- Audio CD (19 Jan 2004)
- Number of Discs: 5
- Format: Box set
- Label: Mercury Records Ltd (London)
- ASIN: B0000TLA9Q
- Other Editions: MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 82,192 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Product details |
Track Listings
| Disc: 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Long Black Veil | |||
| 2. Flesh And Blood | |||
| 3. Just The Other Side Of Nowhere | |||
| 4. If I Give My Soul | |||
| 5. Understand Your Man | |||
See all 18 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 2 | |||
| 1. Pocahontas | |||
| 2. I'm A Drifter | |||
| 3. Trouble In Mind | |||
| 4. Down The Line | |||
| 5. I'm Movin' On | |||
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See all 16 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 3 | |||
| 1. A Singer Of Songs | |||
| 2. The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore | |||
| 3. Redemption Song - Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer | |||
| 4. Father And Son - Johnny Cash, Fiona Apple | |||
| 5. Chattanooga Sugar Babe | |||
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See all 15 tracks on this disc
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| Disc: 4 | |||
| 1. Delia's Gone | |||
| 2. Bird On A Wire | |||
| 3. Thirteen | |||
| 4. Rowboat | |||
| 5. The One Rose (That's Left In My Heart) | |||
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See all 15 tracks on this disc
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Over the course of five mesmerising CDs, Unearthed shows us just how Johnny Cash's now-legendary handful of recordings for American Records came to be. Four discs feature previously unreleased tracks from the famed Rick Rubin-produced sessions. Through their inconsistencies and quirks (and, more often than not, brilliance), they shed light on how Cash's final records were shaped, edited and produced. Here we get some creative pairings: Fiona Apple providing guest vocals on Cat Stevens' "Father & Son" and the late Joe Strummer duetting with Cash on Bob Marley's "Redemption Song". Neither are the definitive statements that some of Cash's covers from this period are (his glorious takes on Nick Lowe and Danzig, to name just two), but they're still very much worth hearing.
Most riveting are the numerous traditional numbers, the songs that were clearly closest to the Man in Black's heart. "Banks of the Ohio", Billy Joe Shaver's "Old Chunk of Coal", Stephen Foster's "Hard Times" and the entire disc of previously unreleased gospel tunes are powerful statements, tunes where you feel privileged to hear Cash--despite declining health and failing voice--sing one more time, the way he wanted. The last disc of this monumental set is a "best-of" compilation of tracks that did make it on the American individual discs, a reminder of just how groundbreaking these sessions were. Perhaps the biggest highlight in this awe-inspiring set is its vast liner note, a loving collection of essays and recollections that highlight the history and stories behind this eclectic array of songs. --Jason Verlinde
Review
Did Johnny Cash ever give a bad performance? Even when his voice was gone or the song didn't really suit him, he always gave 100%. This mammoth five CD box of seventy nine tracks from his American Recording sessions will only enhance his legend.
Cash once said he knew about a thousand songs. Particularly on the first CD, starting with a powerful performance of ''Long Black Veil'' this feels like a one man journey through the history of American song. He lived with the likes of ''Understand Your Man'', ''Banks Of The Ohio'' and ''Fifth Man In The Fire'' all his life, and his performances are relaxed, warm and soulful.
There are delights throughout: a towering performance of Tom Waits' ''Down There By The Train'', and a spine tingling take on Neil Young's ''Heart of Gold''. There's a live version of ''Bird On A Wire'' with gorgeous strings which is better than the original. And an entire CD of religious songs from the Christian song book he learnt at his mother's knee.
The material is arranged in roughly chronological order and by CD 3 Cash's voice starts to deteriorate. But this just means that the likes of ''A Singer Of Songs'' and ''Hard Times'' become almost unbearably poignant. When he sings about meeting his maker you feel he knows that time is coming soon.
Only the fifth CD, a best of the American albums, seems superfluous. If you are going to buy this box you will already have ''Solitary Man'' and ''The Man Comes Around''. It's true that there is no ground breaking version of a contemporary song, no fresh triumph like ''The Mercy Seat'' or ''Hurt''. But Cash's rejects are better than most artists' greatest hits.
Listen. You might be nervous about spending money on a big box set. But you're a Johnny Cash fan, right? You want to hear his gritty version of Steve Earle's ''Devil's Right Hand'' don't you? There's only one way to get it... --Nick Reynolds
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 46 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
You are reading this review no doubt already aware of Johnny Cash's American series from roughly the last 10 years of his life: If so you can expect the same level of quality throughout the set.
But for owners of the other CDs the 5th disc, a best of, is unecessary - Surely a £50 box set is only for the fans that presumably have most of Cash's recent output?
Otherwise though the collection is one of Cash's best, including re-worked versions of his older songs ('Flesh & Blood') and a wealth of top covers like Neil Young's 'Heart of Gold'. Cash himself declared the 4th disc, 'My Mother's Hymn Book', a collection of spirituals as a career favourite. For me though it is the 2nd & 3rd discs that show more fully realised songs that could easily have made it to one of the four studio albums. The much-discussed duet with Joe Strummer on Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song' is sublime as are many of the unreleased tracks recorded with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
Likewise the packaging and accompanying book with commentary on every track by Cash / Rubin act as a fitting tribute to the Man in Black . Given that American Recordings 5 is still meant to be released in '04 Rick Rubin must have some absolute gems in his library of songs - as its hard to fault the quality of this collection.
40 of 42 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Unearthed is a treasure chest of Cash's movingly sung, austerely rich marvels of American music. Although a handful were written by Cash himself, his artistic weight and keen capacity to interpret the songs of others, makes this 5-CD set the stunning legacy of a man who is an icon the history of Earth's music -to call it "country," "contemporary" or "American," although accurate would not do justice to the universal power of his work. What is still more astonishing to me is that these five CDs never fall into the common, tired batch of outakes and discarded mishaps that we are so used to seeing record companies put out, on behalf of other musical legends, nor is it the "sure-thing" approach of gathering classics and re-selling them with the excuse of having being remastered -which so often is impossible to justify or hardly an improvement. No, this is five CDs of authentic greatness, the late work of a man who was beginning to say goodbye to life but was not done with honoring his craft or searching his soul. The fact that three out of five units are entirely dedicated to material recorded but not previously chosen for the American Recordings series, says something about Cash's productivity, but even more about the endless creativity he found partnering with Rick Rubin and the trove of great material they conceived together. Practically every song -including the CD devoted to old hymns and gospel songs- is treated with a consistent austerity of arrangements and focus on Cash's voice; it is amazing how rich they are, without an endless parade of star-guests or elaborate strings, or other witless and predictable avenues often followed by aging stars joining forces with ambitious producers. Here, none of that is indulged on, here Cash and Rubin breathe into life an amazing musical document. Even the fifth CD which gather a cross-section of what already came out in the original four American Recordings is fitting, and will be particularly appreciated by those who do not own such CDs. As far as the specifics of the songs covered, other people before me have already done a great job of describing them. As to the argument on who should buy such expensive and extended set by one artist, I would have a hard time not recommending it to anyone who appreciates great artists in any genre. You can learn more about America listening to this box-set than driving throughout the country over and over. And that's ultimately the legacy of Cash and Rubin's partnership: to have captured the essence of art, transforming an individual experience into a universal message.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After the passing of Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley, the death of the incomparable J.C. so soon after that of his beloved June, means there is one hell of a choir of Sam Phillips' boys assembling behind the Ol'Pearly Gates.This body of work featuring some breathtaking covers of contemporary songs in addition to John's own compositions is a mighty legacy and tribute to both the Man in Black and the vision of Rick Rubin, who sympathetically captured the true essense of the artist, as his producer.Few artists can boast a catalogue as diverse, memorable and remarkable as Johnny Cash and this collection of unreleased and inspirational material is as vital as the myriad albums and compilations which preceded it. John enjoyed a much deserved critical renaissance in latter years being courted by the likes of Bono and Nick Cave, and this fusion of modern songwriting influences and the true Country story-teller roots of JC's work make this a five star box set. With each track being essential listening, there is refreshingly no filler material to pad out the collection.In addition to the 4 other albums of American Recordings and the many fine collections of his earlier material, Unearthed is a treasure trove for devotees and new acolytes alike.
RIP Genius...........
RIP Genius...........
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent Cash!
I was lucky enough to get this eventhough is out print from some time since I wasn't aware that this box was released at that time. Read more
Published 5 months ago by MARCOS ANTONIO BELLO PEREZ
Unearthed: Johnny Cash - Cash continues to deliver from just the other...
In the last few years of his life Johnny Cash enjoyed an artistic, popular and commercial renaissance with a series of records made for the American label, presided over by Rick... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Victor
Unearthed: Johnny Cash - Cash continues to deliver from just the other...
In the last few years of his life Johnny Cash enjoyed an artistic, popular and commercial renaissance with a series of records made for the American label, presided over by Rick... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Victor
Enjoyable
This is a good album if you do not have a lot of Johnny Cash. The download was easy and cost effective.
Published 13 months ago by lxtwin
Johnny Cash a Favourite
I really enjoy Johnny Cash music and have most of his CD's. This particular group has quite a bit of religious selections and short songs not found in most of his popular CD's. Read more
Published on 22 Jun 2009 by L. J. Weckstein
Unbelieveable " Unearthed".......
I own almost everything by Mr. Cash, including of course "American Recordings". However, if you have'nt listened to and bought "Unearthed" -
you are missing out, of some of... Read more
you are missing out, of some of... Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2009 by Jens Munk
A fitting epitaph to a great man
This is a moving and wonderful collection of songs, the last work of such a fine talent. I've played this umpteen times and it's worth every penny. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2008 by CJ
Overpriced box set
£60 or thereabouts for a box set, of stuff not good enough to make it onto any of the last five American Recording CDs Johnny Cash recorded for Rick Rubin, is poor value for money. Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2008 by Harun Mushod
A fine example
It's a beautiful package that you've waited in anticipation for for months. Shrink-wrapped in cellophane, the black clothbound box impresses when you first feel it's texture. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2004 by P. W. Bunce
What have I become, my sweetest friend
Old Johnny knew how to do it, no electric gadgetry in the collection, just Johnny and a guitar. This is the best collection of songs ever compiled. Read more
Published on 7 May 2004 by Mr. B. Christian
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