Austin Sessions, The - Kris Kristofferson

Advantages: It's Johnny Cash Man
Disadvantages: None, It's Johnny Cash Man

.... The selection of songs would see Johnny follow a path that he would follow for the rest of his life. There are songs from "alternative" artists, such as Glen Danzig's eerie and spooky "Thirteen". Unfortunately for Danzig Johnny's version is far better because it is Johnny Cash doing it, he would do the same to Nine Inch Nails "Hurt" on American IV later on. Then there is stuff taken from other well recognised country artists such as Kris Kristofferson's "Why Me Lord" a deeply spiritual song given the solemnity that it deserves. On top of all that you have a smattering of Johnny Cash songs like the worryingly homicidal and sadistic "Delia's Gone". All made better by the simplicity of the arrangements, just Vocal and Guitar. This album and his now legendary performance at the infamous "Viper Room" in LA, brought Johnny back to the forefront... Read review

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Advantages: hear great music
Disadvantages: might get carried away

...in the same recording studio, emptying the ashtrays. He made his debut as a record producer with Tony Joe White, cutting "Polk Salad Annie," and he was an original member of Kris Kristofferson's band. Billy Swan was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, a small town on the banks of the Mississippi River, on May 12. An interest in music was kindled by Hank Williams on the radio, by an uncle who played the saxophone, and by singing cowboy Gene Autry in the movies. "The rock & roll of Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly made me want to start playing it myself," says Billy, who took up the drums at age 14 and hitchhiked to gigs in local beer joints. He later taught himself to play electric piano, rhythm guitar and organ. Some friends who had a group went to Memphis to record with Bill Black, so Billy tagged along. Black liked one of Billy's songs, "Lover... Read review

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Advantages: Some excellent cover versions, often interpreted very differently from the originals
Disadvantages: Tracks 5 and 9 - well, what's the Skip button for?

.... I particularly like the way it opens quietly with a few seconds of nifty bass guitar, before a hefty assault on the drums turns the volume up to ten in no time and all the other instruments kick in. 'Help Me Make It Through The Night', the Kris Kristofferson tearjerker, is OK, nice but a mite dull. Had it been spaced out a little further from 'It Ain't Me Babe', to which it sounds remarkably similar, the effect might have been better. 'Another Time Another Place', the title track, is the joker in the pack. An original Ferry composition, unlike all the rest, it starts off as an introspective number before moving up a notch into a faster pace. There's something rather odd about the tune, which for the most part follows the chords pretty literally. Unusual, but nice. Also a harbinger of things to come, for after three more Roxy Music... Read review

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