The Man, The World, His Music
Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 03/28/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The studio recording output by Johnny Cash for Columbia Records was prodigious and with the typical hits-and-misses that occur when an artist cranks out albums.
This 5-CD set does not include Cash's better work for the label and the latest release - Orange Blossom Special (1965) - is arguably the best in the collection, with the highlight being the covers of three Bob Dylan songs (It Ain't Me, Babe; Don't Think Twice; Mama, You Been on My Mind). Hymns by Johnny Cash (1959) is gospel music, while Songs of Our Soil (1959), The Fabulous Johnny Cash (1960) and Ride This Train (1960) - the latter being the best of the rest - having mixed results due to the material being very good or quite uneven.
Each CD comes in a mini-LP sleeve that features the original artwork. Perhaps of interest more to fans looking for a neat collectible, it may not be the best way to get a solid overview - or understanding - on what made Cash an iconic figure in American music."