I could listen to him 24 hours a day. I do not consider him a country music artist. Without “pigeon-holing” him, I choose to think he spans both country and folk. Guess I just “pigeon-holed” him anyway didn’t I?
What I mean to say is that with that deep voice of his, he makes me feel like I’m what he’s singing about or the guy doing the singing. Where do you put that in the genre of music? And it’s such simple music, too.
If you’ve never heard him, then listen. If you have, I need explain no further. God bless Johnny Cash…
Yeah, Johnny’s one of the few “country” guys I have to respect. Its too bad he doesn’t get much air play any more. I have to point out that I live not too far from where he lives, and you never hear his stuff on the radio anymore! (Not that I listen to the country stations, but trust me, in Nashville, you know what’s on all the country stations without ever having to listen to them!)
Oh lord, please spare me that one. I love the man, but this sounded like a parody to me.
But I loved his collaboration with U2. “They say they want the kingdom, but they don’t want God in it,” is one of my favorite lines to quote.
His latest stuff on American Records is just awesome. Just his voice and a guitar, or a few instruments thrown in. “That Lucky Sun (Rollin’ Round Heaven All Day)” is a beautiful piece of work.
One time, I was in Borders when a song over the PA caught my attention. I couldn’t quite hear the words, but eventually I understood that it was JC singing. There was something in the voice, the phrasing, the world weariness that made me stop in the middle of the busy store, and all I wanted to do at that moment was get inside that song and HEAR it.
Later, I tracked it down. It was “Mercy Seat,” and it knocked me on my ass hearing it in full.
(Also fun to hear are his sessions with Bob Dylan back in the '60s. JC’s presence and phrasing just rang rings around Bobby, even doing something as simple as “You Are My Sunshine.”)
The first album I bought was a Johnny Cash collection…I always admired his music and I finally got some cd’s this year…it’s all timeless stuff, and he has the voice of authority. Johnny is an uncompromised original, and you can tell that he stands behind his convictions because his daughter Roseanne is the same…Thank you for the music, Johnny…
My uncle and I have this sort of competition, where we send each other CDs as sort of back-handed comments on each others taste in music. I think he’s winning, though, because the stuff he’s sending me is usually so freakin’ good. Johnny Cash was his latest salvo, but before that he fixed me up with Miles Davis, Ray Price, and Screaming Jay Hawkins.
I now maintain that Johnny Cash can’t be country and western, because I like Johnny Cash.
I have a long relationship with Johnny Cash’s music.
My half-brother’s father (got that?) listened to him non-stop. I thought he was the coolest and so was anyone who listened to him.
To me he’s just bad-ass, I believe every lyric he sings is somehow based in real experience and, if it isn’t, then he’s a hell of a story teller.
Yeah…I would say he was probably the single most influential musician of “rockabilly” that spawned the likes of The Cramps, The Reverend Horton Heat and The Flametrick Subs.
Ha ha. everybody, hippies and all, loved that song (story). Thanks, Bill H, I’d forgotten it.
Here, for the enjoyment of those interested, are the lyrics; http://www.toptown.com/hp/66/onepiece.htm
Peace,
mangeorge
I love Johnny Cash!! Thanks for the link mangeorge! I had to go listen to “Rusty Cage” I wasn’t aware he’d done that.
One of my favorites:
“Because your mine, I walk the line”
