The Complete Sun Recordings, 1955-1958
The new Johnny Cash biopic starts this weekend and thus far the reviews are pretty solid. It’s no secret that we’re huge Cash fans (who isn’t) so we’re excited to see if Joaquin and Reese can pull off a believable Johnny and June.
There have been so many Cash box sets and collections since his death, the recent release of his The Complete Sun Recordings 1955-1958 arrived two weeks ago with little fanfare. Nonetheless, this three-disk collection is essential for any fan of his music. For those used to hearing the more raucous versions of Cash classics like “I Walk the Line” and “Ring of Fire” included on the legendary Folsom Prison live record, The Complete Sun Recordings showcases a more intimate and subdued side of Cash. The box set includes the studio originals of most of his classic songs, not to mention dozens of forgotten jewels. From the liner notes:
“Can you imagine ‘I Walk the Line’ with a steel guitar?” That rhetorical question, posed by Sun Records president Sam Phillips, went to the heart of Johnny Cash’s years at Sun…
Cash’s signature “boom-chicka-boom” sound, heard on his first Sun record (and nearly every record thereafter), was born of necessity… A steel guitarist accompanied Cash to his first session, but quit after one song, leaving Cash with a guitarist who could only play boom-chicka-boom. Sam Phillips’ stroke of genius was to not care that this very spare sound was unlike Webb Pierce or Faron Young or Hank Williams. He realized that Cash’s baritone needed no more ornamentation than that provided by the remains of his ragged little band…
Cash said, “I didn’t put a steel guitar in my band because everybody has a steel guitar in their band. “Don’t listen to the music on the record, listen to the rhythm.”
Everyone loves the iconic Cash baritone, but listen to the rhythm. It was first put on record in his Sun Recordings. [track list here via Artist Direct]
Cash is King