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Elly Roberts reviews
Sony/BMG
- Cat.no: 82796942652
- Format: 2-disc CD
- Released: May 2006
- Rating: 10/10+
- Full 49-track listing on Amazon link above
One man: one guitar = masterpiece.
This awesome 49-tracker is from The House of Cash, Johnnys home studio inHendersonville Tennessee. A collection of folk, country and gospel, somecovers and Cash originals, delivered in the simplest of formats.
The ultra-relaxed Cash coasts through the rolling setlist with consummate ease.Its as if hes singing the songs to you you alone. You feel likeclapping after each song: its that personal, though it wasnt intended thatway.
All tracks are previously un-released, which makes a welcomed change from thecompilations of back-catalogue material being thrust upon us. The songs areobviously deeply personal for him in many ways, as he fondly recalls thepoignant moments in his life.
In his deep southern drawl, we get biographical snippets that are more thanlikely not documented, such as the people hes met, worked with, or admired.There are lots of favourites from his formative years and his early career.
Included is the first song he sang in public – Far Away Places.His voice, a quavering barit one, is magnificent throughout. Its at theforefront every time, with the gentle guitar playing rendered to a supportingrole. Every note is tenderly caressed, particularly the gospel songs likeA Half A Mile A Day and Lord Lord Lord.
These songs are Cashsmost intimate sessions, recorded over nine years, between 1973 and 1982 (hiswilderness years) all stashed away in a small vault-like space marked simplyPersonal File. And what a file.
Possibly his finest moments: everyone should have this collection.
The good news? There are lots more that could be released, and not soon enough.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.