The first disc is composed mostly of his Sun Studio rockabilly tunes, which is as close to actual Rock N' Roll as he stepped (he wrote "Get Rhythm" for Elvis, who never recorded it). The second disc draws its strength mostly on gospel and traditional country ballads; sad, somber, sober, and melancholy. It has an overall folk feel to it. The third disc is more eclectic and gives evidence towards Cash's experimental tendencies of the 70's; it really features a little bit of everything, including some choice cuts from his two "prison" live albums.

One VERY important element to consider is Cash's homestate of Arkansas. The people & places documented in his songs are really rooted in Midwestern folklore, not Southern culture (Cash is also the first artist to defiantly speak out about the plight of the American Indians). The influence of blues & folk music on Cash are much more evident than that of other artists who are considered "country". Cash's connection to Springsteen, Dylan and the Stones are all confirmed here with convincing covers of their songs. Believe me, this is essential work for some of you non-believers - because I hate country music, but I love the Man In Black.


Utterly Profound   October 17, 2001
Tome Raider (California, United States)
36 out of 40 found this review helpful

I've known a few Johnny Cash songs throughout the years but I've not been familiar with his entire body of work. I found my way to this box set in a circuitous fashion: It started last year with a Junior Brown concert in West Sacramento. That was my first "country/western" music experience and it blew me away. From Junior I somehow took a step over to Hank Williams. At that point I developed a serious interest in this "type" of music. I've since discovered: Buck Owens, Ernest Tubbs, Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Willie Nelson, and several others that have become immediate favorites. I figured I better pick up some Johnny Cash and learn about his body of work. I decided to go for this set.

Suffice it to say that I listened to this about an hour a day, as I only have one good hour in the evening to listen to music without interuption. It took me about four days to finish all three CD's. I listened to several songs twice to confirm my initial impression. My initial impression grew song by song into my ultimate impression.

Ultimate Impression: This is just simply superb music. I'm amazed at the extremely high quality of virtually every song. The songs have a similar authentic feel to them, but they are still quite diverse in sentiment and subject matter. This is emotionally rich music, epic in scope, non-religious but virtually evangelical in words of wisdom and experience. This is self-improvement music; you become a better person by absorbing the insights poignantly presented. Life-prisoners and Billy Grahams seem to fuse into one common human venture and manifest both their conflicting and common sentiments in an at-peace-with-one's-self musical odyssey. But don't let me imply that Cash's music takes itself seriously or that there is some preachy undertone. Instead, humor is found frequently either in traces or full dosages. The final feel is almost Buddhist: acceptance, of life and circumstance. That is, at least, my interpretation; yours indeed may be quite different.

This is perhaps the only box set I've ever purchased where I felt a little depressed by the end. It was like a nice vacation was ending. Sure, I can always listen to the CD's again, but that first go-through was really a transforming episode. Bear in mind, these views are coming from a guy who has never much appreciated country-type music. My proclivities have always been more toward hard rock. But I certainly have the good sense to recognize brilliance when I hear it. This set goes right up on the same sacred shelf as Abbey Road and Back in Black and Let It Bleed.


I RELIVED MY ADULT LIFE LISTENING TO THIS   July 11, 2001
Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana)
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

I'm a year younger than Johnny Cash, so as I heard one after another of his songs through my life, I could relate in one sense or another to the stage he was going through. And so many of these songs bring back memories of where I was when I first heard them. Others I am hearing for the first time, and these only reinforce my realization of how much he has become part of our culture.

One great advantage of this set is how these songs have been grouped. The first CD consists primarily the singer's rockabilly songs; the second features story telling ballads; and the final one gives us his later work from the two prison albums on through 1980.

I am sharing my listening and my enjoyment of this set with an older friend who was raised in Canada, and this person's enjoyment and appreciation and desire to hear the records over illustrates the universality and agelessness of Cash's appeal. This set is a worthwhile investment for your pleasure.


Like the Man in Black Himself - Priceless   September 18, 2003
A. Wolverton (Crofton, MD United States)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

The man was truly amazing. He had an incredible 50-year musical journey, he redefined country music, and he made some of his best music at the end of his career. There'll never be another like Johnny Cash.

And there's not a better introduction for those new to Cash than this boxed set. If all you've ever heard from Cash is "A Boy Named Sue," "Folsom Prison Blues," and "Jackson," you're in for some serious studies at the University of Cash.

Newcomers will learn quickly that Johnny Cash played country his own way: no steel guitars, no fiddles, no twangy vocals. Just guitars, a bass, and a voice that you just can't forget. Cash had a way of telling it like it is, whether he was singing about country life, Vietnam, the American Indian, love, hate, or God. This is uncomplicated, brutally honest music sung by a legend. Highly recommended.

3 DISCS, 75 CLASSIC SONGS


Brilliant compilation but misleading title   June 13, 2003
Peter Durward Harris (Leicester England)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

The Sun years are well represented (perhaps over-represented) - they occupy over half of the first CD. All the early classics are here, including Hey porter, Cry cry cry, Folsom prison blues, I walk the line, Rock island line and Big river.

Within the Columbia years (which occupy the remainder of this set), the early years are strongly represented and include such classics as I still miss someone, Tennessee flat top box, Five feet high and rising, Don't take your guns to town, The ballad of Ira Hayes and I got stripes.

The mid sixties onwards are generally less well represented and some notable songs have been omitted, including It ain't me babe, The one on the right is on the left, Long legged guitar picking man, A thing called love and I would like to see you again. Many people (including Johnny himself) regard this period as patchy, but Johnny recorded plenty of good music during those years. Of course, these songs and others missing from this set can be found elsewhere, but anybody hoping that this CD would include all his famous songs will be disappointed.

The omission of some obvious songs leaves more room for some superb but very obscure songs. I particularly like Cisco Clifton's filling station - a very sad song about a business that collapsed following the building of a new road that diverted nearly all the traffic away.

Unquestionably, this is a very strong collection of Johnny Cash's music, but if you are sufficiently keen on JC to buy this, you will certainly want more than this to get some of the missing songs. If you only want his famous songs (and you want all the obvious ones), you may find one of the single or double CD's will suit you better.