February 26, 2006

Happy birthday Johnny Cash

Today is Johnny Cash’s birthday and the man deserves a nod. This has basically been ‘The Year of Johnny Cash,’ what with the Walk The Line movie and all the pursuant renewed interest in The Man In Black.

So I won’t dwell too much on his history, but just throw a few songs up there that we can all appreciate in his honor today.

First, the simple percussion and gritty epitomization of Cash’s unique style and who he was all comes together to make this a gem of a song. I guess he succeeds in his exhortations to get rhythm because I have to tap my toes when I hear this:

Get Rhythm” – Johnny Cash

Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash did a whole session in Nashville in 1969 of great tunes together. Here is one of my favorites:

Matchbox” (Carl Perkins cover!) – Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan

And this one I am putting up just because it *always* makes me smile to hear the standard, famous introduction to the Live at Folsom Prison recording, probably one of my favorite Cash CDs: “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” Just something about the way he says it encapsulates who he was.

Folsom Prison Blues” (Live at Folsom Prison) – Johnny Cash

Also, I am currently reading an interesting biopic on the man, called “The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash,” which is a fascinating look at his messy, honest, and at times broken faith and path to redemption. This title track from the 2002 CD of the same name was a late discovery for me (just recently), and I really like the whole dusty spoken-word apocalyptic feel to it.

The Man Comes Around” – Johnny Cash

“Every man knows he is, basically, a complete sissy
compared to Johnny Cash.”
— Bono
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2 Comments

  • discovered your blog a few days back and have been reading it ever since.

    am a huge fan of pearl jam myself, and would really like to thank you for your post a few weeks back on pj history.

    great blog – keep it up!!

    EphemeReal — February 26, 2006 @ 9:00 pm

  • Thanks for reminding me, the beautiful music of the “Man in Black”…

    I’m becoming addicted to your posts.

    Take care of you.

    Mario — February 27, 2006 @ 2:11 pm

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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