Johnny Cash continues to dominate more than three years after his death. "Cash: Ultimate Gospel" is a collection of 24 songs spanning his 4 influential decades of music.
I don’t use the word “dominate” lightly: Cash has sold five million records in the US posthumously, making him the second best-selling artist of 2006. And that’s twice what Justin Timberlake sold, mind you.
So “Ultimate Gospel” feels right on time. Beginning with his early Sun recordings from the ‘50s, the album serves up a warm take on “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” and the bouncy and thoroughly Biblical “Belshazzar,” before moving into some more energetic tracks from the ‘60s, including the beautifully arranged “Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord).” A number of these tracks convey some of the deep dichotomy that was Cash; others come across as more facile, and thus, less interesting. But maybe in a collection of this size, over an hour and seven minutes, that is actually part of the story.
When Johnny Cash has his mojo working, there’s no one like him. His deeply reverent 1981 recording of “How Great Thou Art” is thick with feeling, and he comes across as thoroughly engaged on the closing tracks, especially the heartwarming standard, “Daddy Sang Bass,” backed by the families Carter and Statler.
It can be overwhelming to attempt to tap into the humanity of a figure as iconic as Johnny Cash, but “Ultimate Gospel” gives up enough glimpses to satisfy. Released March 6th, “Cash: Ultimate Gospel” is available on the Johnny Cash website.
