Customer Reviews
Not the real thing - By: Fred, 21 Sep 2007 
Most, if not all, of the four reviews already on this page, & the Amazon review itself, are mislocated or confuse this album (Spectrum 554 383-2) with another similar one (notice how the reviewers refer to tracks that are not,in fact,in this listing!). This particular album is not the original recordings, but one of those studio remakes from decades later, probably 1998 so far as can be told from the cover notes. Johnny sounds tired (how many times must he have sung 'Ring of Fire' before he came to make this?).
Of course, you get digital quality with a remake, but I'd much rather have the raw & passionate originals. Caveat emptor.
Blue collar hero - By: Greg Farefield-Rose, 21 Apr 2006 
This single CD contains the best of Johnny Cash prior to his resurgencein the late 90sin collaboration with producer Rick Rubin & is difficult to fault with regards to content. All of the absolutely essential classics are included such a I Walk The Line, Ring Of Fire & a duet of Jackson with his enduring soulmate & second wife June Carter.
Cash was one of the few artists who was successfully considered a "man of the people" throughout his career. Tellingly for such a blue-collar hero, his two most famous & critically acclaimed albums were recorded livein American prisons & this compilation features Folsom Prison Blues from the At Folsom Prison LP & the funny A Boy Name Sue from At San Quentin.
The Cash sound stays similar throughout this Best Of with Johnny's deep vocals & fast country-ish acoustic supported by sparing rock'n'roll influenced lead guitar licks, simple root note bass & tight snare-heavy drumming. Female backing vocals & other instruments, such as the brass on Ring Of Fire, are used on occasions to embellish the arrangements with the superb train-like harmonica on Orange Blossom Special being particularly well played & effective.
Having said all this, I'm not a particularly massive fan of Johnny Cash's music though it shows something of the almost universal esteem with which he's held that I have gone firmly on the defensive here. Nevertheless, it's still good to have one JC LP with all the classics & for this purposes, The Best Of Johnny Cash does a very good job indeed.
I'm a beginner! - By: Mr. Jd Ware, 26 Jan 2006 
Having just seen the new Johnny Cash biopic, Walk The Line, & marvelled at Joaquin Phoenix's wonderful performances as the manin black, I just had to check out the real man's work.
And this was probably the best place for a beginner to start. It includes all his famous songs - Ring of Fire, Walk the Line - plus a couple I hadn't heard before - Sue - & also included my personal favourite, Jackson.
In fact, the only thing I wanted more of out of this best of collection, was more duets with June, as Jackson was the only one on this CD.
A live version of Fulsom prison blues is also very memorable. The Cd gives a very broad range of Cash's music, from early songs to the height of his career, & the only track that's sorely missed is Cry Cry Cry.
Still, essential listening, & a great foundation to start on Cash's other works.
Beginner to Cash? Then start here...! - By: Paul Browne, 14 Sep 2004 I'd say this is my fourth year as a serious fan of the big JC. This 'Best Of' here, being my first purchase.
You have to understand how important it is to begin with Johnny Cash's "Columbia" years. The purest & most quintessential of all Cash's work is the Columbia era. Forget the 'Sun' era, it's way to vintage when stood against his Columbia recordings [60's].
Every track on this Best Of is geniusin it's own right. Right from Ring of Fire to the echos of Walk the Line...and the beautiful but cynical 'It Ain't Me Babe' - great song to help convince you being single is the way it should be!
These songs are the punk of their times, they are stripped of glitzy expensive recordings, they're raw, they powerful & they all a GREAT chapterin any person's life who knows the feeling of love, hard times, & escapism...
Miss it at your peril.
Great American Classic - By: , 18 Oct 2001 I love Cash he is the best.Every household must have one.Expessicaly Rig of Fire my all time favorie.I think kids who like rock should be introuduced to this great cd.
They might say no way.Just play itin the car when there around & they will stop being bad boys.Evrey Country singer now a-days are never singing this kinda songs.Kids really don't hear this great all-time classics of america!!!I really suggest this cd to all kids to adults to havein the house,car,or evenin portable cd player.
Think all of Johnnys classics put on one great cd.
