****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I'm an old Johnny Cash fan, so I had to listen to this CD about Johnny knowing that he was at death's door. It's a nice CD. If you're over the hill like me, or, if you know someone who fits the bill, you or they might like it too.I bought this cd to replace our original one that was scratched and skipping.Its just amazing i can really feel the emotion in this album.This is a masterful album despite some occasional weaknesses. First, let's address the problems with this disc:The vast majority of songs are cover versions of songs which are not only prominently associated with the original artist, to try and re-sing them invites criticism. It's virtually impossible to improve upon anything the Beatles recorded or put your own stamp on it. Cash does a credible job with "In My Life" and certainly doesn't embarrass himself, but you still know that it can't hold a candle to Lennon's original vocal. Ditto with "Bridge Over Troubled Water," which is so completely tied to Simon and Garfunkel that one winces if anyone else attempts to sing it. Again, Johnny does a good job on the vocal, but this is essentially filler. Why would anyone want to listen to Cash's version over the original 1970 recording?The inclusion of "The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face" and the Eagles "Desperado" are the duel nadirs of this disc. Though Johnny sings them both with a touching world-weariness, neither song should have been included. "Personal Jesus" is another clunker.Now let's examine the strengths of this record and its peculiar resonance and power:The opening track is an original Cash composition and one of the outstanding songs Johnny has ever recorded, "When The Man Comes Around." Beautifully sung and arranged, this is a creative tour de force and a song you can listen to repeatedly and still wring something from it. The little nuances Cash puts into the phrasing are memorable. A great song!The next song, "Hurt" is the track which has garnered the most attention, and for good reason. Johnny's vocal is the epitome of pain, poignancy and pathos. It's reminiscent of Sinatra in the 90's, when his pipes were shot, but he still *sang* better than anyone else. This is another stellar high point in Cash's career."Give My Love to Rosie" and Sting's "I Hang My Head" are two other excellent songs, sung perfectly by Cash to convey emotion, depression and despair.Amazingly, Cash's vocals on the Irish ballad, "Danny Boy" are mind-blowing. A song usually associated with singers like Bing Crosby is rendered with exquisite dignity here, in an understated and riveting arrangement.Yes, this is a sobering, serious record, a thoughtful examination of death, God, life and loss. None of these songs has anything to do with "country music," this is more a Dylanesque approach to songwriting and presenting a point of view. Another small, but imporant point, is that the cover photography and liner notes are first rate. Nothing cheesey here.Johnny Cash is an American treasure, and demonstrates on this record the depth of his talent and his soul. Truly a must-have record for those interested in real music, which is so seldom recorded today.Johnny Cash was probably the greatest story teller of all time. This album is an absolute classic, to some it'll sound like an old blokes toneless singing, to me it was a legend telling tales. One of the best albums out there.Johnny Cash is a legend. I don't think there will be many arguments about that. What's amazing about him and, perhaps, what solidifies his legend, is the fact that his last four albums were probably his greatest work ever. He left this world on top, which is something few recording artists can say."The Man Comes Around" is as haunting as it is beautiful. It is an album full of love, hate, depression, and perserverance. It can be scary or it can be uplifting. It's a masterpiece.I know I'm gloating over this album, but few recordings, even Christian ones, have moved me like this album. What's even more amazing is that Cash covers songs by unique artists such as Trent Reznor, Don Henley and Glenn Frey, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, and Sting. You wouldn't think a simple "Country" singer would have the guts to tackle songs by such varied artists, but Cash did, and he made each song his own. As a matter of fact, he has elevated his status well above those covered on this album.The album starts off with Johnny Cash quoting the book of Revelations. I don't care if you are a Christian, Athiest, Buddhist, etc., if you have read any part of Revelations, you know that it is one of the scariest things you can read. It sets the eerie, prophetic tone of the entire album. The reading blurs into the title track and poses the question, "Will you be ready when the man comes around?" From that, we go into the darkest recesses of depression with songs like "Hurt," "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry," and "I Hung My Head." Scattered between are bits like "Personal Jesus" and "Danny Boy," songs that shouldn't be on the same album but work here due to Cash's mastery of his art.Johnny Cash isn't the greatest vocalist around, but his voice speaks volumes and is ten times as good as any cookie-cutter country artist these days. He's real, and that's as honest as you can get.Buy this album. Don't ask questions, just buy it.Really great CD 1 of his last! Hurt is worth the purchase! Love all tracks.2014 Heavyweight double vinyl.Welcome reissue of a great album from the last years of Johnny Cashes life. Mainly an album of covers and previously recorded material with the title track as the only new and original Cash song.As reviews of the time mention-his voice has deteriorated and this is evident on 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. Some tracks are slightly hard on the ears but the emotion on 'Hurt', 'In My Life' and 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' is overwhelming.The sound quality of the vinyl is very good-even on my entry level Last studio album (2002), before Cash died the following year; "American IV" contains some great music. Yes, the man is clearly ailing, but this brings extra meaning and emotion to his voice. A religious man, brought up singing gospel, cash's "The Man Comes Around", is full of biblical meaning, the lyrics taking Cash many versions to perfect. His voice on the covers, is also wonderful. From the poignancy of "Hurt" to the stripped down acoustic version of "Personal Jesus", his choices are eclectic, yet his voice suits them all. I wouldn't normally dream of getting an album mainly of covers, but Cash is just that good, I'm so glad I did. A great album.As I've admitted in a review for A Hundred Highways, I'm afraid I don't really like country & western - but Cash is a very different animal. He alone can make me listen to country. He brings a very dark edge to even the 'sunniest' of songs/tunes, and an appreciation/acceptance of the way real life can be cruel. Good examples of this are the very powerful The Man Comes Around and Hurt (the tracks I bought the album for). As with A Hundred Highways, Cash new he was terminally ill while recording the last of this series of albums - which adds extra impact. Burns you to the soul.Johnny Cash was an ill man who knew he hadn't long to live when this album was released. The tone is sombre and reflective - black in places. Many of the songs cover death, separation, redemption and forgiveness. The material is poignant and it's easy to imagine the love songs are all directed at is wife, June Carter. At times it seems he's singing too slowly, as if he's aiming at eternity - which perhaps he was. This is a beautiful and deeply moving album. A fitting legacy for his lifetime achievements. Strongly recommended. Rest in peace, Johnny.i listen to this album a few times but I wasl eft feeling that while it was a great idea and product, it is obvious that age had taken something away from Johnny's voice.it starts off so well and "Hurt" is sublime, it is all there, the regrets, the sadness and a lot more.Bridge over troubled water and the first time ever I saw your face are sung in Johnny's style and though I have hated covers of these numbers, these versions are brilliant. I really liked them even with the huge reservations before hand.Yet as the album progresses I lost interest because it was there to be heard, Johnny sounded tired, as if going through the motions and it lacked that verved of his.It is worth having for many great reasons but I have become very selective on what I will listen to on this album. Age was the problem, not the singer.
