Johnny Cash

[entropy]

Compilation recommendations please

[Trophybloo]

Johnny Cash - The complete Sun Masters
3 disc set

San Quentin (The complete concert)

The Essential Johnny Cash (2 disc)
doesn't include the very late stuff but covers the main CBS stuff

Really though there are so many good budget compilations around it just depends on whether you like any particular phase of his work and what your budget is.

[rhinochopig]

The recent-ish album he did of covers is superb. The one with Hurt and Man Comes around on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho

[JimbobVFR]

That'll be the fourth of the American Series
American IV: The Man Comes Around

It is a brilliant album and one of my favourites.

Another favourite of mine is the San Quentin Live one, recorded at the same time as the BBC recorded the concert for TV, he mentions the cameras in the talky bit between songs.

[davepoth]

The Folsom Prison concert is a classic too - all the cons holler when he sings "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die".

[spyder dryver]

davepoth said:

The Folsom Prison concert is a classic too - all the cons holler when he sings "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die".

They don't holler quite so loudly at the end of "25 Minutes to go", a song about a con going to the gallows!

" So now I'm swinging and here I go-oh-oh-oh"

[Trophybloo]

JimbobVFR said:

That'll be the fourth of the American Series
American IV: The Man Comes Around

It is a brilliant album and one of my favourites.

Great album, but didn't mention it as the OP wanted a career-wise compilation, which 'San Quentin' is as a condensed example in one album.
I suppose a definitive 5 disc set spanning everything from 'Get Rhythm' to 'Hurt' is overdue

[gareth_r]

davepoth said:

The Folsom Prison concert is a classic too - all the cons holler when he sings "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die".

That line in Folsom Prison Blues is one of the great lines...

[marcosgt]

You can get both the prison concert CDs in a box set.

I think I prefer Folsom myself, and that line is great.

M

[JimbobVFR]

Trophybloo said:

Great album, but didn't mention it as the OP wanted a career-wise compilation, which 'San Quentin' is as a condensed example in one album.
I suppose a definitive 5 disc set spanning everything from 'Get Rhythm' to 'Hurt' is overdue

Fair point, well made. It is a cracking Album all the same, The other American Recordings are also really good as well IMO.

For a really good compilation its worth tracking down the Love, God and Murder 3 Disc boxset from several years ago. Of all the compilation albums I've seem this is the best IMO. Nice mix of the well known and more obscure. Each disc is songs on the general theme with each tracklist chosen by Cash.

I believe there's a re-released version called Love, God, Murder and Life that was released after he passed away but not heard the 4th disc myself.

[entropy]

Thanks guys.

I'm leaning towards SQ &Folsom live.

I love the recorded version of Ring of Fire but Cocaine Blues is difficult to fimd in compilations though I find the whooping and hollering latter so infectious.

Then move on to the American series starting with IV.