In the wake of his death in 2003, and with a major biopic hitting theatres later this year, Johnny Cash is as marketable as he ever was over the course of his 47-year career. This was likely the main thrust behind the release of The Legend, a four-disc set that attempts to give the most thorough overview of The Man in Black’s music. Considering the large number of Cash retrospectives out there, that’s a tall order. While The Legend is the only compilation to include songs that span from 1955-2002, it’s also practically bereft of material that would interest the seasoned Cash fanatic – of the 104 tracks, only seven are previously unreleased. Granted, the cover of “I’ve Been Working On The Railroad” is the best rendition I’ve ever heard, but having this expensive set on my shelf would seem kind of silly if I can’t pay my electric bill.
On the other hand, for the newly converted, this set is a treasure trove of priceless Americana. It’s loosely organized in four themes; the first two discs, “Win Place And Show – The Hits” and “Old Favorites And New,” are essentially the same thing, both focusing on his biggest hits. “The Great American Songbook” is the third disc and possibly the most valuable, featuring Cash’s takes on traditional folk songs, fireside sing-a-longs and Hank Williams classics. It’s a wonderful chance to hear a true musical institution exploring his influences and paying tribute to his heroes. While the closing disc, “Family And Friends,” is easily the weakest, it has many fantastic moments, including his playful version of “Jackson” with his wife June Carter and one of the greatest collaborations of the 20th century – Cash’s duet with Bob Dylan on “Girl From The North Country.”
Any compilation can be picked at and criticized until the cows come home, but what it comes down to is this: no matter how you package it or master it, this music is indestructible. Johnny Cash’s voice can be as sweet as molasses, and it can cut like a prison shiv. His band always sounds incredible, without ever stepping on his toes. And you’d be hard pressed to find so many legendary performances in one place, including the timeless hits “I Walk The Line,” “Ring Of Fire” and “Five Feet High And Rising,” as well as lesser-known but equally powerful interpretations of “Goodnight Irene,” “Delia’s Gone” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” Any critic is going to whine about songs that aren’t included (mine are “San Quentin” and “Hurt,” which is missing along with the rest of his Rick Rubin-produced renaissance of the late ‘90s-early ‘00s), but that’s because critics don’t have anything better to do.
Those who have been Cash fans way before Reese Witherspoon had anything to do with his story already have most of the tracks on The Legend – but this isn’t the intended audience. If you’re interested in immersing yourself in the most daring and consistently ingenious superstar in the history of country music (and why wouldn’t you be), this set is your best bet, with one catch. In order to get some serious Cash, you’re going to have to shell out, well, some serious cash.
Appeared in the August 11, 2005, issue of Artvoice.