Don't Fuck With Johnny Cash
In overall contribution to music and American culture I would say that Johnny Cash is easily one of the most important figures in twenthieth century music. Not just for his music which Little Eva rightfully pointed out has come in and out of fashion but because of who he was and who he facilitated.
Due to his marriage into the first family of country he had a pedigree that was impeccable and was a bridge between the golden age of country and the new outlaw movement which sprung up around the likes of Willie et al. Though that’s only part of it as he was also an influence and sponsor of Bob Dylan (sorry Eva) and got him studio musicians for his Nashville Skyline album as well as writing the intro and dueting with Dylan on the album. When it came time to close the Grand Ole Opry it was the Cash clan that did the final curtain call. But not before Cash had arranged to have Dobie Gray do a number or two. And by doing so made him one of the few black artists to have ever crossed that stage. During his network TV show he not only had the classic country acts up there but also struggling upstarts like Chris Kris Kristofferson. Which fans of Steve Goodman and John Prine duly appreciate. Add to this his having acts like Ray Charles on as well and it makes for musical histoy in the making.
We can delve into his later American recordings but that’s not really nessecary. What those albums do show is that Cash never lost “it”. There are songs that he mastered and made his own, such as this video. There are ones that he tried and didn’t quite work for him (such as his cover of “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones). But he kept going to the end and I recall unashamedly that I cried when I heard that he died.
So for those who feel that Johnny Cash was only a middling or average singer. I would say that suits me quite fine as the only thing I’ve excelled at is mediocrity and that’s possibly why I like him so much. But perhaps at this particular moment it won’t be the man in black whom I turn up but a rarely recalled Barbara Mandrell song which goes by the title of, “I was country, when country wasn’t cool”. That works for me and I would like to think that the man in black would agree.
5 comments:
What Our American Cousin neglected to mention here was this was prompted by an exchange on Slugger O'Toole.
He staunchly defended the reputation and achievement of a Great American Icon.
What is simply astounding is that he had to do so in the context of a Northern Irish website, where (for one side) the acme of musical achievement is the Orange flute band and the self-serving maudlin religiosity of that Paisleyite bigot, the Rev. William McCrea.
This many-talented man, apart from his gospel singing, is an MP, as well as "Minister, Calvary Free Presbyterian Church, Magherafelt; Councillor, Magherafelt District Council; Member, District Policing Partnership, Magherafelt; Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly".
Appropriately, googling his name turns up the message: "DUP.org.uk --- This site may harm your computer."
Sorry for that outburst of bile. Meanwhile, back to my shuffle-mode (currently playing Springsteen) ...
It's odd that just getting into a pissing match on Slugger jumped my hit count ten fold in one day. Which is actually really depressing because I was always content with a hit count if it got out of the single digits for any given day and if it approached twenty, then watch out!
Though such is life for a backwater in the blogosphere.
Not only a "hit counter" (that's what I do when dealing with jobsworths and bureaucrats -- and it can hurt) but also a deserved surge in readership: I am impressed.
However, to be more positive: one or other (or both) of us ought to be acknowledging the passing of Utah Phillips, if not also that of Bo. The latter got impressive obituaries in our local UK press: Utah got zilch.
Malcolm,
No offence, but when you slam the BBC, they respond. 92 readers for a day isn't bad but, I know my league and my limits. A surge in readersihp would be if I could sustain that. I don't particularly want to. Or at least I don't want to put in the effort that sustaining those kind of numbers would require.
As for Utah Phillips. I read that he passed while up at the in law's house. He was old and he got to go in his sleep, not the worst way if I do say so myself, but I feel you are right on that at least, he had deserved more of a eulogy than what he has received. I will see what I can dig up and will encourage you to do the same.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
Post a Comment