In an age where "Christian" Rock is increasingly making waves, people need to give far more heed to albums like this! THIS is what religion should be: Real, Honest, and Life-Changing. Amen, Johnny... Amen!


Cash spreads the good news   June 4, 2005
Greg Brady (Capital City)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

This disc collects together music handpicked by Johnny Cash to express the religious faith he grew up with that sustained him through a hard life as a cottonpicker in Arkansas, the death of his older brother at a young age in a sawmill accident, and by Cash's own account through a long battle with booze and pills. The God Cash sings about is not some casual acquaintance or marketing tool to capture a certain segment of his listening audience: it is Someone Cash knows and loves and he Wants you to love Him too. The songs here range from a 1957 track ("Belshazzar" cut while Johnny was still with Sun Records) through 1996 ("Kneeling Drunkard's Plea" on American Records).

HIGHLIGHTS:
"Redemption" is probably the single most powerful tune here: expressing the totality of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. "Man in White" is a clever retelling of Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus. ("I was blinded so that I might see...") "Belshazzar" was one of the few gospel tracks Sam Phillips allowed Johnny to cut while at Sun and it's a good one. The trademark "boom chicka boom" guitar underscores the tale of a king "Weighed in the balance and found wanting" by a disembodied hand.

LOWS:
"The Great Speckled Bird" is a country music/gospel standard but Johnny's version doesn't really sound heartfelt. Johnny himself in the liner notes says "At times, I'm a voice crying in the wilderness, but at times I'm right on the money and I know what I'm singing about." I'm guessing that was a "wilderness" moment.

BOTTOM LINE:
Fans of Cash who aren't opposed to genuine emotional Christian expression will find a lot to love here. Fans of Christian music who usually listen only to touchy-feely "I'm OK..you're OK" lyrics should get a load of "Redemption" for another take on what the gospel really means. Gospel means good news..and Cash loved to spread it via song. This anthology demonstrates that love. The best gospel song Cash ever did, though ("The Man Comes Around"), doesn't appear here because this compilation was assembled before its release. For that reason, after getting this one you'll need to get AMERICAN IV: THE MAN COMES AROUND as well for a spine-tingling account of the Apocalypse to come.


Best Cash/best gospel   November 1, 2003
nvillenavy (Brentwood, TN, USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

This is the first time I've ever done an online music review but just bought this CD last night. I've been a Johnny Cash fan for years and have only been listening to country/bluegrass gospel since O' Brother. This is quickly one of my favorite Cash albums and one of my favorite gospel albums. "What on Earth Will You Do for Heaven's Sake" isn't a teaser followed by a bunch of junk, it sets the tone for some wonderful music that only that voice, that wonderful voice of Johnny Cash steals right into your heart with. "Greatest Cowboy of Them All", "Great Speckled Bird", "Old Account", "Swing Low", "When He Comes", "Kneeling Drunkard's Plea", "Man in White" (if you know the story behind the song, I promise you'll end the song quite misty-eyed), and "Angel Band" (what a beautiful version here) are a long list of real stand outs.


Religious Ballads the Cash way   June 25, 2000
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Despite all his wrong doings, God still holds a place in heaven for Johnny Cash. Cash has known throughout his entire career and has praised God for this.

This CD is a great collection of songs selected and performed by Cash that express his love for God. Listening to this album, you have figure that if God has a place for Johnny Cash, He should have a place for you.