John Cash

Compiled and designed in the manner of Love, Murder, and God, three thematically compiled Johnny Cash anthologies released to wide acclaim in the spring of 2000, Life brings together 18 songs from Cash's back catalog that in one way or another deal with the nuts and bolts of many people's existence – home, nation, work, family, surviving hard times, and celebrating good times. Of course, the nature of this theme is broader and not nearly as cleanly defined as the themes of the three previous sets, and a few of these songs might have fared better elsewhere – "Where Did We Go Right" and "You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven" would have fit nicely on Love, while "I Talk to Jesus Everyday" and "Lead Me Gently Home" would not feel out of place on God. But as a summation of the broad and idiosyncratic worldview of Johnny Cash, Life fares very well indeed; Cash could set a protest song like "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" or "Man in Black" next to the fiercely patriotic "Ragged Old Flag" and see no contradiction, and celebrate the importance of hard work ("Country Trash") while savoring the sweet prospect of punching out the boss ("Oney").

Features nine new original Cash Box Kings songs hotwiring the classic juke-joint sound for the modern day. The band also breathes new life into Muddy Waters’ “Please Have Mercy” and Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Pontiac Blues.” Chicago blues diva Deitra Farr and Memphis blues great John Nemeth guest. “Oscar Wilson’s powerful and deep voice harkens back to the golden age of Chicago blues. Joe Nosek blows spirited, muscular harp. One of the top blues bands of this era.”

This career-spanning collection reimagines 12 classic Johnny Cash performances via new symphonic arrangements recorded at the fabled Abbey Road Studio 2 with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Performances range from archetypal Cash classics like “Man In Black” and “Ring Of Fire” to essential musical collaborations including “Girl From The North Country” (Bob Dylan with Johnny Cash), “The Loving Gift” (with June Carter Cash) and “Highwayman” (with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Johnny Cash).

If Out Among the Stars had come out when its sessions were completed, it would've appeared sometime in 1984, arriving between 1983's flinty Johnny 99 and 1985's slippery, sentimental Rainbow. Allegedly, this album – discovered by Legacy and John Carter Cash during some archival work in 2012 – was shelved because its Billy Sherrill production was just a little bit too pop for Johnny Cash's taste, but that reasoning isn't sound, particularly with the Chips Moman-produced crossover of sugar of Rainbow taken into consideration. Moman had been riding high on the hits he produced for Willie Nelson – notably "Always on My Mind," Willie's last great crossover smash – and he applied a similar heavy-handed touch to Cash, who at that point was several years away from his last Country Top 10 hit.

Limited eight CD 60th anniversary hardbound book collection from the Man In Black containing every classic album released by Sam Phillips' legendary Sun Records between 1957 and 1964. To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the release of Johnny Cash's first LP in 1957, Sun Records and Charly Records are proud to present for the first time ever, all seven classic Sun albums in one deluxe collection. 83 songs as they appeared on the original LPs plus a bonus disc of alternate versions, rare recordings and outtakes, all newly remastered from the original Sun master tapes. Also included are every Johnny Cash seven-inch single A and B side originally released on Sun Records, including the hits: "I Walk The Line", "Cry! Cry! Cry!", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Ballad Of A Teenage Queen", "Home Of The Blues", and many, many more. Deluxe 60-page hardback book reproduces original album artwork, liner notes and labels and includes rare photos and memorabilia from the Sun Records archives plus Johnny Cash career retrospective, in-depth album sleeve notes, rare recordings track-by-track, discography, Sam Phillips' recollections, and introduction by Sun Entertainment Corporation President John A. Singleton.

Recorded July 28, 1990 at The Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, New Jersey.