At San Quentin (+DVD) - Johnny Cash

Advantages: Classic , fresh , raw , entertaining , a little piece of history .
Disadvantages: May be too dated for some .

...Background ***************** Johnny Cash had been recording and playing for quite a while before I came across him properly . In the early seventies my brother bought ‘Johnny Cash live at St Quentin’ and it was a real eye opener or should I say ear opener to me . Previously to this I had sort of heard him in passing but not taken that much notice . As a flighty teenager he had seemed far too old and straight to appeal to me . It took my advancing years to truly get a feel for the man and his music . However ‘San Quentin’ was one of the first rungs on the ladder . My boyfriend at the time , and Husband to this day , bought the L.P before I knew him and so among our differing tastes in music this was one firm favourite . He has bought Cash’s music over the years right up to his final offerings and for me the music matured well... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: 37 awe inspiring songs
Disadvantages: None

...Flushed from the bathroon of your heart 13 Joe bean 14 Jackson 15 Give my love to rose 16 I got stripes 17 The legend of John Henry's hammer 18 Greeen, Green grass of home 19 Greyston chapel The Second is at San Quentin, it was recorded a year after At Folsom, it too has some wonderfull songs including "Big River" "Starkville City Jail" which Johnny tells a story about the song before he sings it ,and of course the world famous "Ring Of Fire" and "Walk The Line. The Songs on this cd are:- 1 Big River 2 I still miss someone 3 Wreck of the old 97 4 I walk the line 5 Darlin' companion... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Sombre, poignant, affecting
Disadvantages: Couple of right royal stinkers

...on his hip" and again the storytelling in once again top notch. Can't help thinking that this album would have been near perfect with the omission of We'll Meet Again and Danny Boy, though. OVERALL --------------- A very sad, affecting album made all the more so by the fact that poor Johnny knew he was dying when he recorded this album. Rarely is there a drumbeat or anything electronic involved here, it's mainly cellos and other strings and acoustic and steel guitars everywhere. He sounds tired, but experienced, and soulful in maudlin, weary kind of way. Of course, this isn't an album for everyone and - like your grandad on her deathbed - you may not wish to visit it and just remember him as he used to be. In which case, check out these Johnny Cash classics: -Live At Folsom Prison -Johnny Cash At San Quentin -The... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful