Johnny Cash: Personal File

Elly Roberts reviews

Johnny Cash: Personal File
Distributed by
Sony/BMG

    Cover

  • 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, Johnny’s 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.It’s as if he’s singing the songs to you – you alone. You feel likeclapping after each song: it’s that personal, though it wasn’t 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 he’s 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. It’s 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 Cash’smost intimate sessions, recorded over nine years, between 1973 and 1982 (hiswilderness years) all stashed away in a small vault-like space marked simply‘Personal 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.

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