From Publishers Weekly
The late legendary Cash is celebrated in one of the best of Rolling Stone magazine's series of special tribute books about popular musicians. And as in the series' other titles, the featured artist is treated to an oversize, lavishly illustrated (150 photos) and lovingly written collection of new and old essays. Cash's long career gives this volume more depth than usual, since the writing ranges from Ralph J. Gleason's 1969 column on "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" to a thoughtful and revealing new interview with Rick Rubin, the rap/metal producer behind Cash's mostly acoustic albums in the 1990s. The collection is book-ended by its two best pieces: a wonderful overview of Cash's life by Mikal Gilmore and a fantastic critical discography by rock critic Greg Kot. The photographs—which cover everything from his birth in 1932 to his death in 2003—allow for a greater portrait of Cash, including those from his farm youth in Arkansas and candid shots from his turbulent 1960s career. It helps that Jim Marshall, the equally legendary photographer whose work is generously featured, captured Cash in serene and volatile moments, providing a well-rounded look into the emotional complexity of the self-styled "Man in Black." Indeed, Kot's discography and the photographs alone make this volume essential for a true understanding of Cash's impact on popular music. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Johnny Cash (1932-2003) was, next only to Elvis Presley, the greatest pop musician discovered by Sun Records of Memphis, but while Elvis became Mr. Mainstream, Cash became country music's greatest maverick. Best when applying his sepulchral baritone to songs about mournful love, down-and-outers, and rowdy spouses--sometimes funny ("A Boy Named Sue"), sometimes devastatingly somber ("Long Black Veil")--he had an up-and-down career, punctuated by bouts of addictive upper and downer pill-popping. Though hampered by serious illness during his last years, he was producing some of his most successful work when he died. Selected Rolling Stone articles and interviews, and excerpts from Cash: The Autobiography make up most of the text here; editor Fine's excellent biographical precis, David Fricke's piece on Cash's Sun sessions, Greg Kot's recommending romp through Cash's discography, and brief tributes from daughter Rosanne and several musical friends round it out. Good as the prose is, the wealth of photos, especially those from Cash's family, outshines it. One reason Cash was a star: cameras loved him. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
From the Inside Flap
Sinner. Saint. Outlaw. Rebel.Voice of protest. Man of faith.
Johnny Cash is a giant of American music. In a testament to his life and legend, the editors of Rolling Stone magazine have compiled Cash.
Since its inception in the late 1960s, Rolling Stone has followed Cash's career, writing about him in settings that ranged from San Quentin prison to a glitzy Vegas hotel. Through the years, Rolling Stone has treated Cash not just as a country music star but a rock & roll icon, whose drug-fueled antics, black clothes and rebel stance have made him a hero to generation after generation of rock fans.
More than than the Man in Black image, it's the substance of Cash's music that make him one of the greatest musical figures of the past 50 years--the resonance of his deep voice, the driving beat of his simple, powerful songs, the fighting spirit of his lyrics, and his commitment to social justice. Johnny Cash defied convention and expectation at every phase of his career, and Cash chronicles all of it.
Cash brings together personal recollections from those who knew him best with the insights of some of America's finest music journalists. A moving foreword by daughter Rosanne reveals Cash as a loving, devoted dad who taught his kids to waterski and made homemade ice cream for them on summer evenings. From the Cash family archive we have Valentine's notes to his daughters from the road and many never before seen photographs. A visit with Johnny and June's only son, John Carter Cash, at the family's rustic cabin studio in Tennessee, provides an intimate look at his parent's drive to create new music until the very end of their lives. Moving personal tributes from Bob Dylan, Bono, Merle Haggard, Al Gore, Emmylou Harris, Tom Petty, Sheryl Crow, and Steve Earle show the scope of the people who Cash considered his friends. Mikal Gilmore's "The Man in Black" is a lengthy and thoughtful examination of the full scope of Cash's life and work. Robert Hilburn's 1973 interview "Nothing Can Take the Place of the Human Heart" was conducted in a Las Vegas hotel suite and shows Cash at the peak of his game. David Fricke's interview with producer Rick Rubin offers moving insight into the a remarkable, ten-year relationship between him and Cash that produced some of the finest albums of his career. Greg Kot's exhaustive annotated discography examines all of his classics and unearths hidden treasures among the hundreds of albums Cash recorded. Excerpts from Cash's autobiography let the man speak to his life in his own words. And editor Jason Fine's "A Day in the Life" is a visit with Cash at home less than a year before his death.
Johnny Cash left this world on September 12, 2003, but he left behind songs that charts the highs and lows of the human experience, and that speak to Americans young and old. Cash is the essential tribute to the Man in Black from Rolling Stone, a magazine that has long chronicled the life, career, and influence of this great American man.
Cash FROM THE PUBLISHER
Johnny Cash is a giant of American music. Since its inception in the late 1960s, Rolling Stone has followed Cash's career, writing about him in settings that ranged from the San Quentin prison to a glitzy Vegas hotel. In a testament to his life, the editors of Rolling Stone magazine have compiled this tribute to a man whose legacy is exceeded only by his legend: Cash.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
The late legendary Cash is celebrated in one of the best of Rolling Stone magazine's series of special tribute books about popular musicians. And as in the series' other titles, the featured artist is treated to an oversize, lavishly illustrated (150 photos) and lovingly written collection of new and old essays. Cash's long career gives this volume more depth than usual, since the writing ranges from Ralph J. Gleason's 1969 column on "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" to a thoughtful and revealing new interview with Rick Rubin, the rap/metal producer behind Cash's mostly acoustic albums in the 1990s. The collection is book-ended by its two best pieces: a wonderful overview of Cash's life by Mikal Gilmore and a fantastic critical discography by rock critic Greg Kot. The photographs-which cover everything from his birth in 1932 to his death in 2003-allow for a greater portrait of Cash, including those from his farm youth in Arkansas and candid shots from his turbulent 1960s career. It helps that Jim Marshall, the equally legendary photographer whose work is generously featured, captured Cash in serene and volatile moments, providing a well-rounded look into the emotional complexity of the self-styled "Man in Black." Indeed, Kot's discography and the photographs alone make this volume essential for a true understanding of Cash's impact on popular music. Agent, Sarah Lazin. (May 25) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
Two more Johnny Cash tribute books have surfaced. Adding to their series on recently deceased music icons, the editors of Rolling Stone have repackaged two interviews, articles by cofounder Ralph Gleason, excerpts from Cash's two autobiographies, tributes to Cash from other rock luminaries, and articles by well-known rock journalists Robert Hilburn and Steve Pond. They also produce some new material, including a substantive recap of Cash's career, articles about his Sun Records days and his 1990s comeback, an annotated discography, and a somewhat misplaced interview with producer Rick Rubin. They nestle this text among 150 intriguing black-and-white photos. Miller, who administers the official Cash web site, has published four-color photos of his extensive Cash memorabilia collection, much of it given to him by the Man in Black himself. He has some fascinating pictures, some of which exemplify Cash's penchant for collecting Roman coins and presidential letters. Other, less-compelling photos picture dozens of Johnny Cash's canceled checks and pages of handwritten lyrics. Super-fan Miller also includes a revealing last interview of Cash, conducted by MTV's Kurt Loder. Unlike the Rolling Stone tribute, which concentrates on Cash's musical career, offering a creditable survey, Miller's book provides insight into Cash's character and adds a human touch missing from many other music books. Though neither book will become a standard, both are interesting if not essential for music buffs.-Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Art & Photography
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