VH1 Storytellers - Cash, Johnny (CD 2002)

The pairing of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash showcases two living legends miraculously still performing up to legendary standards after a lifetime of creation. At this point, storytelling and performing features each icon at their apex.

Background:

Mr. Ca$h

The 'Man in Black' has been performing his three-barred rugged baritone croon since Elvis began swiveling his hips with the same record company (Sun Records). He has survived, although his style has not been significantly altered over the years (until the 1990's), but is a "one of a kind" living legend that has never sold out. His string of standards include: A Boy Named Sue, Ring of Fire, I Walk The Line, Cry Cry Cry, Folsom Prison Blues, One Piece At A Time and etc. He continues to create relevant music with his cover of NIN's, Hurt and Soundgarden's, Rusty Cage. Over the years, he has collaborated with numerous artists and is never afraid to put his legend on the line with such pairings. His groupings included (but not limited to) Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson (in the outlaw supergroup, the Highwaymen), Jerry Lee Lewis and Hank Williams Jr.

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson started behind the scenes as a songwriter and background musician in the 1960's. As a relative unknown, he wrote the country standard, Crazy that was most notably performed by Patsy Cline. Other huge hits penned for others during that period included, Nite Life performed by Ray Price, Hello Walls by Faron Young and Funny How Time Slips Away by Billy Walker.

Finally, in 1975, he became a star with a unique country concept album, Red Headed Stranger. Although he previously recorded his own music, he was not considered much more than a songwriter prior to this release.

His singing style is a character-filled croon; almost as if he is crying at times. The description is off-putting because it certainly has a unique beauty that carries his words effortlessly. They encapsulate the soulful offerings like, Blue Eyes Cryin' In the Rain.

After this release, he continued to grow into the 1980's into a glossier (yet adventurous) pop artist as a soloist and collaborator. His hits during this period included: Blue Skies, On the Road Again, Angels Flying Too Close to the Ground and To All the Girls I've Loved Before (with Julio Iglesias) among an army of others.

In the mid-eighties, Willie removed the sleekness and helped form the Highwaymen with Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. They made four albums in 10 years and spawned more classics like 'Highway Man', 'Desperados Waiting For A Train' and 'Silver Stallion'.

The Setting:

A 'live' performance and is recorded as a show for VH-1 in an intimate setting with an audience of approximately 200. The duo are seated on stage with chairs and their guitars, like two buddies relaxing on a porch passing time in the warm summer air.

Track Listing:
1. Riders In The Sky, (Ghost)
2. Worried Man
3. Family Bible
4. Don't Take Your Guns To Town
5. Funny How Time Slips Away
6. Flesh And Blood
7. Crazy
8. Unchained
9. Night Life
10. Drive On
11. Me And Paul
12. I Still Miss Someone
13. Always On My Mind
14. Folsom Prison Blues
15. On The Road Again


------------------The Performance------------------

Ghost Riders In the Sky began with ad lib banter that developed immediately into verse. Quickly, it was revealed that their voices have grown older, but in the case of this recording; it suits these world-weary works. Willie can still reach his notes with relative ease, while Johnny struggles with crooning beyond a singular note these days (much like Lou Reed has always been).

The song itself is a laid back classic. The lines are traded as each are casually strumming along. It's dark cowboy fare that could be felt being worked at a campfire in order to relax a band of outlaws before a night's sleep prior to reaching a demanding fork in their collective roads.

Worried Man is introduced with banter about possibly working on another Highwaymen tour and then segs into the creation of the song (written by Johnny Cash). The title as expected is quite bluesy and suitably follows Ghost Riders In the Sky musically and fittingly reveals the story about a man that is facing personal crisis.

Following the song, they talk about other recordings and their beverage selection (which is rather amusing). Discussing the next selection, Willie reaches inside and pulls out The Family Bible.

Musically, it's a soft country ballad that expresses that there are solutions to everyday problems when we have the Family Bible.

Willie relayed how his beverage and its lack of 'spike'. Don't Take Your Guns To Town was chosen by Cash as the next tune.

This version is customary Johnny Cash guitar strut (not unlike the chug of a train), but is worked as a bluegrass number, which blends well the prior selections. With this selection, his voice is not stretched and sounded nearly identical to how he originally performed it decades ago.

From talking 'spontaneously' about quirky scenes from life before they were stars, Funny How Time Slips Away is curved in. Willie penned the song (as above-mentioned) in the 1960's and it became a hit for someone else. This is among Willie's best numbers and he sung it incredibly. Although it is rather mellow, Funny How Time Slips Away is slightly livelier than the preceding works and the delivery and arrangement is more dynamic.

Johnny then uses his wife (June Carter) as help to tell the audience (and Willie) about the making of Flesh and Blood. It would have been sequenced better of it followed The Family Bible because it's a better song and would make even better use of its slightly superior dynamic and a solid Cash vocal performance.

For the 1st time, the dialogue is minimal and 'The Red Headed Stranger' strums right into Crazy. When Cline performed this piece, it was simply wonderful, but Willie does his creation justice by the infused character and unique & semi-playful inflection in his voice. After singing, he revealed that the song originated with a different title, but Stupid would not have been as effective.

Unchained was a recent release of Cash's that is textured with somber tones. He initially strained when his pitch was stretched, but then he works his kinks and then it sounds absolutely brilliant at the end. During the last thirty seconds, his held moan was just unbelievable. I never heard Johnny carry a note better.

Night Life was sung and played with little accompaniment by Willie. There was so much offered in this performance. When Willie plays his bluesy brand of country it's absolutely piercing and this arrangement simply gets it.

Drive On was Cash's contribution to his thoughts on the Vietnam War. He relayed the message of getting pain, but it doesn't mean anything because of who loves him and the necessity to forget it and move on. Appropriately, it's cast with dark support.

Me and Paul is a ditty that is my favorite Nelson track. It is a little upbeat bar song, but the war stories capture me and almost brings me to tears. There's no sad story, but is completely sincere and in he 1st person. The lyrics are amusing and encapsulate the charm of this artist.

I Still Miss Someone was written by Cash. This track is heartfelt with its folk arrangement and longstanding torture over the lost (or break up) of a loved one. Then, Johnny makes a request for Willie to sing, Always On My Mind.

Always On My Mind is an epic love ballad that reaches deep into your soul and clasps it. His regret is obvious and brilliantly packaged with an acoustic guitar, manipulative vocals and simple yet perfectly wrapped lyrics.

a brief aside:

Willie Nelson has the uncanny ability to work with your emotions and make you feel the story within the song. Sincerely, I believe that even if you did not speak English that you could interpret a Willie Nelson song. You could feel and GET him without even closely listening. This skill makes him one of the best songwriters that I ever heard.

...back to the performance...

Folsom Prison Blues was made just to be heard back in 1952. After years of work, Johnny finally had it played on radio to become a timeless classic. Considering the previous selection, any song would be hard-pressed to and not be passed over after Always On My Mind. Lyrically and musically, this is Cash at the top of his game. He used this song as a platform to discuss the life of a prisoner as seen through the eye's of one.

After thanking each other, On the Road Again was cheerfully ripped through (in a minute and a half) to close this wonderful show.

Mico's Conclusion

When you listen to this album, it feels as if history is being made. The sound quality is awesome without any instruments bleeding into each other with flawless vocal separation.

Some of the above-mentioned performances even improved on some of these classic tracks and their storytelling was very informative, engaging, comical and added to each song's luster. Honestly, this record is indispensable because the songs (regardless of how great they are) are secondary to the interaction.

50 years from now, I could anticipate this VH-1 Storytellers CD to be completely indispensable for fans of popular music history. At this time, VH1 Storytellers - Johnny Cash/Willie Nelson is an underappreciated masterwork. There are minor pitch flaws by Johnny, but they act as only barely detectable surface scratches on a Ferrari.