Oh boy, have you heard? There’s a new treasure trove on the horizon for Johnny Cash fans. It’s a posthumous album titled Songwriter, and it’s packed with gems that have never seen the light of day. Slated for release on June 28, this collection is a journey through Cash’s heart and soul, brought to us by Mercury Nashville/UMe.
The album is a deep dive into the essence of Cash. Picture this: original demos recorded in the quiet of 1993, a time when Cash found himself between contracts. These aren’t just any recordings; they’re stripped down to the raw, powerful combination of Cash’s voice and his trusty acoustic guitar. But here’s where it gets interesting. The project didn’t stop there. Imagine the scene as musicians who once shared the stage with Cash—names like guitarist Marty Stuart, the late bassist Dave Roe, and drummer Pete Abbott—come together to breathe new life into these tracks.
https://johnnycash.lnk.to/WellAlright/
Now, let’s talk about the brains behind this operation. John Carter Cash, the son of Johnny and June Carter Cash, took the helm alongside David Ferguson. Their vision? To let Cash’s spirit guide the music. John Carter puts it beautifully, “Nobody plays Cash better than Marty Stuart, and Dave Roe, of course, played with Dad for many years.” It’s as if they’re all just jamming with Johnny once more, letting his energy steer the ship.
But wait, there’s a bit of a throwback for you. Remember three years back when a rare live album by Johnny Cash surfaced? Bear’s Sonic Journals: Live at the Carousel Ballroom, 4/24/1968, was its name. A precious recording from a gig in San Francisco, just days before the legendary At Folsom Prison album was recorded. It’s a little piece of history, capturing a moment in time at a venue run by Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead members.
And for those who love diving into music history, Pitchfork once placed At Folsom Prison at No. 58 in their “The 200 Best Albums of the 1960s” list. Just a tidbit for the trivia buffs out there.
