The Best of the Johnny Cash Show Review
by Zane Ewton
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"Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." With those four words a country superstar entered American homes for almost three years. Hot on the heels of the critical and commercial success of the Live at Folsom Prison album, Johnny Cash took over television screens with his canyon river voice, 5-feet high and rising pompadour and a host of his legendary friends. In the process he transformed from country star into the iconic Man in Black. An undeniable figure of Americana.
With the quality of music stars Cash brought to his show, the 58 episodes deserve the full release treatment. In the meantime, this best-of collection stands as an outstanding collection of the iconic artists Cash brought to the Ryman in Nashville. Many performers, such as a youthful and at the top of his game Bob Dylan, made their first network television appearance thanks to Cash.
The disc includes top-billing name after name. George Jones, Neil Young, Loretta Lynn, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Charles, Joni Mitchell, Waylon Jennings, Tammy Wynette, Roy Orbison, Merle Haggard, Derek and the Dominoes and of course plenty of Cash and the Carter family.
A documentary hosted by Kristofferson is interspersed between the performances. The heavy-handed documentary can be forgiven when there are performances such as a George Jones medley, Neil Young's "The Needle and the Damage Done" and Cash unveiling "Sunday Morning Coming Down."
A plodding cover of "Ring of Fire" by Ray Charles and the umpteenth version of "Jackson" by Johnny and June could have been left off but certainly don't drag proceedings down much.
In the end, Johnny Cash was the star and his musical tastes and refreshing candidness leap from the television screen. His simple statements of love and faith and his enthusiasm for music made the Johnny Cash Show a rousing success.
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The Best of the Johnny Cash Show
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