Let me state it simply: I [censored by Blogger] love music. My first published newspaper piece was a review of a live show. I both co-founded and founded music-related publications. In college, I spent more time at the radio station than in any lecture hall or professor's office, learning first to be a DJ, then a producer, and eventually I became Music Director. I even used to play drums, and over the years had more than one neighbor issue death threats. When I picked up my first Sony Walkman (yes, I'm that old), my addiction to musical works -- both euphonious and discordant -- grew exponentially. Likewise, my tastes evolved. As a kid, I listened to some classical along with genral pop nonsense, picking up on punk at the tender age of twelve (a few years later, I briefly worked as a bouncer at the One Step Beyond punk/new wave club in Santa Clara, CA), and as a teen I went through a period where I spent most of my money at Tower Records, much of it on great jazz LP's. I recall when rap hit its political stride, and loving it. Quality, for lack of a better term (& avoiding any philosophical discussion) has been my only criteria when it's come to music over the years. But, for some reason, I've never been fond of country, and I find much of it to be derivative [censored by Blogger] and unlistenable. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that I've never really had anyone in my life that's been passionate about it. Having said that, there are a few artists who I do know, people who have earned my respect. In point of fact, there is a short list of country musicians that when I hear one of their songs, I stop what I'm doing and listen until the piece is over. Johnny Cash is at the top of that list. So when I noticed that Legacy's releasing a rather definitive version of the momentous Johnny Cash Live at Folsom performance (w/ 51 tracks total), I couldn't resist the urge to take a moment to again listen to and ponder some of the many wonderful songs from the man in black. If you're someone who perhaps has never really been able to connect with a country music recording on some level, this could be for you -- and I would say that it's requisite for Cash fans. Great recordings like this get issued and reissued to death, but I don't think you'll find a better presentation of this historic performance. Do yourself a favor and pick it up (or buy it for a friend) -- the set includes 2 CD's and a DVD.
Ok. Lately, I've also been thinking about great covers and how I, much like many of you, am a bit fixated (I'll probably start to regularly post them here in fact). There are no doubt purists who regard interpretations of their favorite artist's material as sacrelige, but most of the people I've come across -- friends, club goers, assorted music freaks, etc. -- adore a good cover. Personally, I love the reimagining of a piece. It doesn't have to be anything as extreme as, say, The Residents partying in a black hole with Satisfaction. It could be the peculiar and infectious approach that Nouvelle Vague takes. But for today, the first Monday Covers Project, I thought that I'd seize the moment and post a little cache of Cash covers that I've found online, many of which being more straightforward in homage. So ladies and gentlemen, it's...
Folsom Prison Blues
Sal Valentino
Dead Heart Bloom
Mallu Magalhaes
Zen Tricksters
(Live at Long Island Brewing Company, Jericho, NY, 1.8.07)
Hamell on Trial
(Live at Mejeriet, Lund, Sweden, 2.25.04)
Dream Syndicate
(Live at Backstage, Tucson, 12.2.82)
Kate Gaffney
(Live at Blueberry Festival, Bethlehem, PA, 7.20.07)
Drive-By Truckers
(Live at Hampden Sydney College, Farmville, VA, 2.23.06)
Los Lonely Boys
(Live at Howelsen Hill, Steamboat Springs, CO, 7.27.07)
OTHER CASH COVERS
Ring of Fire
The original
Waxx
Elvis Costello
Moby
Don't take your guns to town
Campfire Killers
Crystal Chandeliers And Burgundy
Josh Ritter
A L S O
American V podcast link
Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison: The Making of a Masterpiece
By Michael Streissguth
from Google Books
Inside Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison
from NPR's All Things Considered
B O N U S
Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode cover)
Johnny Cash
"I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down down down
And the flames went higher
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire
The ring of fire
And it burns burns burns
The ring of fire..."
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