Search - Johnny Cash :: The Fabulous Johnny Cash

One of the essential original Cash releases...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 07/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you even think of yourself as a casual Johnny Cash fan, do yourself a favor and buy this 2002 reissue of the first record Johnny did for Columbia in late 1958. It marks his "major label" debut, his deliberate turn from rockabilly/rock 'n roll to country, gospel and folk songs, and the start of 28 consecutive years making big money with, and for, the company. This remastered disc, with six bonus tracks from the same two-month studio stint that resulted in the 12 original cuts, is really done right. The CD features the original cover and liner notes, plus a nice booklet and updated, detailed notes, and several period photos of John in performance. This effort was not only historically important for Johnny Cash, it was historic for me, too. I bought it when I was 14 and it was hot off the vinyl press. It was my first Cash album, my first stereo LP, and I liked 11 of the 12 songs (Only "Suppertime" seemed weak to me.) Somewhere around the early 70's, my copy vanished. It was almost worn out, the cover was torn up by my many relocations, but I have no memory of what happened to it. When I saw a few weeks ago via Amazon that it had been re-released on CD, I couldn't resist, but not just for nostalgia. The songs are good, the singing strong, and the guitar and bass from Luther Perkins and Marshall Grant and guitar from John himself are all wonderful. The only "dated" feel in the record are the backing vocals by the Jordanaires. Back in those days, "backing vocals" were thought to be vital on all kinds of records, pop, rock and country included. For instance, Buddy Holly's hits had them, and many of Elvis's too. In some songs, the vocal choruses do add some interest and contrast, but more often, to today's ear, they could easily be eliminated. Their presence on "The Fabulous Johnny Cash" does not ruin any song, but we've learned in the 40-plus years since the album came out that Johnny does not need the help of The Jordanaires or anybody else to sell product. Listening to this CD today, for the first time in almost 30 years, I still love 11 of the 12 original selections (feeling "Suppertime" still is a bit weak), but I also like five of the six bonus tracks. (Only "Mama's Baby" seems slight.) So, if you buy this, you'll get 16 excellent examples of late-50's Johnny Cash deliberately aimed at the country music customer of that time. Johnny's reworking of the Frankie and Johnny saga song is clever; his version of the wanderlust train song "One More Ride" is one of the best performances of his entire career; the religious song "That's Enough" is macho and unusual and stirring. You also get "I Still Miss Someone", and I've heard a dozen other singers do that one over the decades, but no one has done it better than Cash, who wrote it. Next comes "Don't Take Your Guns to Town", and as the astute liner notes point out, this one has subleties only a careful listener will realize. It deservedly was a big hit and has retained its popularity as a classic Cash piece. I also like "I'd Rather Die Young", a morbid love ballad, and "Shepherd of My Heart" a happier love song. Johnny wrote "Pickin' Time" in honor of the cotton growers of his native Arkansas. I live adjacent to the cotton growers of far West Texas, and the song is a nice tribute to them as well. "That's All Over" is about rebounding from romantic rejection, and I liked it even before I was old enough to be rejected, or to bounce back. "The Troubadour" points to the "beyond the glory" moments in a star singer's life. The bonus tracks, one assumes, are items which didn't make the final list to be included on the album. I agree that they are slightly less interesting than the songs which were released, but not by much. "Oh What a Dream" and "Fools Hall of Fame" and "Walking the Blues" are each good rockabilly in their own right, and sound as if they should have been released on his prior label, the incomparable Sun Records. To sum up, Johnny did a fine album back then, and Columbia/Legacy has done a great job of updating, expanding and presenting it for the modern fan. The product is worth every penny they are asking for it."

A steamroller of a record

James L. | Virginia, United States | 04/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This, the first Johnny Cash LP on Columbia, was the first to present him as the multi-faceted artist he always was. One of the best things about it is the variety of material, from pop songs, rockabilly/honky tonk, ballad, and gospel as well as the variety of emotion, swaggering, wistful, wary, fervent, heartbroken, you name it.
It starts off in a country-pop vein with the first four tunes, all good but more lightweight feeling. But with song number five, the hopped-up wanderlust anthem One More Ride, the record picks up and doesn't let up until it drops you off sweetly with Suppertime. Without a doubt, That's Enough is the highlight of the record. It wasn't the first gospel number Cash recorded at Columbia, but the euphoria and catharsis of Johnny proclaiming "I've got Jesus, and that's enough" are so palpable you'd think he just saw the light right then and there. It never fails to give me goosebumps. The remaining cuts vary in tempo and style but they never let up on that emotional intensity. A perfectly programed album.
The bonus tracks are all very strong, especially Walking the Blues and Mama's Baby, a great pop number.
If you like any Johnny Cash or heartfelt music of any kind, you should get this CD. It's the real deal."

A Mighty Fine Record

Ken Douglas | Landlocked in Reno | 02/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Though I like the Sun stuff better than this, this is still a mighty fine record. I don't particularly like the opener, "Run Softly, Blue River", don't like "The Troubadour" either. And I really can't stand "That's enough." I don't know why, but thankfully now I have this record in my iTunes playlist and those songs aren't on it. The rest of the record is great. There's just something about Johnny Cash. Most singers age and you can hear it in their voices, Johnny's voice stayed the same right up to the end.



Johnny's version of "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" puts you right in the story. "Fools Hall of Fame," is a rocking county number that I've always loved and I know my name is right up there in the Fools Hall of Fame. Of course, "I Still Miss Someone" is one of my favorites, everybody loves that song, how could they not? But on this record they saved the best for last. Gotta love "Walkin' the Blues." Gotta love it and I do."