Music Review: Johnny Cash: Classic Cash

This Johnny Cash CD was produced in 1988, so that gives you somewhat an idea of what songs are included.  The Cash songs I like best are "Get Rhythm". "I Walk the Line" and Ring of Fire".  These songs can keep your blood going.

Music Review: Christmas with Johnny Cash

Christmas with Johnny Cash, 2003

This was some beautiful songs with Johnny Cash’s baritone voice.  The only problems is his is backed by a women’s chorus, and at time they take the melody.  It doesn’t work as well.  A very special presentation is “The Christmas Guest.”  This is a retelling of “The Shoe Maker” as he waits for the Lord to visit him.  He provides service to those in need, and later discovers they represented Christ.   This is a story told by Johnny Cash with musical background.  Cash’s voice has a very special quality to tell a story.  “The Gifts they gave” talks of the gifts given by the animals in the manger, who gave their hay and their place of comfort for the new-born babe.  “Merry Christmas Mary” is a thank you song to Mary the mother of Baby Jesus.  “Silent Night” was so special I couldn’t help myself from singing along, and then singing it over trying to imitate Cash’s voice.

Music Review: Johnny Cash: Live at Montreux

This is a music video of a Johnny Cash concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and is the second largest jazz festival in the world.  This set presents Johnny Cash at his best, and also includes his wife June Carter as well as his son John Carter.  Of particular note and my favorites are "Get Rhythm" "Ring of Fire" "I Walk the Line" "Let the train Blow the Whistle" and "Jackson."  There is plenty of music here to keep you happy and the Man in Black is at his best.  You can read of the Johnny cash and June Carter story in the movie "I Walk the Line."

TV Review: John Wayne Special: Swing Out, Sweet Land

This T.V. special has been released on DVD as John Wayne's Tribute to America.  This version was presented on 1970 an NBC television.  This is John Wayne in a different type of a role, as the M.C. for a patriotic presentation.  This T.V. special has a myriad of actors doing musical and comedy sketches.  There is Red Skelton playing a newspaperman with Tom Smothers.  Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Dick Martin and Dan Rowan, Dan Blocker, Lorne Green, Michael Landon, William Shatner, and many more.  Some special music from Johnny Cash "Ribbon of Steel" Roy Clark "Oh Sussanah" Glen Campbell "This is a Great Country" and Leslie Uggams singing "Clementine."  A couple groupp songs fell a bit flat.  They actually sang the Declaration of Indipendence, and it got a bit boring.  However the high light of the presentation was the last number, "God Bless America."  Many of the actors sang a line.  It was terrific and very emotional. 

Movie Review: ****I Walk the Line

I Walk the Line I also found in our personal DVDs.  It is the story of Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix) and June Carter (Reese Witherspoon).  I assume the actors are singing the songs in the movie, and do an admirable job.  I get carried away by the music, but more so by the characters of John Cash and June Carter.  John Cash was tormented by a poor relationship with his father, and by the death of his older brother in an accident with a saw. I guess this combined with the stress of his career lead to drug addiction.  Another consequence of his lifestyle was the dissolving of his marriage.  June is instrumental in helping overcome drugs for a period, and following his being sober for six months they become engaged.  Drug addiction was a lifelong struggle for Johnny Cash, and the movie portrays the consequences drugs can have.