Sings the Ballads of the True West [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
Though not among Johnny Cash's strongest overall efforts, True West is not a completely failed experiment, either. Originally released in 1965 as a double album, it weaves Cash's narrations and original compositions with traditional songs and interpretations of other writers' material to draw one man's portrait of the Old West. Cash turns in some of his sturdiest vocals, virtually inhabiting the likes of "I Ride an Old Paint" and Carl Perkins's morbid "Ballad of Boot Hill." And he gets points for not scrubbing up some of the more raggedy old traditional lyrics. But there's often too much extraneous stuff--background singers, strings, sound effects--and while they are clearly to Cash's specifications and executed seamlessly, his own weather-beaten voice alone would usually have been more effective; for all the drama in his vocals, too much of this exasperating set sounds like background music. By the way, this album's mythmaking "Hardin Wouldn't Run" provided the basis for Bob Dylan's mythmaking "John Wesley Harding." The 2002 reissue adds a pair of bonus tracks. --John Morthland

Sings the Ballads of the True West,Johnny Cash,Sony,Country,Country & Western,Country-Pop,Cowboy,Pop,Traditional Country,United States of America

Average customer rating: Sings Ballads of True West Incredible performance, brings the Old West to life! Ambitious, but dated in its style... For die hard fans only Songs of the Old West

Sings Ballads of True West Johnny Cash Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Similar Items: Bitter Tears (Ballads of the American Indian) Ride This Train Songs of Our Soil Blood, Sweat and Tears Now, There Was a Song! ASIN: B00006GO9E Release Date: 2002-08-27

Tracks:

1. Hiawatha's Vision
2. The Road To Kaintuck
3. The Shifting, Whispering Sands Part I
4. The Ballad Of Boot Hill
5. I Ride An Old Paint
6. Hardin Wouldn't Run
7. Mister Garfield
8. The Streets Of Laredo
9. Johnny Reb
10. A Letter From Home
11. Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie
12. Mean As Hell
13. Sam Hall
14. 25 Minutes To Go
15. The Blizzard
16. Sweet Betsy From Pike
17. Green Grow The Lilacs
18. Stampede
19. The Shifting, Whispering Sands Part II
20. Reflections
21. Rodeo Hand (Previously Unreleased)
22. Stampede (Alternate Instrumental)

Amazon.com

Though not among Johnny Cash's strongest overall efforts, True West is not a completely failed experiment, either. Originally released in 1965 as a double album, it weaves Cash's narrations and original compositions with traditional songs and interpretations of other writers' material to draw one man's portrait of the Old West. Cash turns in some of his sturdiest vocals, virtually inhabiting the likes of "I Ride an Old Paint" and Carl Perkins's morbid "Ballad of Boot Hill." And he gets points for not scrubbing up some of the more raggedy old traditional lyrics. But there's often too much extraneous stuff--background singers, strings, sound effects--and while they are clearly to Cash's specifications and executed seamlessly, his own weather-beaten voice alone would usually have been more effective; for all the drama in his vocals, too much of this exasperating set sounds like background music. By the way, this album's mythmaking "Hardin Wouldn't Run" provided the basis for Bob Dylan's mythmaking "John Wesley Harding." The 2002 reissue adds a pair of bonus tracks. --John Morthland

Customer Reviews:

Sings Ballads of True West.......2007-02-01

This is probably my favorite Johnny Cash album. I first purchased it on a reel-to-reel tape in the early sixties. I love this CD even more. Thanks.

Incredible performance, brings the Old West to life!.......2006-12-11

These songs are great in and of themselves, representing the values and struggles of another, better time, the days of the Old West.

However, Johnny Cash's performance is just amazing. This is one of my favorite albums of all time and I cannnot recommend it highly enough to fans of the Old West and Johnny Cash.

I think, after listening to this album, that "Little Doggies" may be the best song ever written. Do yourself a favor, get this album.

Ambitious, but dated in its style..........2004-05-06

Being a Cash fan since 1956, when I was 11, I think I can say that for 1965, this was a pretty good double-LP release that increased Johnny's stature as a folk artist, not just a commercial country or rockabilly performer. Judged by today's standards and tastes, however, it suffers quite a bit. There is too much recitation, both poems and prose narration. There is too much "production" in many of the songs (compare his stark "Bury Me Not" on American Recordings One to the version here.) If any other country performer had TALKED so much on an album, I'd rate it much lower...but Johnny, of course, had a magnificent speaking voice. Still, we fans want him singing, not reciting. And when he sings here, his own interpretions are fine. He had input, but not performing help, from Tex Ritter, Peter LaFarge and Ramblin' Jack Elliot when he was preparing this record, and if those guys had chimed in with backing vocals instead of The Statler Brothers and the Anita Kerr Singers, this effort would be highly prized by folk fans today. Alas, who knew back then that the public would end up preferring just Cash and one guitar on his discs, instead of a whole bunch of supporters? If you like Western songs, and lack some of these in your collection, this is a good price for what you get. I wouldn't recommend it as a person's first Johnny Cash purchase, or even his 10th. Somewhere after that, go ahead, because it doesn't stink...it just isn't the very best of Mr. Cash. One needs his early Sun sides, one of his first three Columbia releases, one of the prison albums, and one or more of the four late-career discs produced by Rick Rubin ahead of "Ballads of the True West." And perhaps "Bitter Tears", full of Indian protest tunes written by LaFarge, before getting this one, too.

For die hard fans only.......2003-10-18

I can't sleep knowing there is a Johnny Cash album out there I don't have (Greatest Hits and Tributes excluded), which is why I bought this days after it's resissue, but I know a mediocre album when I hear one. Actually, this would be an awesome album if it weren't a double album. There's a lot of filler in between the good stuff. And the good stuff I'd heard before(except Sam Hall). If you don't own many Cash albums, don't get this one yet. But if you have a lot of his stuff, then get it if only to support the reissue process (currently I'm holding my breath for Hello I'm Johnny Cash).

Songs of the Old West.......2003-09-13

A nice collection of western songs, sung by the great baritone voice of Johnny Cash, that evoke a feeling of loneliness and heartbreak, but with a sense of hope left.

My personal favorites are "Sam Hall", "Streets of Laredo", "25 Minutes to Go", and "Mister Garfield."

Johnny Cash was an American classic who will be sorely missed.

Highly Recommended!

Average customer rating:

Sings the Ballads of the True West/Life Johnny Cash Manufacturer: Sony / Bmg Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Bitter Tears (Ballads of the American Indian) ASIN: B000E6EI3A Release Date: 2006-04-03

Tracks:

1. Hiawatha's Vision
2. Road to Kaintuck
3. Shifting, Whispering Sands, Pt. 1
4. Ballad of Boot Hill
5. I Ride an Old Paint
6. Hardin Wouldn't Run
7. Mister Garfield
8. Streets of Laredo
9. Johnny Reb
10. Letter from Home
11. Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
12. Mean as Hell
13. Sam Hall
14. 25 Minutes to Go
15. Blizzard
16. Sweet Betsy from Pike
17. Green Grow the Lilacs
18. Stampede
19. Shifting, Whispering Sands, Pt. 2
20. Reflections
21. Rodeo Hand
22. Stampede [Alternate Instrumental]
23. Suppertime
24. Country Trash
25. Night Hank Williams Came to Town
26. Time Changes Everything
27. I Talk to Jesus Every Day
28. You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven
29. I'm Ragged But I'm Right
30. These Are My People
31. Ballad of Ira Hayes
32. Oney
33. Man in Black
34. I'm Alright Now
35. Ragged Old Flag
36. I Wish I Was Crazy Again

Album Description

European only two-disc coupling of his 1965 album, Sings the Ballads of the True West (remastered with 22 tracks) and his 2004 album, Life (remastered with 18-tracks.) Two standard jewel cases housed in an exclusive slipcase. Sony. 2006.

Album Details

Double CD Slipcase Sets that Bring Some of Johnny Cash's Back Catalogue Together.

Average customer rating: A very unusual and interesting collection well mastered CD from DCC and it's classic music Searching for Ballads of the Old West

Sings the Ballads of the True West Johnny Cash Manufacturer: Dcc Compact Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Cowboy | Country | Styles | Music General | Country | Styles | Music General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music ASIN: B00004NRVZ Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

1. Hiawatha's Vision
2. The Road To Kaintuck
3. The Shifting, Whispering Sands (Part I)
4. Narration
5. The Ballad Of Boot Hill
6. I Ride An Old Paint
7. Narration
8. Hardin Wouldn't Run
9. Narration
10. Mister Garfield
11. The Streets Of Laredo
12. Narration
13. Johnny Reb
14. A Letter From Home
15. Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie
16. Mean As Hell
17. Sam Hall
18. 25 Minutes To Go
19. The Blizzard
20. Narration
21. Sweet Betsy From Pike
22. Green Grow The Lilacs
23. Narration
24. Stampede
25. The Shifting, Whispering Sands (Part II)
26. Reflections

Amazon.com

Though not among Johnny Cash's strongest overall efforts, True West is not a completely failed experiment either. Originally released in 1965 as a double album, it weaves Cash's narrations and original compositions with traditional songs and interpretations of other writers' material to draw one man's portrait of the Old West. Cash turns in some of his sturdiest vocals, virtually inhabiting the likes of "I Ride an Old Paint" and Carl Perkins's morbid "Ballad of Boot Hill." And he gets points for not scrubbing up some of the more raggedy old traditional lyrics. But there's often too much extraneous stuff--background singers, strings, sound effects--and while they are clearly to Cash's specifications and executed seamlessly, his own weather-beaten voice alone would usually have been more effective; for all the drama in his vocals, too much of this exasperating set sounds like background music. By the way, this album's mythmaking "Hardin Wouldn't Run" provided the basis for Bob Dylan's mythmaking "John Wesley Harding." --John Morthland

Album Description

Remastered reissue of 1965 Columbia Records release. First time on CD for this 26 track (including narration) collection from the man in black, with sleeve notes by Johnny Cash himself. Tracks include 'The Ballad Of Boot Hill' and 'The Streets Of Laredo. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

Customer Reviews:

A very unusual and interesting collection.......2000-10-29

I have this on very scratchy old vinyl that a co-worker gave me several years back, and I love it. I intend to buy this CD. 25 minutes to go is absolutely hilarious even though it's the story of a very worried man counting down the minutes 'til his hanging. Johnny pulls it off with a mixture of hysteria and humor. The Streets of Laredo, Boot Hill, The Blizzard are all great songs - really miniature human interest stories. I also love the Shifting Whispering Sands. There is poetry besides singing on this CD. It is very different, very unusual and quite excellent. I recommend it!

well mastered CD from DCC and it's classic music.......2000-09-24

This recent reissue of "Johnny Cash Sings The Ballads of The True West" is well mastered by DCC's Steve Hoffman. The music is great and although the liner notes say 26 tracks, there are 20 tracks like the LP, and here are Steve Hoffman's words about why this happened: We had it all worked out to separate the narration from the songs by track numbers. The artwork was then printed. When we sent our new master tape to Sony for laser cutting. Someone there oooopsed and ignored my written instructions while reverting to the old 1960's album indexing. So, a mismatch. Sorry. Mistakes are sometimes made! Still good music, though

Searching for Ballads of the Old West.......2000-04-06

Do you enjoy scavenger hunts? Perhaps this odd CD is your cup o'tea; it's Johnny Cash all right, the old songs just as they were when new, all you have to do is figure out which cut is which. The listing on the insert has little relevance to the final disc. The songs are all there, just not in the order indicated. It is fun to hear these old classic Cash tunes, but the problem is they really do sound just the same; the remastering leaves a lot to be desired.

Average customer rating:

Sings the Ballads of the True West ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Country | Styles | Music Country | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000EGCZPS Release Date: 2006-03-28

Album Description

Japanese remastered pressing includes 2 bonus tracks (Same as U.S.). Recorded between 1959 & 1965, this album shows Cash combining his source material with romantic Western folklore to achieve a vision that was hard-hitting, familiar, and historically resonant. According to his liner notes, he also "slept under mesquite bushes and in gullies" and "learned to throw a Bowie knife and kill a jack rabbit at forty yards, not for the sport but because he was hungry." Appropriately, the songs are replete with frontier imagery, and the spare arrangements (even the strings are subdued) make plenty of room for Cash's resonant baritone, giving rise to visions of open plains and boot spurs jangling in the dust. Highlights include 'Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie' and Shel Silverstein's chilling gallows-pole narrative '25 Minutes To Go'. Of the many fine recordings Cash made for Columbia in the '60s, this is one of his most ambitious and most beloved. CBS. 2006.

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