Johnny Cash is undeniably one of the greatest Country musicians to ever have walked this earth. His deeply emotional music and dedication to his art form are instantly identifiable and made him internationally famous. Although this compilation album is a very early retrospective release for the Country music star, it outlines an important part of Johnny Cash’s early music journey, namely becoming a famous musician of great reputation. The album’s linear notes indicate that Johnny Cash knew from day one he was going to be a great star in life, namely through music. This explains a lot. Let’s take a good listen to this retrospective compilation and hear how Johnny Cash won some much needed fame, and made some great music along the way. This compilation album is co-recorded with The Tennessee Two.
Ballad Of A Teenage Queen launches straight into a deep and interesting tune about a said girl in a country town. Nonetheless, this is an interesting and simple Country music song that only goes over two minutes in length. This is a pretty, soulful and retro piece that still sounds really amazing to this very day. A really awesome and good storytelling tale about a stolen love and other strange events in a song format. Brilliant, and a really great listen from start to finish. Johnny Cash is a great singer and guitarist, period. Awesome tune from the go.
There You Go launches right into a song about being brokenhearted and blue. Again, this is a very decent and enjoyable tune that sounds like great Country music to hear. It is a familiar sort of musical and lyrical territory for Country music but sounds grand and dramatic. The strummed acoustic guitars, simple guitar soloing and deep singing by Johnny Cash make these songs winners. All in all, this is a fine and fantastic tune about dealing with a very superficial and narcissistic lady to date. A sad lament, but a very good listen throughout.
I Walk The Line – Single Version begins with some rather bass guitar soundalike electric guitar part. It then proceeds to launch into a really good sort of jig-like tune with some good singing by Johnny Cash. All in all, this is another great and decently created tune that is awesome and wonderful about being deeply in love. Johnny Cash was married by this point, so this music reflects the romantic feelings he was having at the time. A really simple, old-fashioned yet absolutely awesome tune to hear, this is simply catchy music. A great song, without a doubt. Worth your ears. A very nice listen.
Don’t Make Me Go is an unusual sounding piece and launches into action fairly quickly with acoustic guitars and vocals from Johnny Cash. It is another listen about heartbreak and loneliness, even in a relationship. It is a sad tune, but then again, this sounds really superb and amazing for what it is. A reminder of love lost in one’s life, there is a Fender Telecaster guitar solo here which is incredibly simple. Another great tune by Johnny Cash, this still sounds amazing to this day. “I want you, don’t make me go, my heart would break, I’d miss you so…” is a good indication of where it is at. A sad but impressive song that slows down right at the end. Good effort overall.
Guess Things Happen That Way – 1958 Single Version launches straight into a proto Surf Rock piece, complete with harmonies reminiscent of The Beach Boys. This is a short and moody piece that is less than two minutes long but sounds great to this day. A really cool tune to listen to and enjoy, it is about relationship issues at hand. Great to hear.
Train Of Love begins with palm-muted electric guitar, strummed acoustic guitar and launches right into another great song that is really good to listen to. Johnny Cash sings about waiting impatiently for a lover. There is another simple yet excellent guitar solo present here in between the verses. A good listening experience of Country music that sounds fresh and completely different to anything else out there to this very day. Another solid listen.
The Ways Of A Woman In Love begins with some neat Fender Telecaster licks and acoustic guitars, with some harmonies sung here as well. Johnny Cash launches into a decent and different tune that is very memorable upon listening. It is a sad tune about brokenhearted blues and jealousy when in love. Even so, this is really great and amazing music that is so simple and lively to listen to. A great piano solo is here that sounds precise. Great music from the 1950s, this works well. A fine song.
Next In Line begins with what sounds like double bass, some strange murmured harmonies and quickly enters into a great acoustic guitar led piece of Country music. This sounds incredibly old-fashioned but serves a great musical purpose regardless. Johnny Cash sings well and wonderfully here, and he sounds amazing and great here. A simple guitar solo and gospel styled harmonies are in this song as well. A very memorable tune about chasing a lady whom one is waiting forever for. Still, a really cool and excellent tune, once again. This has some great Fender Telecaster parts throughout, namely in the solo section. This ends with a gentle fade out. Great.
You’re The Nearest Thing To Heaven begins with some clean Fender Telecaster guitar parts and launches quickly into a fantastic song about deep, romantic love and is perfectly matched musically with gospel harmonies, Country music sounds and Johnny Cash’s baritone vocals. A wonderful tune to hear, this piece sounds less bleak than before and works a real treat. Pleasant music for those who like the simple rural life, this is a really top and different listening experience that is fine and fantastic. A heartwarming classic of Country music. The harmonies at the end are sensationally awesome.
I Can’t Help It is a very short tune that continues the theme of this album nicely, with some unusual gospel backing vocals, piano and Johnny Cash singing and playing guitar very well here. He sounds like he is in fine form as he sings about a love from the past he cannot shake off. A wonderful listen, this is a good piece of music, drowned out somewhat in the mix. Still, it works very well. Nice song.
Home Of The Blues begins with some chiming mid-position Fender Telecaster sounds, and quickly launches into a tune about being in a depressing place, and in a depressed mood. Regardless, this is another excellent song about being brokenhearted, set to music. The simplicity and loveability of the music sound really fantastic on this song, and indeed, the album. A really different and fantastic listen that articulates emotion very well, Johnny Cash is a true musical legend, even decades after his passing. Fantastic music to hear. It ends with some nice guitar playing.
Big River is the last song on this album release and has Johnny Cash singing and playing guitar very well indeed. Indeed, this is another song about being brokenhearted and blue, but played and performed fantastically. Johnny Cash delivers this song wonderfully and he had some intense musical talent to impress others. A great Fender Telecaster solo is here, which sounds clean, pleasant and groovy. A wonderful listen about losing true love, this ends the album nicely. Wonderful.
This release is a great starting point for 1950s Country Music fans or for fans of the earlier works of Johnny Cash. The music is simple, energetic and loveable. To be fair, the lyrical matter won’t be to everyone’s tastes. The music does make up for this slight flaw in a simple, excellent and amazing way. Should you listen to this album? Give it a spin, it’s worth it. The short running time of less than 30 minutes may help as well. The only flaw is that this music is very monocular and dated, it hasn’t aged as well as it could have. Still, worth a shot to hear.
Yee-ha!
8/10
