The Man in Black at 70

From the Autumn 2002 issue.

Songs of Our Soil By Johnny Cash Columbia Records: 1959 (reissued in remastered format 2002) To hear sound clips or learn more about this release, Turbula recommends viewing its Amazon.com entry. Johnny Cash Sings Ballads of the True West By Johnny Cash Columbia Records: 1965 (reissued in remastered format 2002) To hear sound clips or learn more about this release, Turbula recommends viewing its Amazon.com entry. Johnny Cash at Madison Square Garden By Johnny Cash Columbia Records: 2002 To hear sound clips or learn more about this release, Turbula recommends viewing its Amazon.com entry. Silver By Johnny Cash Columbia Records: 1979 (reissued in remastered format 2002) To hear sound clips or learn more about this release, Turbula recommends viewing its Amazon.com entry. Dressed in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash By various artists Dualtone / BMG Records: 2002 To hear sound clips or learn more about this release, Turbula recommends viewing its Amazon.com entry. Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Music of Johnny Cash By various artists Sony Music: 2002 To hear sound clips or learn more about this release, Turbula recommends viewing its Amazon.com entry.

The trends in country music come and go: the Nashville Sound, Bakersfield Sound, the Outlaw movement and even the Urban Cowboy craze.

Johnny Cash is being recognized this year with several reissues of his old records as well as two tribute albums as he celebrates his 70th birthday, and though he never carried the torch for any particular phase or fad, his music as well as his character has been a yardstick by which singers and songwriters have measured themselves for nearly a half-century.

Hearing Cash's older records, however, it becomes apparent that he paved the way for others to set new standards. Cash dabbled with concept albums like the reissued "Ballads of the True West" and "Songs of Our Soil" several years before Willie Nelson released his landmark concept records "Yesterday's Wine" and "Phases and Stages" albums.

"Songs of Our Soil," in fact, seemed to reassure fans that folk was still the music of the people, as the album originally was released at the height of its move from the nation's back porches to college campus quads, as well as recording studios in L.A. and New York. And until Riders in the Sky saved the genre, few outside of Cash and maybe Marty Robbins sang Western tunes. Long after "Ballads of the True West" was released and country was going every which way but toward the West, Cash took the old standard "Ghost Riders in the Sky" to No. 2 on the country charts in 1979.

That's on Cash's "Silver" album, which is among the reissues and at the time celebrated his 25th year in music. While commercially successful, "Silver" also put Cash musically on the same map with such progressive country artists as Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and future son-in-law Rodney Crowell.

Produced by Harris' then-husband Brian Ahern, Cash sings Crowell's "Bullrider" along with cuts by Jack Clement and Billy Joe Shaver. The bonus songs, as well as one of the disc's originals, include George Jones on vocals. While Ahern used his typically restrained production, he nonetheless incorporated plenty of brass, obviously realizing Cash's music still required a full sound.

While "Silver" may be the true gem of this crop of Cash reissues, "Live at Madison Square Garden" is a must-have, and not only for its historic value. Recorded in December 1969, it's quite surprising this album was never released. Cash was at the top of his game, with his own network variety show and two No. 1 hits in his back pocket.

Yet, the 26-song set isn't just Cash singing his hits. Carl Perkins joins him on-stage (doing "Blue Suede Shoes" and picking on several songs), as do the Statler Brothers, Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters.

This album, perhaps more than any tribute or any one Cash solo album, defines the depths of his repertoire. Few can touch Cash's sincerity on gospel tunes like "Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)." He of course was among the godfathers of rockabilly, and also proves whining, trembly vocals aren't the key to singing a good folk song.

While indie record companies usually do a much better job putting together tribute albums than do their big-label competitors, that's not necessarily the case with the two odes to Cash's music.

There's an honesty and reverence to virtually every one of the 14 cuts on Columbia's "Kindred Spirits" album. There are horns when necessary, as with Dwight Yoakam's "Understand Your Man," and the trademark Cash guitar licks when called for as on Steve Earle's "Hardin Wouldn't Run."

Bob Dylan sings with uncommon passion, Bruce Springsteen is reverent and understated, while both Hank Williams Jr. and Little Richard are near manic with their tunes. Keb' Mo', however, seems to completely miss the point of "Folsom Prison Blues." Whereas Cash wails with remorse for shooting a man in cold blood, Mo' prefers to place the blame for his imprisonment on someone else's shoulders.

Dualtone's Cash tribute album, "Dressed in Black," is a rather ambitious though uneven tribute effort. Using a house band of sorts comprised of BR5 49 member Chuck Mead and former Cash bassist Dave Roe, it at times sounds like a Sunday open-mic session.

Billy Burnette ("Ring of Fire") and Rosie Flores ("Big River") make it sound like a Cash karaoke party, while James Intveld ("Folsom Prison Blues") and Dale Watson ("I Walk the Line") play it close to the vest yet add their own stamp to their songs. Mandy Barnett and Mead offer up a fun version of "Jackson," and Raul Malo places a pleasing pop touch to Jack Clement's "I Guess Things Happen That Way."

Despite its flaws, it's apparent these artists have a deep respect not only Cash, but for his music.

And with both tributes, it appears the artists were chosen more for their musical integrity and relationship to Cash than for their marketability.

Such an attitude allows the spotlight to remain on Cash, an honor he so richly deserves as he turns 70.

Reviews by Rick Bell. Rick is a writer and editor living in Poway, Calif.