Ring Of Fire – JOHNNY CASH****

Ring Of Fire/I’d Still Be There/What Do I Care/I Still Miss Someone/Forty Shades Of Green/Were You There When They Crucified My Lord/The Rebel Johnny Yuma/Bonanza/The Big Battle/Remember The Alamo/ Tennessee Flat Top Box/Peace In The Valley

Ring Of Fire, misleadingly subtitled the Best of Johnny Cash, spent over a year on the US album chart. It captures the legendary country influenced singer at the height of his talents. The title track single was a US No. 17 hit. (US:24)

"It offers a worthy sampling of Cash's far-ranging moods - dramatic saga songs, gospel hymns, love songs, honky-tonk weepers and folk ballads." "There are loads of Johnny Cash collections, but my advice is to get this one."

"This LP offers great insight into the vast talent of Johnny Cash and his work in the early sixties."

"These are such fine and welcome songs that a rarity in country music is achieved here, no filler, no throwaway, just twelve perfect Cash tunes from arguably the best time in his career."

"I dig where he was at in 1963. He hadn't become too earnest, which I think dogged some of his later recordings."

"This is my favourite of all of the Johnny Cash mixes. I have listened to it continually since I was six, and the passionate, soulful, raw lyrics still hit the right mood for me."

"I never get tired of listening to Cash's rich baritone and his special kind of diction. This is one of his earlier offerings and I recommend it highly."

“He's one of the few country rock pioneers whose songs convey that original essence that modern country lacks."

“While remaining one of Cash's most popular albums ever (but hardly really his ‘Best’), it serves as a true testament to Cash's being what he always was, a true original stylist in American music."