There is little out there that has moved as many people as the music of Johnny Cash. From punks to preachers, from country music fans to hipsters, everyone loves Johnny cash music. He is one of those Great American songwriters whose work unites people from all walks of life. When I wear my Johnny Cash T-shirt, I get compliments from almost everyone I meet. He is a true musical genius, and musical geniuses find fans everywhere.
“What no adolescent can appreciate, however, is their parents’ taste in music.”
It took me a long time to realize how great Johnny cash music was. You see, the first person I ever knew who listened to Johnny Cash was my dad. Kids can appreciate their parents’ taste in books, their parents’ taste in people, and their parents’ taste in food. What no adolescent can appreciate, however, is their parents’ taste in music. If my dad liked Johnny cash music, it was obvious that Johnny cash music was square.
That all changed when I met my first girlfriend. She was a bit of a country girl, to tell you the truth. She liked all the old country stars, including Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, and Bill Monroe. Whether it was country, bluegrass, Western, or Appalachian music, she could not get enough of it. Most of all, she loved Johnny cash music.
I was in no position to tell my first girlfriend that I hated the music that she listened to. At first, I pretended to like Johnny cash music just to humor her, but soon it started to grow on me. I guess that, up to that point, I’d never given it a chance. I associated it with my dad, and I took it as a given that anything that my dad would listen to had to be awful. But honestly, once I started listening to the music of the man in black, it blew my mind. I had never heard anything like it.
I got my heart broken by that girl, and it was a long time before I could listen to anything that she had played for me. After long enough though, I was drawn back to the music of Johnny Cash. I have been listening to Johnny cash music ever since. To tell you the truth, it is almost always on my play list. Although I don’t listen to it every day, barely a week goes by that a cd of Johnny cash music can’t be heard through my window.
March 5th, 2007
Anyone who appreciates good music that carries profound messages should own at least one Bob Dylan CD. This artist is a true master of songwriting and performing. His songs span generations and it is impossible to find a comprehensive collection on just one Bob Dylan compact disc. However, you can get a good start on your collection with just one purchase.
I am a big fan of this talented musician. Many say that he doesn’t have the best singing voice in the world and I agree but there is more to singing that the tonal quality of the singer’s voice. This is apparent once you listen to any Bob Dylan CD. I like to compare this artist to Johnny Cash for a few reasons.
Johnny Cash had an unusual quality to his voice but once he sang a song, he made it his own. Even though Cash wasn’t really a songwriter, he had a way of recreating the composition through his singing. If you listen closely to a Bob Dylan CD you will find that he makes each song speak to the listener with a profound message.
“I like to compare this artist to Johnny Cash for a few reasons…”
His messages have changed over the years and I guess that this is to be expected. His earlier songs appeal to the peace-loving generation from the 1960’s and 1970’s. Some songs that you may find on a Bob Dylan CD that appeal to this sentiment include “Blowin’ in the Wind” which was covered by another band.
In fact, many of the songs found on a Bob Dylan CD compilation will include tunes covered by other artists. Dylan is first and foremost a songwriter, not a performer. However, his presentation and quality of tone can’t be overlooked. He had to start recording to appease his many fans.
The Essential Bob Dylan CD is a compilation of his hits. However, this contains only two compact discs. This is not nearly enough space to cover four decades of work. This collection does make a pretty good start, though. If you are an avid Dylan fan or even if you want to become familiar with the artist, you might want to try the Essential compilation.
After you become familiar with this classic artist you will probably want to delve deeper into his collection of works. There are plenty of Bob Dylan CD choices available and you are sure to be pleased with the songs if you like the compilation.
One of the best Dylan songs is “Things Have Changed” from the Wonder Boys soundtrack. You really can’t fully appreciate the depth of the lyric until you become familiar with his portfolio. Once you own a Bob Dylan CD, you are sure to be buying others in the future.
March 3rd, 2007
