Friday, September 23, 2011

Wide Open Road (Johnny Cash)

Wide Open Road (Johnny Cash) by snewjackswing1983

Hello everyone. It's Johnny Cash Week!

Why not? Actually, it's not an official holiday (though maybe it should be?) I was just listening through my collection of Cash's Sun Records recordings and began to play a long. Then, the thought hit me that I hadn't updated my all-important bloggynet dot com page in quite some time. So here a four version of Johnny Cash songs. Perhaps not his super-hits, but a few good oldies.

To start things off, here is a version of "Wide Open Road." I've only heard this one on compilations and such, as I've never found the album on which this first appeared. It was put out as a single in 1964. There were so many issues of his albums though so it might pop up on the albums "Orange Blossom Special," "Mean as Hell," or even "Everybody Loves A Nut." (Remember THAT one?)

I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash)

I Still Miss Someone (Johnny Cash) by snewjackswing1983

I've always liked the simplicity of this song. Of course, that could be said of many Johnny Cash songs; he never went crazy with his arrangements. But I like how the chorus is sung only once, and the songs ends after the second verse (or stanza, depending on how you like to name parts of songs), as if to say "yep, that's it. She's long gone and there's nothin' more to sing."

My favorite version of this song is the live recording on the classic "At Folsom Prison" album (1968).

Hey Porter! (Johnny Cash)

Hey Porter! (Johnny Cash) by snewjackswing1983

I'll admit I didn't really know this song very well as I attempted to record it, and as a result, I rushed a few of the lines. Cash himself sings it so effortlessly; all those long lines just roll off the tongue somehow. I like the words in this song though, make me want to drive (or maybe I should take a train) through the Smokey Mountains. Also, since it's that time of year, it made me think of SEC football! Georgia Bulldogs!

Cry Cry Cry (Johnny Cash)

Cry Cry Cry (Johnny Cash) by snewjackswing1983

Another one of his earlier tunes. This one appeared on his very first album, "Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar!" It was also his very first single ("Hey Porter" was the B-Side). Enjoy.