Johnny Cash - The Legend of Johnny Cash

Willie Nelson once said that Johnny Cash “transcends all musical boundaries.” Of all the extraordinary feats Cash achieved in his career of five decades, the most remarkable may be how he, as a legend of country music, came to embody all things rock and roll. This retrospective highlights the most notable recordings of Cash’s career and assures that his extraordinary and enigmatic spirit, equal parts rebellion and redemption, will live for generations to come. The producers of this collection masterfully met the unenviable task of attempting to sum up Cash’s greatness on a single disc. Each of the twenty-one tracks included are significant works from the Cash canon and correspond to distinct points on the timeline of his career. All of Cash’s signature hits are represented, and songs like “I Walk the Line,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “A Boy Named Sue,” and “Ring of Fire” remind the listener of the amazing magnetism Cash possessed in his prime. Also present are remarkable collaborations with artists like U2, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Cash’s wife, June Carter, that point to the truth of Nelson’s above-mentioned statement. Thankfully, the compilation not only presents the glory of Cash’s past but also does justice to his most recent work with producer Rick Rubin on American Recordings. His poignant renderings of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” and NIN’s “Hurt” are here along with an early take of his understated gem, “The Man Comes Around” which Cash said he spent more time on than any song he ever wrote. For Cash devotees, this album will not reveal anything new. However, for the one whose first introduction to Johnny Cash was the recent biopic Walk the Line or the one looking for a single reference point to help them uncover the greatness they’ve long heard about, this record more than does the job. [www.johnnycash.com]