Johnny Cash: Silver CD Track Listing

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Johnny Cash Silver (1979)
Originally Released 1979\nRemastered + Expanded CD Edition Released August 27, 2002\nSACD Edition Released March 11, 2003\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Silver was a below-average Cash outing, due both to the routine material and the mixed attempt to update his sound with more modern production techniques. Brian Ahern, who produced Emmylou Harris, was at the helm of a set that often put a more contemporary sheen on the sound with filters and phase shifters. Plenty of session help was on hand as well, sometimes on trumpet and French horn, and it's usually not a great sign when the list of players on some tracks run to more than a dozen. The idea was probably to make Cash sound less old-fashioned; the ironic result was to make it sound more dated and flat than most of the rest of his catalog, without comparing to his better recordings in the quality of the content. Still, erratic production can't smother Cash's strengths, and the record's not terrible, just uninspired. Some of the better songs include his reading of Tom T. Hall's "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore"; a cover of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" (a song that's hard to ruin) with contributions from Ricky Skaggs, Wayne Jackson, and the Carter Family; and veteran cohort Jack Clement's memorably titled "West Canterbury Subdivision Blues." George Jones adds harmony vocals to "I'll Say It's True," and the 2002 CD reissue on Columbia/Legacy adds two previously unreleased duets with Jones on remakes of the late-'50s Cash recordings "I Still Miss Someone" and "I Got Stripes." -- Richie Unterberger \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nGreat Cash, Distracting Production, October 10, 2002 \nReviewer: Thomas Alan Holmes (Johnson City, TN USA) \nWhen SILVER first came out, it was significant in that Cash was collaborating with some of the hottest writers and musicians of the time. It also marked his first recording of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" and a hot, acoustic-driven studio version of "Cocaine Blues" (still a risky topic for a post-outlaw country album). Still, as much as I admire Brian Ahern's production of Emmylou Harris albums, I prefer the more spare production that Rick Rubin has given Cash's more recent efforts. The rugged integrity of Cash's performance, in my opinion, does not benefit from the polish of Ahern's production. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nNot Silver, but Gold, September 14, 2004 \nReviewer: Sarah Carpenter (Ontario, Canada) \nI'll start this review off by critizing some of the critics of Johnny Cash. Everytime I read a review of an album, invariably someone says "I prefer" or "I'll stick with the Rick Rubin produced albums." Rick Rubin is a gifted man, he saw the inner spirit that Johnny had and brought it forth immaculately, but why do people compare the american albums with other efforts by the man in black. If you think that those cds are the greatest thing since sliced bread, of course you are going to be disappointed when you listen to anything else. To compare the two products would be like putting the Mona Lisa beside a child's drawing. IF YOU FEEL THAT WAY. I on the other hand beleive that Johnny Cash made terrific music his entire career. Even the cd's that I don't listen to all the time, I still love and could hear over and over. Silver is an awesome album, terribly underrated and beautifully produced. The horns on "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore" add to the song, rather than detract. "Bull Rider" is another great song. "I'll Say It's True" the "duet" with George Jones, isn't much of a duet as the latter acts as more of a back up singer than an active participant, though I immensely enjoy the bonus tracks with him, especially his vocal on "I Still Miss Someone." John himself could never touch the stirring original version, my favourite, but this is nice nonetheless. To return to my opening remarks once more, I hope that everyone can enjoy the great music that Johnny Cash left behind. I have nearly thirty cd's (no greatest hits here, except ring of fire, which isn't really a greatest hits package) and that means a lot of good music for me to listen to. But if you only like Rick Rubin produced efforts, your cds should be limited to four (unless you get the amazing box set Unearthed). \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nPainful to listen to, November 24, 2003 \nReviewer: A music fan (Peachtree City, GA USA) \nWhoever paired Johnny Cash with the producer and backup musicians on this album ought to be shot. "Overproduced" is an understatement on a number of these tracks.\n\n"(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" was the big single on this album, but it hasn't aged well, tinkling synthesizers and guitars with special effects sound especially jarring with Cash's rough hewn voice.\n\nTrust me, you buy this album, you'll listen to it once....but I'll wager you don't listen to it a second time. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nNot classic Cash, but an interesting effort, September 9, 2002 \nReviewer: Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) \nRiding high off several years of sculpting delicious Emmylou Harris hits, producer Brian Ahern was brought in to twiddle the knobs on this late-'70s Cash effort. It's not a complete stylistic mismatch; I'm generally in favor of hearing Johnny try something different, although his low-key delivery isn't well suited to reap the benefits of Ahern's ornate "Happy Sack" production style, and Ahern wisely doesn't try to lay it on too thick. This album is sleepy, but it has its moments; and they did manage to get a big hit out of a cover version of "Ghost Riders In The Sky..." A few re-recordings, several new tunes, a bunch of guest performers -- including George Jones, a late '70s edition of the Carter Family, and bluegrasser Ricky Skaggs, brought in as a studio player on several songs. There's also a Rodney Crowell song on here, "Bullfighter," which was hardly one of Rodney's finest efforts, but it's still worth noting the introduction of material by Johnny's new son-in-law... Not Johnny's best, but it's a decent entry in his ouvre. Three and a half stars, maybe? \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nUnsympathetic update of Cash's sound, August 31, 2002 \nReviewer: redtunictroll (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews \nThis 1979 release was recorded and issued in celebration of Cash's twenty-fifth anniversary in show business. Ironically, and to its detriment, the album commemorates Cash's career by updating his sound with the production choices of Brian Ahern. The modern touches and adornments of brass and strings (not to mention phase-shifters on some of the guitars) detract, rather than magnify. The result is an odd compendium of Cash's trademark voice, fine original compositions, well-picked titles from Rodney Crowell and Billy Joe Shaver (among others), and an oddly unsatisfying sound.\n\nColumbia/Legacy's reissue adds two previously unreleased bonus tracks, both recorded in 1979, and featuring George Jones sharing the vocals. "I Still Miss Someone" suffers from the underlying accompaniment (especially the processed guitar), but the combination of Cash and Jones on both cuts is a kick. It's impressive to hear a legend continuing to prospect new songs and new sounds after twenty-five years in the business, and though the songs are fine, the updated sound isn't one of Cash's more valuable strikes. \n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nGeorge Jones, Contributing Artist\nRicky Skaggs, Contributing Artist\nThe Carter Family, Contributing Artist\nBrian Ahern, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nThis is a multi-channel Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players.\n\nPersonnel: Johnny Cash (vocals, guitar); The Carter Family, Jan Howard, George Jones (vocals); Jack Routh (acoustic & electric guitars); Brian Ahern (acoustic guitar); Bob Wootton (electric guitar); Jerry Hensley, Jack Clement (guitar); Ricky Skaggs (12-string guitar, banjo, fiddle); Alisa Jones (dulcimer); Bob Johnson (mandocello); Jack Hale, Bob Lewin (trumpet, French horn); Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Earl Ball, Charlie Cochran (piano); Marshall Grant (electric bass); W.S. Holland (drums); Mark Morris (percussion).\n\nRecorded in 1979. Originally released on Columbia (36086). Includes liner notes by Jonny Whiteside.\n\nDulcimer? French horn? Mandocello? These are not instruments traditionally associated with the music of Johnny Cash. Yet 1979's SILVER features the Man in Black with these odd bedfellows, and the overall sound is given a softer, mainstream production treatment from Brian Ahern (best known for his work with Emmylou Harris). While fans of Cash's usual rough-hewn aesthetic may take affront at such lush settings, the material here is undeniably solid.\n\nSILVER opens with an impressive interpretation of "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore," and follows with Cash originals such as "Lonesome to the Bone," mixed in with excellent versions of "Cocaine Blues" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky." In addition to the 1979 pressing's duet with George Jones ("I'll Say It's True"), the 2002 reissue contains additional songs with Jones on two Cash classics--"I Still Miss Someone" and "I Got Stripes." Throughout the album, Cash's warbly baritone is in top form, and his skills as a world-class yarn-spinner shine. Even dressed in high-gloss production finery, the true grit of Cash's musical personality comes blazing through.
This country cd contains 12 tracks and runs 37min 21sec.
Freedb: 9508bf0c

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