Can you recommend which Johnny Cash compilation(s) I should buy?

[Sgt. Sacrament]

Howdy all,

I really only enjoy film scores and classical music. I didn't know anything about Johnny Cash, but saw the film "Walk the Line" because Joaquin Phoenix is an excellent actor. I loved the film, and checked Cash's "Folsom Prison" album out of the library. I loved it, so I followed up with the 2-disk "The Essential Johnny Cash" set, then the 3-disk "The Essential Johnny Cash, 1955-1983". I enjoyed the 2-disk collection better than the 3-disk, since I loved almost every single song on the 2-disk, and there wasn't much more that I liked on the 3-disk set that wasn't on the 2-disc set.

So, I've determined that I like (love!) Cash's music enough that like to purchase a collection, but there are so many sets out there that the choices are bewildering. I don't have a ton of money, so I'd like to get the most bang for my buck. Can anyone give some recommendations?

There is a 4-disk set out there called "The Legend" ($26.97 @ Amazon US) that looks like the best bet, but I understand it doesn't have anything from his 1990s-on American albums. I read in a review on Amazon that there is a collection of the best songs from the American albums, but I can't find such an album anywhere... anyone know if such exists? The 2-disk "Essential" set is $13.99, and I know that I love that. There are a couple of one disk compilations called "The Legend of Johnny Cash" vols I & II (around $10 each) that look like they have songs from all eras.

So, can anyone help me out? Thanks in advance... I'll be carefully considering what you say!

 

[Pingfah]

Why not buy some of his albums instead of compilations?

I always find it more rewarding to listen to a collection of songs that was conceived that way, rather than one thrown together by a record company. Try the American albums, American IV is particularly good and one of the most digestable.

 

[Sgt. Sacrament]

I'd love to be able to afford to buy a bunch of albums... however, about the most I can spend on albums for some time would be around $50. So, I'd like to get the most Cash for $50 that I can (without trying to make a Cash/$ pun). Thus, I'm looking at compilations. I tend to "wear out" CDs that I like, so if I listen to whatever compilations I get 100x, then I'll want more in a few years, and maybe I can afford more then. So, any advice y'all might have would be great. Thanks!

 

[Star Wolf]

Why not buy some of his albums instead of compilations?

I always find it more rewarding to listen to a collection of songs that was conceived that way, rather than one thrown together by a record company. Try the American albums, American IV is particularly good and one of the most digestable.

Didn't he come up before albums were recorded as a concept? Just a collection of singles were the only thought was to balance out the time on side A and side B. There are two ways to go, either the anthologies with everything or the bargin complimations to get a sense of the artist. Then you have people who changed companies so you only have one recording labels hits on them. You must watch out for those.

 

[barnaclelapse]

I have to agree with Star Wolf on this one. Cash definitely comes from an era in which a listener today can get the same effect from a compilation that they can from an album, and that's even true for the somewhat more contemporary albums he did on the American label with Rick Rubin.

If money isn't an issue, a good box set from his pre-American days (there's several) and a good best-of from the American days would probably give you plenty of room to get started.

 

[gh4chiefs]

He began with Sun Records in 1955. There's a pretty good box set out there that coveres the best of his work with Sun, but I can't remember the title of it, but it's exactly what you're looking for regarding his early work. And some of his Sun songs are outstanding. A few later on were overproduced with too much music and background singers, but the bulk of it was great.

As for the Columbia years, I recommend Johnny Cash's Greatest Hits Volume 1. Also if you can find it, The World of Johnny Cash is a great compilation of some of his earlier Columbia work.

If money wasn't an issue I would just highly recommend the Bear Family box sets that basically cover ALL of his songs from 1955 to about 1973 (or therabouts). But those box sets are expensive.

 

[the Dagman]

I was in the same boat and went with The Legend of Johnny Cash. It has selections of his older stuff all the way up to his most recent.

 

[J.T.B.]

Didn't he come up before albums were recorded as a concept? Just a collection of singles were the only thought was to balance out the time on side A and side B.

That's certainly true, however, At Folsom Prison was a landmark album and is good to hear in its entirety, with prison PA announcements and all. At San Quentin is almost as good. There are some nice multi-disc-and-DVD re-issues of both, if you want video, extra tracks and numbers by the Statler Brothers, Carl Perkins and the Carter Family. These are a little pricey, though, and if you just want the JC stuff the single-disc issues are plenty good.

--Justin

 

[Garth Rockett]

I was in the same boat and went with The Legend of Johnny Cash. It has selections of his older stuff all the way up to his most recent.

I've got that one too. It's a really good single-disc overview of his entire career. It gets my recommendation.