The Real Johnny Cash

Come Along And Ride This Train [BOX SET] ~
Johnny Cash / Audio CD / Released 1994
Our Price: $84.97

The first thing that Johnny Cash wanted to do when he arrived at Sun Records was to sing Gospel music, Sam Philips wouldn't let him. The first thing he did when he went to Columbia was to sing Gospel Music;the second thing he did was to start a history of "Theme Albums" that has never been equaled. The fact that Columbia thought enough of these albums to savor the taste in a complete box set of the titles is a credit to their accomplishments. They were never critically acclaimed, but his True Fans loved them.

The first, of course, was "Ride This Train". A make believe journey through the country on an imaginary train, with several stops along the way to examine what history had to offer for characters and for scenery.

"Come Along and Ride This Train", "Loading Coal", and even "Papa played the Dobro", all reflect an image of character and ability which Cash, as an historical writer, has projected on the pages of our minds. They've combined it with his second adventure album concerning "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer", "Casey Jones", "Nine Pound Hammer", "Busted", to say the least. This CD is a true reflection of a long trip through history using music as a "method for his madness".

The second selection, coming from the "Ballads of the True West" edition,
Truly represents the historical features of Cash's love of the old west.
Songs of the pioneers expressing their hopes, what happens at Boot Hill, why was Mr. Garfield shot down and by whom; remember "Johnny Reb", the true saga of the Civil War, to the offbeat comedy of "25 Minutes to Go".


The third selection appears to combine the Indian theme of "Bitter Tears" with his much later "America" where some duplication occurs with the Ballads of the True West record. Who can forget "Ira Hayes", American hero at Iwo Jima who ending up a drunk back in America and drowned in a ditch. Here, John examines the relationships between the original Americans and those that came from elsewhere to steal and abuse the land.
He sings of "Custer split his men, well, he won't do that again", and many other episodes of historical importance in America. He sings of the battles and travels through the old west, "The Battle of New Orleans", and Kentucky.

The next CD, from the "From Sea To Shining Sea" recording allows Cash to travel through the Southern States and enjoy the sites and sounds where he came from, where he went and where he will continue to go.

This package contains 105 tracks of pure musical history. Packaged by the people at Bear Family complete with booklet and four CD's. More than any other collection of his work, this package reflects what Johnny Cash was, and what he represents to his fans and to his music. This is another Cadillac produced by The Bear Family. It's a must for anyone interested in John Cash the man and his music.

I myself have every record, but not with the same quality that CD brings.