When Johnny Cash sings, it is the very voice that hits you - not that the songs don't matter, but they are vehicle through which Cash shares his soul with us. Cash's voice has a way of coming across to you, whether you're young or old, believer or disbeliever, American or not. Cash doesn't have to shy away or to transcend country music, he's so natural with it, that what may sound as a terrible cliche coming from anyone else, is genuine when sang by the Man in Black.

I'm not sure whether 'Life', a compilation chosen by Cash himself is the best representation of his work, or the best introduction. It contains its share of misses. "I wish I was crazy again" is melodramatic and musically dull; "These Are My People" and "Ragged Old Flag" are slight, patriotic songs. "Suppertime" and "I talk to Jesus every day" won't win any awards, either.

But the compilation does contain some of Cash's best, and some of his best known, songs. "Man in Black" is an ultimate protest song, one that manages to speak about society and about Cash himself. "Country Trash" and "Oney" are hilarious tracks celebrating the everyman's life, "You're the nearest thing to heaven" is a love song for his wife, the late June Carter, and "The Night Hank Williams Came to Town" is an equally powerful tribute to American music.

My favorite little gem, though, is the Gospel infused "I'm Alright Now". "I've been driving on the devil's train but I got off somehow" Cash sings, and you know that he did.

Goodbye, Johnny, you'll be missed.