Celebration: Cash

 "Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight." -- Johnny Cash

Happy birthday today to the Man In Black -- Mr. Johnny Cash (1932). Admittedly, my all-time favorite Cash record is Unchained, his second installment of the Rick Rubin helmed American Recordings. I love this record because Cash sounds strong and happy and mean on these tracks. Also, you've got Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers as the backing band, which brings a tinge of sweaty swaggered rock-n-raw to Cash's gruff vocal performance. Unchained feels like the apex of America's musical evolution -- a signal of what's still possible when experience and expertise and patience collide sonically. It's encouraging to consider that the best music these men made -- arguably -- was in their latter years. While the industry exalts youth and the next flash-pan fad of aural anesthesia, on Unchained the old guard redefined greatness through the simplicity of good songs forged in time-honed talent and friendship. Amen and Selah to that. Cheers to a man who loved Jesus, his bride, his family, his friends and long hours on a quiet porch plucking a guitar near those above.

https://youtu.be/9CrBqRb3VGM

Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 27, 2021 at 7:29 AM

    I really like several phrases you came up with in this piece. The “sweaty swaggered” and “patience collide sonically” were two of my favorites. I also like the way you honored him in the last line by pointing out the ones who meant the most to him. Well done, my love.

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