Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Johnny Cash (with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), Sony Music 2020.
A few years ago, it was all the rage for aging rock superstars to have their music immortalised through collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
Some were successful, others less so.
Now it’s the turn of the late, great, Johnny Cash.
Some songs on this collection have been greatly enhanced by the additional musical contribution of a full symphony orchestra.
Of particular note is the tremendous improvement in Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash’s version of Dylan’s Girl From The North Country which has certainly benefited from the involvement of the orchestra (although it can’t cover for Dylan’s out of tune vocal and the poor timing between the two singers).
The duet with June Carter Cash of The Loving Gift is also enhanced although I still prefer the original.
Other songs such as I Walk The Line could easily have been overwhelmed by a full-bore, enthusiastic, orchestral contribution but fortunately the orchestra played a muted background that was not too intrusive.
Farther Along (with Duane Eddy) is surprisingly bland and Eddy’s contribution is limited to one solo.
Most of the selections come from Cash’s gospel period so they lend themselves to orchestration but somehow, they all seem to lack energy, as if the saccharine strings are sucking the life out of them.
One of the less successful efforts is on The Gambler. The storyline of the song just doesn’t seem to go with the richness of the orchestral opening.
A lush string section doesn’t go with two blokes down on their luck sharing a bottle of whiskey.
Ring of Fire on the other hand works much better because the orchestra is limited to reinforcing the great brass section that is the trademark of the song.
The Highway Man, with Willy Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Cash, also works well.
The huge scope of the original song means that the orchestra can’t overwhelm it.
All in all this album is one for the dedicated fan. It’s by no means the best collection of Johnny Cash songs I’ve heard.
