This concept album ranks with the most thematically ambitious of Johnny Cash's career, though the title's a little misleading. Instead of a collection of train songs (the sort featured in the Cash catalogue from "Hey Porte... more »r" to "Orange Blossom Special"), he alternates the spoken-word narrative of a rail trip that crosses the country (and cuts across centuries) with songs about the characters you might meet along the way. From a Kentucky coal miner ("Loading Coal") to an Oregon logger ("Lumberjack") to a convict on a Mississippi chain gang ("Going to Memphis"), Cash inhabits the various manifestations of what he calls "the heart and muscle of this land." In "Slow Rider" he combines the folk standard "I Ride an Old Paint" with the gunfighter legend of John Wesley Hardin. The reissue of this 1960 release adds four bonus tracks, story songs in a similar spirit but without the narration. --Don McLeese« less
All Artists:Johnny Cash Title:Ride This Train Members Wishing: 4 Total Copies: 0 Label:Sony Original Release Date: 1/1/1960 Re-Release Date: 3/19/2002 Album Type: Original recording remastered Genres:Country, Pop Styles:Cowboy, Classic Country Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC:696998633223
Synopsis
Amazon.com
This concept album ranks with the most thematically ambitious of Johnny Cash's career, though the title's a little misleading. Instead of a collection of train songs (the sort featured in the Cash catalogue from "Hey Porter" to "Orange Blossom Special"), he alternates the spoken-word narrative of a rail trip that crosses the country (and cuts across centuries) with songs about the characters you might meet along the way. From a Kentucky coal miner ("Loading Coal") to an Oregon logger ("Lumberjack") to a convict on a Mississippi chain gang ("Going to Memphis"), Cash inhabits the various manifestations of what he calls "the heart and muscle of this land." In "Slow Rider" he combines the folk standard "I Ride an Old Paint" with the gunfighter legend of John Wesley Hardin. The reissue of this 1960 release adds four bonus tracks, story songs in a similar spirit but without the narration. --Don McLeese
"As with several other albums/cd's I've bought, I didn't like this at first. After repeated listenings, I'm a true believer. This is a concept album in the truest sense of the word - between tracks you hear Johnny talking about America, along with the sounds of a steam locomotive - it's as though Johnny is travelling cross country and telling stories of various Americans including slaves, slave-owners, outlaws, Cajuns, lumberjacks, miners etc. This cd could be used by history teachers - it's that interesting. My favorite track is Dorraine of Ponchartrain - it's a real tear jerker along the lines of a 19th century Ebony Eyes (Everly Brothers). Goin to Memphis is also really cool - reminds me of John Fogarty's "Workin on a building". All four bonus tracks are excellent - Willie Brown is a feminist's delight - the "player" dies of a broken heart. The Ballad of the Harpweaver isn't really a song, it's a narration along with an ethereal sounding reverb on the electric guitar - it's an other-worldly psychic tale - genuinely weird and interesting. Smiling Bill McCall is hilarious - a Nashville radio star idolized by all the kids who attempts suicide because he hates his theme song and turns out to be 4 feet tall and bald. If a Cash fan loves "Boy named Sue" - he/she will positively love Smiling Bill McCall. I think the 1959-1963 period was among Johnny's finest years of output. I love this CD so much, it's a narcotic to me - I have trouble removing it from my cd player. I recommend it as highly as possible."
"I have almost everything Johnny released now on CD. To me this album stands alone on a par by itself. I have never been a huge fan of contemporary country/pop but have always been a fan of good story telling. I mostly prefer loud bombastic heavy metal and rowdy, beer drinkin' honky tonk like The Outlaws, Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager. Johnny is one of the exceptions. I guess having it played constantly back in the early 70's by my folks psychologically preconditioned me. Storytelling is a lost art and when it is done as masterfully has it has been done here...you are at a loss if you don't get to hear it. I recommend this to anyone who likes storytelling or Johnny."
One of the best
Cory L. Schwent | Bloomsdale, MO United States | 05/05/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you read my reviews, you will know that I generally don't hand out a 5 star rating for just anything.This is a masterpiece. It is like watching a movie. All the songs tell a different tail, but they all fit together somehow.For a recording this old, it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. The songs are clear and Cash's voice sets far up front of the instruments. None of these songs were ever released as singles as far as I know, so if you haven't heard the album, then most likely you haven't heard any of the songs before.And also, most Johnny Cash fans know that in the 60's he was having voice problems that seriously hindered some of his recordings. I really take that into account when I buy his albums from that period. This album, however, was before all the voice problems, and his voice is as robust and clear as it ever was. In fact, I dare you to find a recording where Johnny is vocalizing any better than he does here."
Ride This Train, Johnny Cash
Dorothy L. Watts | Kentucky, USA | 03/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was SO pleased to be able to find this album! In my opinion, this is one of the finest albums Johnny Cash ever recorded. I'm sure it is the only place he ever recorded the song "Old Doc Brown", which never fails to touch my heart. All of my children (now grown with children of their own) remember this album (as an old LP) and were just as pleased with it as I was! Thank you SO MUCH for providing a place to find treasured memories!"