JOHNNY CASH
Notwithstanding all the media fuss, American Recordings staggers under its own self-consciousness, starting with the cover photo of the album. Standing in a field against a cloudy sky like some dark Moses, Cash resembles the kind of pretentious icon Charlton Heston became after he made The Ten Commandments and started believing his own myth.
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The acoustic guitar Cash strapped on wasn’t just for show. He strummed hard throughout, an integral addition to the snapping rhythms and primal beats of his band. His voice, always a heavy baritone that conveys deep meaning within a limited range, at times showed the toll of time and was hoarse and ragged. But he held up and got the songs out like he always has.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Basil Fairbanks Studio.
