Unearthed

Product Information

Particularly on the first CD, starting with a powerful performance of ''Long Black Veil'' this feels like a one man journey through the history of American song. But even if I had also purchased My Mother's Hymn Book as a standalone, the three other CDs are more than worth the money. The quality of these outtakes are just as good as the material that was originally released on the American Recording albums. A solo version of "Like a Soldier", a version of "Drive On" featuring different lyrics, and an acoustic studio version of "Bird on a Wire" were issued on the 1994 album American Recordings. I don't know, maybe for lack of space, legal stuff (the duet with Joe Strummer on Marley's "Redemption Song" is out of this world), whatever, but even the weakest track is a good one; I like them a lot, all have that touch that only Cash is capable to imprint in them.

In addition to the 4 other albums of American Recordings and the many fine collections of his earlier material, Unearthed is a treasure trove for devotees and new acolytes alike. The recordings, which run the stylistic gamut from stark balladry to punchy rockabilly to heartfelt gospel to classic covers, offer a stunning encapsulation of Cash's wide-ranging musical vision, and provide a fitting epitaph for his iconic career.There's a live version of ''Bird On A Wire'' with gorgeous strings which is better than the original. In terms of the set itself my only complaint is the unnecessary 5th disc featuring previously released tracks from the first 4 American CDs (except for "Thirteen" which is actually a longer alternate take or edit than the version previously released). This is newly compiled half-speed mastered limited edition and contains 20 hits including Folsom Prison Blues and I Walk The Line. Who's Gonna Cry focuses on acoustic solo recordings, and finds Cash revisiting several classic songs from his legendary catalog.

But this just means that the likes of ''A Singer Of Songs'' and ''Hard Times'' become almost unbearably poignant. This mammoth five CD box of seventy nine tracks from his American Recording sessions will only enhance his legend. The Unearthed vinyl box features a pair of cloth-bound books housed in an LP-sized black cloth slipcase.

One book holds the nine vinyl records while the other is a 60-page coffee table book which contains Sylvie Simmons’ sleeve notes, Cash and Rubin’s comments on every track and plenty of photos from the recording sessions. A fifth disc, titled My Mother's Hymn Book, is a complete, previously unreleased solo acoustic spiritual album. Flesh and Blood" was previously recorded by Cash for the soundtrack to the 1970 film I Walk the Line. When He Reached Down His Hand for Me" was previously recorded by Cash for his 1962 album Hymns from the Heart. It's true that there is no ground breaking version of a contemporary song, no fresh triumph like ''The Mercy Seat'' or ''Hurt''.

Redemption Songs is largely acoustic, and features duets with Joe Strummer, Fiona Apple, Nick Cave and Glen Campbell.Für mich ist es jedenfalls schwieriger (vor allem wenn es um vertonte Geschichten aus der alten Bibel geht, das pack ich fast nicht), die Songs alle zu mögen.

Note: All tracks previously unreleased, except "Wichita Lineman" and "Big Iron" which were previously released on the original vinyl pressing of American IV: The Man Comes Around. Over the course of five mesmerising CDs, Unearthed shows us just how Johnny Cash's now-legendary handful of recordings for American Records came to be. As Long as the Grass Shall Grow" was previously recorded by Cash for his 1964 album Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian. Note: All tracks previously released, although "Thirteen" features an additional verse that was omitted from its original album release. The set was originally planned to celebrate Cash and Rubin's decade of recording together, and the final mixes had been sent to Cash, but he passed away before receiving them.The last disc of this monumental set is a "best-of" compilation of tracks that did make it on the American individual discs, a reminder of just how groundbreaking these sessions were.