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My Mothers Hymn Book (Ltd.Ed)
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| A poignant spiritual journey to the gospel roots | |
|  | | Johnny Cash is so many things to so many people, which served to make him so engaging to such a wide swath of culture over the course of his life. It was evident that he battled a great many demons in his 70-plus years on this earth; some he conquered, and others he wrestled with up to the time of his death last year. Never were Mr. Cash's life struggles and salvations more highlighted than when he chose to delve into gospel music. He fought early in his career to record a Christian album, and these songs that he loved were a prime element of his recording and performing from that point forward. In fact, he may very well have made it "hip" to enjoy this music. So, it is fitting that his first posthumous release is the thoroughly beautiful and powerful "My Mother's Hymn Book". This disc exposes the spirituality and vulnerability of Mr. Cash in his twilight years, and continues the trend of his career resurrection with the American Recordings label. As described in the liner notes, Mr. Cash recorded songs taken from his beloved mother's hymn book (hence the title of the disc). These songs are pure old-time gospel; songs and hymns that have been a staple of Christians for decades. What makes this disc so powerful is in the simplicity of its production. All the tracks were recorded just with Mr. Cash's vocals and his acoustic guitar. The result is that the songs are performed as the listener would hear in church. However, there are more intangibles to this recording that make it a wonderful experience to listen to. As with almost every song in his extensive catalog, Mr. Cash conveyed a sense to the listener that he lived the experiences that were put to music; that is no different in this case. Mr. Cash's vocals relate a raw emotional quality that are enhanced even more by the knowledge that he and his wife's time on earth was short. But, there is a power and confidence to his effort that suggest he was comfortable with his place in life and also with his spiritual future. When I first purchased this disc, I listened to it in entirety three times. I just hit "replay" on the CD player and was enthralled with what I was hearing. I could not wait to share this disc with family and friends, and likewise, I am eager to recommend this to a wide audience. Not only will Johnny Cash fans enjoy this, but fans of Christian music - or just good traditional music in general - will also find this captivating. Therefore, I give "My Mother's Hymn Book" a hearty five-star rating.
| | | Johnny Cash. Like Elvis Presley, was a person who carried with him through all of his storms a deep and richly textured variety of faith.
Christianity was the basis for his survival much as it was the only remaining aspect of dignity carried by Elvis.
Elvis didn't survive, and went to the higher place at a far too young age as we all know. But, Johnny was destined for deeper things. Recovery first and foremost. Then, love. In it's truest sense and definition. His relationships to both June Carter Cash and the Lord are his most personal accomplishments. His successes with his craft of songwriting, singing, and surviving are not to be dismissed. Upon his passing we have a set of songs to carry us even closer to the man then maybe we had ever been before. These performances are Johnny Cash singing to you and me. One on One. Whoever is listening and wherever you are listening. This is the truth.
Sung by just the man and his guitar. An absolutely perfect display of spiritual connection. Wow, Thanks Johnny and Rest in Peace.
| | Prayers from a Faithful Son and a True Artist | |
| | It is important to say -call it the result of not being warned time after time, of the actual source of posthumous releases- that "My Mother's Hymn Book" is, without exceptions, the exact same collection that appeared as volume 4 of the "Unearthed" set. That said, and for people who can't or would not buy the 5-CD set, this is a remarkable album in its own right. Whether you grew up listening to these or similar songs at home or church or not, whether you are even religiously inclined toward the Christian faith or you profess some form of agnostic alergy to spiritual music, it would be very hard not to be drawn to the austere honesty and profound depth of these renditions. For Cash's devotees, this is yet another true gem from the inexhaustible soul of a great artist. The fact that Cash decided to record these old hymns knowing full well that he was dying makes the listening experience even more meaningful, an act of faith and an artistic document of moving depth, but, and this must be stressed, its musical value is unimpeachable, it is not "great" because of biographical circumstances -imminent death, a last musical statement of glorious and long career, etc.- its greatness is fully attained in artistic value alone. Even at the end, his voice clearlyn weakened by illness, Cash' singing has not lost any of its presence nor the well-earned authority of his phrasing. To listen to Cash, always, is to listen seriously to a man who would never indulge in words he did not mean. Being a proud owner of the "Unearthed" set (you can see my review of the 5-disc set too), yet understanding that not everyone may want to invest so much, I'm glad that this album has been released. So, I do not disparage the record company for putting it out as a "stand-alone" item, although I do resent that it was released around Easter, in the wake of Gibson's "Passion of the Christ", to benefit commercially from such media-fueled controversy. I doubt Johnny would have appreciated such Philistene strategy, yet in the end, as with any authentic works of art, nothing can stain its message.
| | | I'm not a particularly religious guy. In fact, the world could do with a lot less religion, by my account. Unless it is the sort of spirituality presented and evoked in this lovely and profoundly moving testament Cash has delivered to his Lord, his mother, to all that is sacred about this life. There are no halleluiahs, no gospel raves, no snake charmers and thank you Jezez, shout outs to the Lord God who blesses my career , you know all that rubbish you hear on Grammy Awards whenever some social pariah needs to justify their existence and feign humility.
Nope. This is a man, kneeling in a chapel by himself, praying from his mother's book. I can think of nothing more sincere and heartfelt than this set, delivered by John thoroughly unaffected. It is quiet, joyful, solemn,acoustic music. No overproduction. In all these respects it is one of the finest genuine evocations of the human soul you will ever hear. This is the best that American music can be. Embrace this CD. It is one last reminder of the importance of Shakespeare's admonition, "To thine own self be true." Here is the ontological proof.
| | Johnny Cash: Soft and Tender | |
| | | When you grow up in a church, you grow up knowing a certain set of songs. They indelibly define your faith. The songs on this album come literally from his mother's hymn book, so the collection is unique in that these are the songs Cash knew before we knew him. We know Cash as the Man in Black, a man who defined his part in this world's suffering. This album reveals another side of Cash, one not of his own making, but of the Lord's -- this is the man we ought to understand: the man of faith. "My Mother's Hymn Book" is volume four of the Unearthed box set, so for those who own Unearthed, it is a collector's item. As an album in its own right, it is quite unadorned. Simply Cash, his guitar and the hymn book. Released around Easter and in the wake of the Passion of the Christ, the album might benefit commercially, but it is anything but commercial. As a collection of songs, it reminds one of Cash's earlier gospel output -- yeah, he wants to sell albums, but this is his tithe (offering). This listener is grateful to receive it.
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