American Recordings - Cash, Johnny (CD)

My taste in music, as in many things, is eclectic. I don't care about what category music is, so long as it's really good. This CD is REALLY good. It's not just Johnny Cash, country music star. It's Johnny Cash, a truly great musician at the top of his game.

The arrangements are simple, the lyrics are straightforward, the stories pack one huge wallop of emotional power. "Delia's Gone," the first cut, grabbed me immediately on my first listen, and it hasn't let go of me yet.

I was force fed a diet of "country" music when I was a kid, and I never cared much for it as a result. It took me years to realize that it wasn't all dreck. I finally realized that Johnny Cash was an innovator from the beginning. He was truly an artist who is beyond category. I feel save in saying that even if you think you don't like "country" music, you'll want to give this a listen. You'll be pleasantly surprised. And impressed. I know I was.