I have never liked Johnny Cash.
I have a neutral sort of appreciation for him, as in I know his music, but his music will never know me.
Johnny Cash was always country music. If you're from the Midwest, it's common knowledge that you're a follower of one of two philosophies: you're either country all the way or you loathe it. Generally speaking, with a few exceptions that could be thrown into the "follies of youth" department, I'm with the loathers. Ergo, Cash fell into the category of those who shall be loathed. That's just the way it was. Until he died. And then some bright soul at the record company decided it was time to cross market Johnny Cash to the rock and roll set. Because, you know, of course Cash was a big influence on lots of rock and roll acts. Hence you'd better run right out and buy this brand-spankin' new, digitally remastered, retrospective so you too shall know the genius that was Johnny Cash.
Better yet, you'll be able to tell a friend about it, and then they'll rush right out and buy his retrospective, too. And they'll tell another friend, who will tell another friend...
Until it's, reportedly, common knowledge that the Man in Black was always cool.
When he most assuredly wasn't.
Not by a long chalk.
Although, I will admit a fondness for his recording of Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus.
Posted by Kathy at November 21, 2005 02:19 PM | TrackBackWow, do I even know who you are anymore? Johnny Cash isn't cool? Yeah, and apple pies taste like cow pies, Minnesota winters are "refreshingly brisk", and sex is overrated compared to cuddling.
I was born the year Johnny recorded "Live At Folsom Prison", and my dad tells me stories about going to Des Moines in the late 50's, early 60's to see one of his amphetamine-fueled shows at the old KSO theatre. I've got the man imprinted in my psyche, and it feels pretty good. Johnny's always got a place in my CD collection, right alongside U2, the HooDoo Gurus, Robert Cray, and Derek & the Dominos.
Posted by: Russ from Winterset at November 21, 2005 03:07 PMOK, if you want to focus on the "wannabes" being annoying, then I'm OK with that - but let's be clear: anything that's worth anything at all is going to have an infestation of poseurs at sometime or another.
Johnny's five-disc anthology might be currently marketed with an eye towards profits, but his collaboration with the guys from Def American dates to the mid-90's. I purchased all four of his "American Recordings" discs (and The Lovely Janis got his anthology for me as a birthday present) before his death, and I'm very pleased with the product. There is a lot of stuff that makes you say "W.T.F.?" when you first hear the songs (covers of Neal Diamond's "Solitary Man", Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage", and even NIN's "Hurt"), but Johnny manages to make the songs his own using his unique style. Even the rehashes of his own songs have a twist or two ("Give My Love To Rose" from the American Recordings 4 disc is a good example) that gives a new perspective on an old song. And there's no disputing the fact that when Johnny's on, he's DEAD FREAKIN' ON. His cover of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" with the late Joe Strummer of the Clash on the 5-disc set was fantastic, and he's done good work with Nick Cave ("Cindy" from the 5-disc set, and the old Hank Williams tune "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" from American 4), along with a cover of Cave's "The Mercy Seat".
I think you need to sit down with a tall cuppa joe, or a cold bottle of Shiner and listen to a little Johnny. It'll do you a world of good. Please don't think of this as a smackdown; you've got as much of a right to disregard Johnny's music as you do to sprinkle periwinkle paint chips on your banana split - but I hate to see a woman I consider to be a leading arbiter of Sensible Good Taste be wrong about an American legend like The Man in Black.
Now, please don't make me go photoshop a picture of Johnny Cash with a Llama head sticking up from the collar of his black suit. No, I'm serious, please don't make me do it......my photoshop skills are, like, nonexistent. ;)
Posted by: Russ from Winterset at November 21, 2005 06:46 PMMy mum was a huge Johnny Cash fan. I can quote"'Johnny Cash in the Holy Land", I saw him in concert when I was 7. She had his stuff on LP and 8 Track. I have to admit, I like him a lot more than Elvis (another love of my mum's).
Posted by: Ith at November 21, 2005 10:35 PMI hate country music, but...Johnny Cash is most definitely cool. He transcended country. He was awesome, funny, romantic, a rebel and a patriot. I heart Johnny Cash.
Posted by: Paula at November 21, 2005 11:04 PMI spent the better part of the 80's nominating Johnny Cash for Best Metal Artist each and every year in the annual Playboy Music Polls (but maybe that's just me...)
Posted by: LDH at November 22, 2005 10:29 AM