Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks 1964-1971

The Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks 1964-1971. London Records, 1971 (1986 reissue).

Simply put, the Rolling Stones are probably the greatest rock band ever. They're not my favorite, and maybe not the "best," whatever that may mean, but in terms of longevity and influence and what they have accomplished, I think they are near if not at the top of the list. This is easily one of the best greatest hits albums ever produced, a two LP set where every song is a classic. It includes my two favorite Stones songs, "Gimme Shelter" and "Paint It, Black." I spin this one regularly because it's just so good.

Other notable albums from 1971:
Alice Cooper - Love it to Death
Roberta Flack - Quiet Fire

Aretha Franklin - This Girl's In Love With You

Aretha Franklin - This Girl's In Love With You. Atlantic Records, 1970.

Aretha. The Queen of Soul. An artist that only needs to be called by her first name or her nickname and everyone knows who you're talking about. One of the greatest voices in music history, and an absolute legend. Sadly the Queen left this world in August of last year but her legacy lives on. This album was a thrift store pickup, and as you can see, the sleeve has seen better days. The vinyl is just fine, though. There are some great songs on here that showcase her range - the classic "Son of a Preacher Man," two Beatles covers of "Let it Be" and "Eleanor Rigby," and a cover of the Band's classic "The Weight" highlight the album. Her backing band on this album is the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, immortalized by Lynyrd Skynyrd as "The Swampers." Duane Allman also plays guitar on several tracks. I love this album, and certainly need more Aretha in my collection.

Other notable albums from 1970:
Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
James Gang - James Gang Rides Again

David Bowie - Space Oddity

David Bowie - Space Oddity. Parlophone Records, 2015 Reissue (originally released on Philips in 1969)

Sadly this is the only Bowie record in my collection (well, I suppose that's not entirely true, I do have the soundtrack to Labyrinth); original pressings are hard to find and expensive, and newer reissues aren't cheap either. This is his second album and where I felt was a good place to start in beginning a Bowie collection. Originally released in the UK as a self-titled album, it was later released in the US the same year as Man of Words/Man of Music, and in 1972 was reissued with the title Space Oddity.

The title track is one of the most well-known songs in rock history, with those famous first words, "Ground control to Major Tom..." The rest of the album is vintage Bowie - he never got too entrenched in one style of music or one style of clothing for too long. He constantly reinvented himself over the course of his career and left too soon in 2016 after a battle with liver cancer that he never made public. His death came as a shock as most of the world did not know he was sick. He truly is a rock icon and legend.

Other notable albums from 1969:
Santana - Santana
Johnny Winter - Johnny Winter
Rolling Stones - Let it Bleed
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Green River

Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison

Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. Columbia Records, 1968.

This was Johnny Cash's first live album from inside the walls of a prison, and one of the best live albums of all time. This is Cash at his best. He initially became interested in Folsom State Prison (California) after watching a film about the prison while serving in the Air Force. He then wrote the song "Folsom Prison Blues," which became one of his first hits. Cash had played in prisons prior to Folsom, but had never recorded the shows. After Folsom, he also recorded shows at San Quentin (also in California), a prison in Sweden, and the Tennessee State Prison.

This album came from my parents' collection and is widely considered one of the most important albums of all time. If you've never listened to Johnny Cash, there isn't a better place to start than right here.

Other notable albums from 1968:
Simon and Garfunkel - The Graduate Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Steppenwolf - The Second
Aretha Franklin - Aretha in Paris

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits

Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits. Columbia Records, 1967.

It took me awhile to appreciate Bob Dylan. I've always understood his significance and his genius as a songwriter, but for whatever reason I didn't really listen to his music. It may have been his voice, or that his music was too slow and folky (there was a time in my life where I only wanted to listen to music that was heavy and fast). As time has gone by I have learned to love his music - perhaps the greatest of the American songwriters. This compilation album has some of his biggest songs: "Blowin' In the Wind," "The Times They Are A-Changin'," "Like a Rolling Stone," and more. He was the voice of a changing generation, and I can only imagine the feelings a teenager experienced listening to "The Times They Are A-Changin'." For that matter, I can only imagine the feelings a parent experienced listening to that song. It so perfectly sums up the distance between generations during the turbulence of the 1960s. His incredible songs have been covered by countless artists, none better in my opinion than Jimi Hendrix's cover of "All Along the Watchtower."

This album was purchased at Charley's 33s & CDs in Albuquerque, a fun little record store a few miles from the UNM campus. They didn't have the greatest selection of records, but I've been able to pick up a few good ones the few times I've been there.

This copy even came with the original poster:

Other notable albums from 1967:
Glen Campbell - By The Time I Get to Phoenix
Carryin' on with Johnny Cash & June Carter (includes a cover of Dylan's "It Ain't Me, Babe")
Johnny Cash - Greatest Hits Volume 1

Muddy Waters - The Real Folk Blues

Muddy Waters - The Real Folk Blues. Chess Records, 1966.

The Blues. A uniquely American sound, born in the postbellum South through African-American musicians. The Blues. The music that gave birth to rock and roll. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, and countless others took their cues from the blues. My first introduction to blues music came from B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield, known as the "Father of Modern Chicago Blues," is one of the giants of the genre. This is a fantastic compilation of some of his best songs.

I purchased this album at All That Music & Video in El Paso, Texas when we lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico. All That is one of my favorite record stores; they always had good stuff at reasonable prices. I especially appreciated the good hard rock and heavy metal albums they always seemed to have on hand. All That is located in central El Paso, which made it about a 2 hour drive from Las Cruces, through terrible El Paso traffic. I only made the occasional trip down there, which is probably a good thing for the bank account.

If you haven't listened to much blues music and are interested, Muddy Waters wouldn't be a bad place to start.

Other notable albums from 1966:
Louis Armstrong - Louis
The Righteous Brothers - Soul and Inspiration
Nat King Cole - Unforgettable

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights

Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream & Other Delights. A&M Records, 1965.

This one's all about the cover. This is one of the most famous and iconic album covers in music history. Collectors all over the world want this record in their collection simply for the cover. I've never quite been able to figure out why... 😊 Fortunately for anyone who wants one they're pretty much a dime a dozen. Walk into any thrift store and the odds are you may come across a copy. This one came out of my parents' collection. As for the music itself, it's certainly not something I'd listen to much, and that's probably the way it is with most people. Like I said, it's all about the cover.

Other notable records from 1965:
Roger Miller - Golden Hits
Pete Seeger - Sings Little Boxes and Other Broadsides

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go. Motown Records, 1964.

Motown. An iconic name in music history. This is one of several records I own on the Motown label and one thing I've noticed about them is just how good they sound. Over fifty years old but the sound quality is phenomenal. Some new record pressings these days just miss the mark on sound quality, but most of the records from the 60s and 70s are great.

This is the second studio album from The Supremes, and it included three number one hits: "Where Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love," and "Come See About Me." Diana Ross launched her career with The Supremes, and would go on to be a massively successful solo artist after leaving the group in 1970.

Other notable records from 1964:
Patsy Cline: Today, Tomorrow, and Forever

Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire (The Best of Johnny Cash)

Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire (The Best of Johnny Cash). Columbia Records, 1963.

I've written about Johnny Cash in the past, so I won't say much. He's one of my favorite artists, and he's one of the greatest artists of all time, in any genre. This compilation has a few of his greatest hits, including "Ring of Fire" (co-written by June Carter, who would later become his wife) and "I Still Miss Someone." It doesn't get much better than The Man in Black.

Other notable records from 1963:
Hank Snow - I've Been Everywhere (Cash covered that song in 1996)

Harry Belafonte - The Midnight Special

Harry Belafonte - The Midnight Special. RCA Victor, 1962.

This is just one of many albums released by Harry Belafonte over the course of his long career. This one is a bit unique, however, in that the title track "The Midnight Special," contains the first official recording of Bob Dylan, who played harmonica on the song. A traditional Southern folk song, "The Midnight Special" has been recorded by numerous artists over the years, my favorite being the version by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Another interesting tidbit regarding this album: it was produced by Hugo Montenegro, composer of scores for a handful of spaghetti westerns, most notably The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, one of the most well-known movie themes in history.

Apart from his musical career, Belafonte has acted in both film and television, and has been a hard-working activist since the Civil Rights Movement. He was very close to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. He has remained involved in activism to this day, and will be remembered for both his talents as a musician and actor and as an activist.

Other notable records from 1962:
Chet Atkins - Down Home
Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music Volume Two

Hank Williams - Greatest Hits

Hank Williams - Greatest Hits. Polydor Records, 1961.

Hank Williams is almost a legend; a mythical figure in American music history. In fact, you can just say "Hank" and most people know who you're talking about. Hank Williams is country music. Everything that has come afterwards has been in his footsteps; some artists have walked in those steps a little better than others. But that's an argument for another time. Hank's life was short (he died at the age of 29) but the impact he left on America and its music will live forever. His legacy continues to live through his son Hank Jr. and his grandson Hank III but even without them we'd still be talking about this giant of the industry.

Numerous songs have been written about Hank, or used him as subject matter, perhaps more than any other artist. He has influenced countless musicians, and not just country ones, either. His songs have been covered by the likes of Taj Mahal, Jeff Healey, Johnny Cash, Volbeat, Al Green, Patsy Cline, The Rolling Stones, and Isaac Hayes, just to name a few. His story is a sad one, but the legacy he left has brightened the future of many an aspiring musician.

Other notable records from 1961:
Chubby Checker - Your Twist Party (With the King of Twist)

The Platters - Encore of Golden Hits

The Platters - Encore of Golden Hits. Mercury Records, 1960.

I honestly don't know much about The Platters as a group, but this compilation album has some great songs on it, including the hits "The Great Pretender," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and "Only You (And You Alone)." These were the early days of rock and roll and R&B and The Platters were one of the most popular groups out there. The 60s saw the coming of the Civil Rights Movement, and groups like The Platters helped push African-American music into the mainstream, which played a role in breaking down racial prejudices. The music of that era continues to resonate today and is still enjoyable to listen to.

Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs

Marty Robbins - Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. Columbia Records, 1959 (1971 reissue).

I've decided to highlight an album in my collection for every year since 1959 (that being the earliest LP in the collection). There will be a few years in the 1990s and early 2000s where I may not have one to highlight, but for the most part every year for nearly 60 years will be represented. This doesn't necessarily mean it's my favorite album from that year - there are certainly still lots of gaps in my collection that need to be filled. So, let's begin with 1959.

Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs by Marty Robbins is one of those seminal albums that should be in everyone's collection, whether you like country music or not. It's one of the classics of the genre and has been called "the single most influential album of western songs in post-World War II American music." The Western Writers of America have listed six of its songs as being among the top 100 Western songs of all time. "El Paso" and "Big Iron" are two of the best songs, in any genre, period. Both songs have been covered numerous times and the album has been an influence on countless artists. Social Distortion frontman Mike Ness' version of "Big Iron" is one of my favorite cover songs of all time.

Marty Robbins has long since passed on (he died in 1982) but he left a great musical legacy, and this album is his masterpiece and his contribution to the American cowboy mythology, and a must-have in any record collection.

Other notable albums from 1959 in my collection: 
Ferlin Husky - Born to Lose
Hank Snow - When Tragedy Struck 

Malcolm Young

Malcolm Young, founding member of AC/DC, died today at the age of 64 after battling dementia for the last several years. AC/DC has been of my favorite bands for a long time, and although his brother Angus was the face of the band, Malcolm and his rhythm guitar was the driving force behind the band. Malcolm is probably the greatest rhythm guitarist ever. Dementia forced him to retire in 2014, and was replaced by his nephew Stevie on the album Rock or Bust. But on every other album, he was there, laying down that bluesy beat that was so integral to their music. Along with several bass players, most notably Cliff Williams, and several drummers, including Phil Rudd, AC/DC provided one of the best rhythm sections in all of music.

After Bon Scott died in 1980, it wasn't certain the band would continue. But Brian Johnson came in, the band put out one of the greatest albums in rock history in Back in Black, and never looked back. For my money, along with The Rolling Stones, AC/DC is probably the greatest straight ahead rock and roll band on the face of the earth.

Malcolm is now gone. Brian Johnson was replaced by Axl Rose due to hearing problems. Cliff Williams recently retired from the band. I think it's safe to say that AC/DC as we have known it is no more. Angus will continue but it will never be the same. RIP Malcolm.

Tom Petty

"You can stand me up at the gates of hell

but I won't back down"

Yesterday was a sad day in the music world. Many of us woke up Monday morning to hear about the tragic events in Las Vegas at a country music festival. It's a scary world we live in when we can't even enjoy music without fear of being attacked. My heart goes out to those affected (although this kind of thing affects us all in one way or another) by this senseless violence. Then as the day went on we learned that Tom Petty had been rushed to the hospital after suffering a heart attack. Initial reports claimed that he had passed away; these were later retracted and word came out that he was clinging to life. Tom did pass away last night, and the world has lost another musical giant.

Tom Petty (along with his band, The Heartbreakers) was one of those rare musicians that could transcend genres. Yes, he was a rock artist, but he appealed to lovers of all music genres. Some of his music could be very bluesy; some of his music had more of a folk or country vibe. He was no nonsense, either. He did what he wanted to do and didn't care what others thought about it. The man declared bankruptcy just to get out of a terrible record deal - just to prove a point.

Petty's musical career started out in the early 1970s in the band Mudcrutch. After little success, Petty and band members Mike Campbell (one of the most underrated guitarists in the world, by the way) and Benmont Tench (one of the best keyboardists in the rock world) formed Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with two new members, and the rest is history.

Tom and the Heartbreakers put out some incredible music over the years, and Tom put out some fantastic solo albums as well. Tom was also one-fifth of the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, along with Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, and Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra. Mudcrutch reunited in 2007 and put out two albums - I highly recommend checking them out. Fans of the animated show King of the Hill will know that Tom also voiced the character Lucky - who marries Hank's niece Luanne. One of the coolest things Tom and the Heartbreakers ever did was back Johnny Cash on his 1996 album Unchained, which included a cover of Petty's song "Southern Accents." They also played on Cash's follow up album American III: Solitary Man, with a cover of the song "I Won't Back Down." Tom's career was rich and he has left us as one of the greatest American rock musicians in history.

I'm not quite sure when I first heard Tom Petty - my brother bought the CD Into the Great Wide Open when it came out in 1991. A few years later the song "Mary Jane's Last Dance" came out and I bought the greatest hits album that song was on. I was hooked from then on. Petty was one of the great songwriters - his songs were catchy and easy to sing along to, but still had substance and meaning. Someone wrote yesterday that Petty was rock's greatest writer of opening lines; I think that's a fair statement. Tom Petty will be missed immensely by those closest to him as well as his many fans around the world.

The documentary Runnin' Down a Dream is available to stream on Netflix. It tells the story of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and is a great watch. It's four hours long so it might take a few sittings, but it's worth it.

NFL anthem controversy

I've been thinking a lot today about the controversy surrounding the protests of the national anthem at NFL games and feel the need to let some of what I am feeling off of my chest. Please understand that I love the United States of America. It is a wonderful country of opportunity and provides one of the highest standards of living in the world. I've lived in a third world country and I've seen first hand the crushing poverty that many people live with every day throughout the world. I'm grateful and feel blessed to live in the USA. But I'm also not blind to the mistakes this country has made. I'm not blind to the injustices that many still face. I grew up white in one of the safest parts of the country and live there again today. I don't know what it's like to fear for my life walking home from school or work. I don't know what it's like to worry if I'm going to be shot if I get pulled over by police. But many people in this country do. And many of them play professional football.

These protests are not about disrespecting the military. They are about bringing awareness to the injustices that they see in this country. Many people say they should protest in another manner - perhaps. I agree it may not be the best way to do it. But it has garnered attention. It has made their voices heard - if only we would actually listen to what they are trying to say instead of just focusing on their "disrespect" of the flag. Maybe they feel this is the only way to be heard. Only a handful of protests were still happening until the president began his usual Twitter tirade. Yesterday's protests were a response against him. Can we please stop talking about how our employers would fire us if we didn't stand? How many of us have jobs that require us to stand for the national anthem before work? Firing somebody for such a thing would be illegal - it's a violation of our constitutional rights. We don't force children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance (at least we shouldn't) and nobody should be forced to stand for the national anthem. I shouldn't have to say why forced patriotism is a scary thing. It's a slippery slope. I will always stand for the national anthem, but I respect the right of those who don't, for whatever reason.

I feel fairly confident that nearly all of the players in the NFL have some sort of connection to a veteran of the United States military. They love and respect our military and veterans; as I've previously stated, that is not what this is about. Some may take it as disrespectful and that's fine. That is their right. But I have read many comments from veterans over the last few days who support these players' right to protest. They fought for that right, and many have watched buddies die for that right. Many veterans may feel the opposite. I understand that and respect that as well and I am grateful for all veterans' service. My father and father-in-law both served in the military and I thank them.

I hope that this can lead to better discussions about how to solve these issues rather than continue to bicker about them and divide us even further. Unfortunately we have a president who seems to want nothing more than try to divide us. We need to ignore his childish antics and work together to make this country and world a better place for all of us to live in. It would be nice if he would focus on the real issues at hand - natural disasters taking a toll on our own country (yes, Mr. Trump, even though they speak Spanish in Puerto Rico, it is part of the United States), three earthquakes in Mexico that have devastated our neighbor to the south, another church shooting, looming war with North Korea and too many other things to list. But I doubt that will happen anytime soon.

Many will likely disagree with me about this and that's fine. I will NOT be boycotting the NFL. Of the countless sports teams out there, there is only one I am passionate about. That is the Denver Broncos. I have been a fan since my childhood in the mid 1980s and I will never stop loving them. Brandon Marshall protested last year and while I didn't necessarily agree with it, I respected his right to do so. Brandon made efforts to reach out to the Denver Police Department and have discussions about how to fix the problems these players are seeing. I admire him for that. I will continue to respect the right these players have to stand up (or take a knee) to make their voices heard.

Foo Fighters - Concrete & Gold

Foo Fighters - Concrete and Gold. Roswell Records, 2017.

Not many things better than coming home from work on a Friday and having the brand new album from one of your favorite bands waiting for you. It doesn't disappoint, either. I've been a fan of the Foo Fighters since their first album and have loved every one since. This one is a good balance between their straight up rock songs and their slower songs. My favorite tracks are "Run," "Make it Right," "Sunday Rain," and "Concrete and Gold." The title track has a heavy Pink Floyd influence (at least to my ears). Dave Grohl is one of the most talented musicians on the face of the planet and his knowledge and admiration of many different styles of music that has come before him is something I have always admired. I often wonder what might have happened if Kurt Cobain was still alive - would Dave have remained in Nirvana? I have my doubts - I think he likely had that itch to be a front man and do more than sit behind the drum kit. This is the first album that keyboardist Rami Jaffee has been credited as an official member of the band (he is also a member of the Wallflowers). It's not my favorite Foos album (that's a hard one between The Colour and the Shape and Wasting Light) but it's a solid effort that will certainly see more time on the turntable.

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run. Columbia Records, 1975.

I'm currently reading Bruce Springsteen's autobiography with the same title as this classic album. I always enjoy reading about my favorite musicians and learning their stories; Bruce's story is one that is well reflected in his music and in the kind of person he is. The Boss was raised in working class New Jersey, in a poor neighborhood. He saw music as a way out and worked his tail off to make it in the music business.

My first exposure to Springsteen was the album Born in the U.S.A. The title song, "Dancing in the Dark," "Glory Days,"and others were mainstays on the radio and MTV throughout the '80s. It took me a long time to look into his earlier music, like Born to Run. Bruce and The E Street Band released two albums prior to Born to Run, but it was this one that exploded and brought superstardom to Bruce and the band. It's one of those classic albums that everybody should own; the massive sound of the E Street Band and Bruce's unbelievable songwriting abilities are at their finest.

Born to Run is by no means my favorite Springsteen album, however. I prefer his more stripped down work - albums like Nebraska, The Ghost of Tom Joad, The Rising (written in response to 9/11; if you haven't listened to this one, do yourself a favor and do so), and Devils and Dust among my favorites. That doesn't mean I don't love his upbeat rock albums like this one, Born in the U.S.A., and Wrecking Ball, because I do. But I think in order to truly appreciate Springsteen as an artist one must listen to his "lighter" side (although many of his darker songs are of the slower variety). His songwriting and storytelling abilities are amazing. He is one of the voices of working class America and has maintained a connection to his own working class roots, and I've always respected him for that.

When I was serving as an LDS missionary in Peru, I heard the song "Born in the U.S.A." on a bus. It brought tears to my eyes. Yes, I know it's a protest song, but don't ever think that Springsteen doesn't love this country as much as anyone else. He just sees the injustices that come with it, and he felt like young men dying in Vietnam (including his own friends) in a war that many saw as unnecessary was one of those injustices.

From "Born to Run":

The highways jammed with broken heroes

On a last chance power drive

Everybody's out on the run tonight

But there's no place left to hide

Together, Wendy, we can live with the sadness

I'll love you with all the madness in my soul

Someday girl, I don't know when,

We're gonna get to that place

Where we really want to go

And we'll walk in the sun

But till then tramps like us

Baby we were born to run

Soundgarden - King Animal

Soundgarden - King Animal. Soundgarden Recordings, 2012.

It's been awhile since I've posted. I wish I didn't feel like I need to post this; for those who don't know Chris Cornell passed away last evening. Chris was one of the great voices of my generation; he was the voice of grunge, however you wish to define it. Soundgarden was around long before Nirvana or Pearl Jam and Chris and his bandmates were such a huge part of why that scene exploded the way it did. The music of Soundgarden and Temple of a Dog were a large part of the soundtrack to my junior high and high school years - Superunknown was such a masterpiece and saw the band get the recognition they deserved.

After 1996's Down on the Upside, Soundgarden didn't release another studio album until King Animal in 2012. It's vintage Soundgarden. Chris also enjoyed a successful solo career (my favorite solo album being his acoustic live album Songbook) and fronted Audioslave with members of Rage Against the Machine.

Cornell's death has been ruled a suicide; much like Robin Williams, it's hard to make sense of it. Certainly there are demons that many of us have that the rest of us can't see. The band performed in Detroit the same night he was found unresponsive in his hotel room. Seemingly everything was fine; obviously he was dealing with much more than he felt he could handle. It's heartbreaking to think of those who get to that point and feel like there is no other option. My heart goes out to his wife and children, his bandmates, and all those who know and love him personally. He will be missed.

Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars

Johnny Cash - Out Among the Stars. Columbia/Legacy Records, 2014.

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.