In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that growing up my exposure to vinyl records was essentially the music that my parents had. Johnny Cash was one of those artists my parents listened to, and I heard a lot of his music growing up. It took me a while to fully appreciate artists like Johnny Cash, but he has certainly become one of my favorite artists. Out Among the Stars is a posthumous album, released 11 years after his death in 2003. Rather than try to describe how this album came about, I'll simply use the words of his son John Carter:
"My father had many visions. He was known for them. And like so many other great men, when he pursued them; he did so with all his heart. He only gave one hundred percent - no matter the endeavor. If it were a show tour, a new record, or a fishing trip, he gave his whole heart.
Dad had several primes in his life. Some were spiritual, some creative, some professional; sometimes all three came together for him. His beginning at Sun Records was one. Another was the time around the release of the live prison records. Also at the end of his life, his body frail, but his spirit determined and vibrant. Another of my father's primes occurred in the early 1980s. It is somewhat lesser known but Dad relapsed into pain pill addiction around 1980. It was a few years later in the first half of 1983 that he found recovery. Though his creativity at this time is not as highly regarded by some fans as other times, still he was of perfect voice, content, and of hopeful heart during this recovery.
When I heard these recordings for the first time in so many years what I immediately noticed was the joy in his voice - his spirit was soaring. I heard the vibrant joy. When these recordings were made he was as full of passion and love as any other time in his life - at a true prime.
I am honored to present this previously unreleased album, originally produced by the master Billy Sherrill; this record captures my father at a time in his life when he was wholly focused. These recordings have never been heard before now. So listen for his vision, listen for the essential delight of being alive, being free, and within you may find a true picture of who the man really was."
- John Carter Cash, December 2, 2013, Hendersonville, TN
One of the things that I most enjoy about Johnny Cash is his ability to mix both songs of very dark material and gospel and other more cheerful songs. This album is another fine example of that. In "I Drove Her Out of My Mind" Cash essentially tells his wife/girlfriend that he's going to drive them off of a cliff. But then you have songs like "I Came to Believe" that is just a beautiful gospel song. His ability to do this I think shows what kind of man he was - he dealt with a lot of demons, made a lot of mistakes, and was far from a perfect man - but his faith in God never wavered. He knew where to turn for healing of his soul. And that internal struggle has produced some of the finest music this country has ever produced. Long live the Man in Black.
Side note: Marie bought me the awesome sign earlier this week.
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