New album by Johnny Cash (American V)

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 6:35 pm

Well I have to respectfully disagree with Steven statement re' Lightfoot. After all, he wrote the song and plus he wrote it when he was a young man. He deserves te credit for that - for the words, the thoughts and the really terrific melody. He was known as 'the melody-maker from Canada' with good reason.
Johnny Cash's version is one of a man close to death whose partner of 35 years has recently passed away. So definitely he brings out a pathos in the song that only a person in his position can. He is almost speaking or whispering the words while maintaining the basic melodic structure.
Yes I do have the album now....its impossible not to love this album. The song selection and understated arrangements (without being one dimensional at all) are outstanding. And you can feel the integrity and emotion in Cash's voice.

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 11:16 pm

Hi Kush,

We're probably not in major disagreement; what you rightfully said of
Gordon Lightfoot, were the reasons that I said that no disrespect
to him was intended by my post.

That Johnny Cash was able to transfer those feelings into the song-based
reflections of a "young man," so effectively, is testament to artistry
and willingness to hold and present emotions -- the latter, qualities tender
and brave. I very much like Gordon's original take on it. My one
listening to Johnny's take on it, seems to reframe the meaning so
dramatically, though, that I don't think that Lightfoot as a young man
could have anticipated the direction that Johnny took it. (Nor should
he have been expected to.) The basic melodic structure maintained,
as you noted, and certainly the words themselves provided the
armature for what Johnny gave voice to. -- That this is so, is
credit to the both of them. (I just came home with the CD and
hope to hear it tonight or tomorrow.)

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:10 am

Hi Steven...its the same with Further Up on the Road I think. Cash is able to bring out something in the song just by being who he is in the position that he is.
A happily married Bruce Springsteen with 3 kids and in the prime of his life singing with the greatest rock band ever (in my hopelessly biased opinion) about getting ready for death cheerfully to meet his beloved "up the road" doesnt exactly fly the same way as Cash's version. I have begun to appreciate The Rising album more and more recently but did not pay that much attention to that particular song until I heard Cash's version.
And this is the first Cash album I have liked in a long time. I have the first volume of American Recordings and there are some great songs on it but I didnt really get into it as a whole album.
In the latest album I think the song selection is what makes it so great given Johnny Cash's situation at the time of the recording.

linda_lakeside · Post by **linda_lakeside** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:30 am

Those lines, by Lightfoot have always held a special poignancy for me. He (Lightfoot), has captured in brief phrases, big emotions, it's too bad he doesn't have the same kind of 'delivery' as someone like Cash or Springsteen. Lightfoot is a talented writer, no doubt, but it's often the artist that brings the song alive. Well, like Cash's take on 'Hurt'. I doubt I could have listened long to the Nine Inch Nails version. But, Cash, sure enough, turned those lyrics into his own. We don't doubt for a second that he didn't know what he was signing about.

Yeah. Too bad Gordie doesn't have more of a 'presence'. He has written some truly great stuff. I like also ..and the deep, green forest was too silent to be real.. - if you've ever been in the 'deep green', you know exactly what he's talking about.

Cheers,
Linda.

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:09 pm

Well usually I dont listen to J Cash much and tend to find him a little wooden. I think he found a formula early on with Hey Porter hey porter and pretty much stuck with it his entire career. But this album definitely clicked.

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:49 pm

Yep, Diane... Looks like I'll be spending some more of my designated travel money for this album, too, for the same simple reason you've given ~ reading this thread.

~ Lizzy

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:48 am

Hi Kush,

You are right in that "he found a formula early on with Hey Porter..."
It was a driving rythm thing and other elements that set him apart,
in that regard. I admit to liking the early stuff, but admire far more,
the depth and complexity of his material in his more sober and then sober
years. As you say this album "definitely clicked," I'd be willing to
bet that you'd also like his box set, "Unearthed."

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:58 pm

Steven....Hey Porter, Ring of Fire etc etc are all great songs but they are standard Johnny Cash at some level they sound the same (atleast to my ears).

But we are talking of this album today - and it is a masterpiece. There is no dispute. (with apologies to Andrew McGeever for hijacking his line)

Shane · Post by **Shane** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:09 am

So are the last four American albums. And the Uneathed set. I really don't see how this one is better than any of the previous American issues.

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:21 am

I'm still waiting for it to appear in shops here, damn.

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:35 am

Hi Shane,

I haven't heard all of the American albums. This one, though,
I think is better than at least one of the others that I have, i.m.o.
But NO, I don't think that this is better than the Unearthed set.
Now, that is an outstanding collection. And it does have two,
count em two, versions of "Bird On A Wire."

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:39 am

Hi Tom,

Is it easy to get many American issued C.D.s in shops in your
country?

tomsakic · Post by **tomsakic** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:32 am

It is, Steven, Lost Highway is regularly distributed here by Aquarius Records (local EMI company). It just knows to happen that new release needs week or two to reach the shops. Because our distributors are lazy and ignorants, they're taking care only that new MTV hits and similar stuff, and they don't care because they have all their EMI bestsellers. But Lost Highway is completely available (even Tift Merrit, yeah!). The bigger problem are Rounder, Drowned in Sound and Glitterhouse. Their distributor (Dancing Bear, local Warner company) orders CDs from them once in two year, caring only about Warner labels, so I am forced to buy Martha Wainwright and Linda Thompson and Teddy Thompson and similar artists from cdbaby or Amazon.

American V appeared on Tuesday afternoon, just after my post above (thanks to those offering to send the CD:-). And yes, it is good (three songs are outstanding: Cash's own I Came To Believe, and Springsteen and Hank Williams covers, and the song from which the title A Hundred Highways is taken out), but it's not better than American III and IV I must say.

I indulged myself today with Bob's Shot of Love. Yeah, I need the shot of love

Now, only Saved, and I'll have the complete quartet of albums. It's still my favourite Dylan phase. I again learn that Dylan is actually very good, but still way behind Cohen and Waits (This one was for Kush

)

Steven · Post by **Steven** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:34 am

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the reply. I had no idea of the availability of American
releases in your country, but if I would have had to blindly guess,
I would have thought that it would have been more difficult to
obtain them.

You mention Dylan; wish you hadn't because you are tempting me
to go out and buy some more of his music. The Scorcese two part
documentary on Dylan has been shown many times on our local
public television station. I watched it two or three times. It is
as interesting as Dylan as a person is puzzling (very).

Kush · Post by **Kush** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:16 pm

I indulged myself today with Bob's Shot of Love. Yeah, I need the shot of love Now, only Saved, and I'll have the complete quartet of albums. It's still my favourite Dylan phase. I again learn that Dylan is actually very good, but still way behind Cohen and Waits (This one was for Kush )

The world needs a shot of love and a massive transfusion of trust right now, especially in the mid-East.

BTW, you forgot to mention Lucinda Williams. Yeah....LW and Tom Waits are my favorites in fact the two CDs I have (one of each) have a special place all of their own at my home. They make chic ultra-modern coasters.