JOHNNY CASH - Gone Girl - (Columbia) - 1978, comment, review, Rolling Stones.

This is one of the few Johnny Cash albums I don't have. It comes from the "forgotten" period of Cash. That is the period between his commercial peak in the early 70s and when he was discovered by Generation X as a result of the "American Recordings" recorded by Rick Rubin in the late 1990s. There are some 20 albums in those wilderness years and I dare say the generations that have recently discovered him will have trouble naming any songs from that period let alone any album titles. In fact it you were allowed to dig into their collections you would find precious little beyond the American Recordings … maybe a live at jail recording, Sun compilation or greatest hits as company.

Cash was unfashionable during that period and nothing he did seemed to hault his lack of popularity on the charts. He covered Springsteen, and others, beautifully to no avail, wrote some killer songs with no success, and he even tried a number of styles and sounds, again with no commerical result. Contrary to popular belief it wasn't even Rick Rubin who first stripped him down to his voice and the barest accompaniment. Cash himself had done that (though admittedly Rubin did it best).

This is a pity as Cash put out many great songs during his wilderness years.

Before I start I should clear up two misconceptions:

That Cash wrote all of his own material;
That everything he did was good

The reality is:

He recorded many songs (around 1000?) but I would think that well over one half up to two thirds are covers.
He put out a quite a bit of of shit ("shit" is harsh, perhaps "crap" is better).

However:

Cash was one of those singers who was a great interpreter. If he liked the lyric he would take it and sing it and make it sound his own. He never distinguished greatly between his own songs and covers. It was all music and the message was important, not where it came from. I assume he considered himself a storyteller so to that end it matters not if you created the story. This also fits in well with the country folk traditions of passing songs down from generation to generation. This, perhaps, in part explains why there are so many covers on his albums.
Crap there may be on some of his albums but it is always listenable crap. Partly because Cash is the great aforementioned interpreter but partly also, and more so, because his voice is quite comforting. We are all so familiar with Cash's voice (and indeed his message) that when he is on the stereo it's as if an old friend is in the room. And, if you listen to him often enough it's as if a favourite old Uncle was talking to you and giving you advice.

Many people can "sing" but very few singers are interpreters (yeh yeh, I know you are all thinking "here he goes again"). But, to take a lyric and make it your own, or even to give it a different meaning or more meaning than it had before is the sign of a great singer as opposed to a good vocalist. Cash throughout his career could do this – the most obvious examples are his interpretation of Lennon's "In My Life" sung with the right emotional pitch from an old man's perspective (not just because Cash was an old man when he sang it) giving the song a meaning that Lennon never intended. Similarly, Cash's magnificent version of Trent Reznors "Hurt" caused Reznor to give praise and say that Cash had given it meanings that he never intended.

And maybe that is why he is so hard to pigeonhole … Country, Americana, Rockabilly, Country Gospel, Singer/Songwriter, Traditional Country, Hymns, Outlaw Country, Contemporary Folk, Cowboy, Christmas Music, Pop-Rock, Country-Pop … are all genres Cash sang in.

Cash is one of the best interpreters of song in popular music.

By way of bio: Refer to the links below or watch the 2005 film "Walk the Line" which is close enough (though decidedly one note)

This album comes firmly from those wilderness years I have mentioned and it is uneven. Perhaps he is not as committed as normal (Cash's voice is more tired or world weary than usual, though still expressive). Why this is the case, I don't know. Having said that the playing and production is good (a cast of Nashville legends – Larry Butler producing, Bill Justis arranging, Nashville sessionmen playing, The Carter Family and Presley's Jordanaires on backing vocals, guest vocals by daughter Rosanne and legend Jack Clement).

Tracks (best in italics)

Gone Girl (Jack Clement) – MOR country with a hip lyric from Jack Clement …
I Will Rock and Roll With You (Cash) – one of Cash's many homages / remembrances of the early days of rock n roll … this one twisted in with a love song lyric … interesting but not entirely successful.

            They used to call me Rockabilly, all of us ran through
            When Elvis opened up the door with a pup-and-pup-and-boo (sic)
            I didn't ever play much rock and roll cause I got so much country in my soul
            But I'm a different man for lovin' you and I take a shot at what you ask me to
            And baby I will rock and roll with you…..if I have to

            Memphis 1955 on Newton Avenue
            Carl and Jerry and Charlie and Roy and Billy Riley too
            A new sun risin' on the way we sing and a world of weirdo's waitin' in the wings
            But I love you and though I'm past 42 there are still a few things yet I didn't do
            And baby I will rock and roll with you…..if I have to

The Diplomat (Roger Bowling) – a story song about a retiring train conductor. Very Tom T Hall and very Johnny Cash especially around the refrain.
No Expectations (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) – one of the best Rolling Stones tracks from one of their best albums, Beggars Banquet (1968). (Let it Bleed from 1969 is probably their best, IMHO). Still the Stones faux Americana is a perfect vehicle for Johnny who does it in the traditional boom chikka boom style of his … great fun. And that sounds like The Carter Family in the background.
It Comes and Goes (Cash) – a typical song. He has written this one many times, though that's not a bad thing. Johnny's vocal here though is a bit to lackadaisical.
It'll Be Her (Billy Ray Reynolds) – a blah country love song …
The Gambler (Don Schlitz) – With it's catchy melody and sub-Kristofferson lyrics it is not surprising "The Gambler" was a big cross over hit for Kenny Rogers in 1979 (though it was on his album of the same name from 1978). Did Cash hear it there or did he do it first? It is generally assumed that Johnny's version is the cover. His version certainly isn't like Rogers' version. Bobby Bare however pre–dated both of them with his version on his "Bare" album from 1978. I haven't heard that version so I cannot comment on whether it is similar to Johnny's version. To make matters even more confusing the songs writer, Don Schlitz, had recorded the song in 1978 also (though he did not necessarily do it first … he was a "songwriter" by occupation before becoming a performer). Which is the original and which is the cover I leave to others to find out. Johnny's version is slightly jarring as Rogers version is so well known.
Cajun Born (Kermit Goell, Jo-El Sonnier) – an ode to Cajun life and very much like a Doug Kershaw song.
You and Me (Roger Bowling, Larry Butler) – featuring June Carter Cash … despite June's glorious voice … so so.
Song for the Life (Rodney Crowell) – Crowell is an amazing country song writer (and singer) who though well known to discerning country audiences has not crossed over to the general public. A pity as his songs are quite complex in their narrative and recall Mickey Newbury in their lyric if not in their quirkiness.

            I don't drink the way that I used to
            Lately that just ain't my style
            And the hard times don't hurt like they once did
            They pass more quickly like when I was wild

            And somehow I've learned how to listen
            To a sound like the sun goin' down
            In the magic the mornin' is bringin'
            There's a song for the life I have found
            It keeps my feet on the ground

            The mid summer days ain't too heavy
            They just flow like a breeze through my mind
            And nothing appears in a hurry
            To make up for some ole lost time

And somehow I've learned how to listen…
Somehow I've learned how to listen…

And …

This is not the best Johnny Cash album … no where near it … but there are some pearls and, again, his voice is a pleasure to hear. I'm keeping this (but then I would have to anyway for the sake of the OCD collection).

Chart Action

US
Singles
1978   Gone Girl   Country Singles #44
1978   It'll Be Her   Country Singles #89
1979   I Will Rock And Roll With You   Country Singles #21
Album
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England
Singles

zip

Album
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Sounds

Gone Girl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8bEjo2suLg

I Will Rock and Roll With You
live

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl1dI_xwTiA

The Diplomat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvMRN7DWy54&feature=related

No Expectations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W634frs8nQ&feature=related