I didn’t write this, but was so intrigued by the back story that i wanted to share it. Thanks to my friend Jay for sending.
Today Johnny Cash’s stature as an icon of American music is commanding and significant. When it comes to singers of any genre country, Western or rockabilly; blues, folk or gospel few have achieved the height of The Man in Black. Despite his death in 2003, Cash continues to grow in influence,casting a shadow that reaches far beyond the country circle from whence he grew. To know the tree, one must begin at the root and take in all the branches; to fully grasp Cash’s old-growth legend, one must hear his earliest performances, as well as unreleased or under-promoted recordings that somehow remained out of earshot of an adoring (and still-expanding)public. Such is the mission of the Johnny Cash Bootlegs, a series of multiple-disc packages being released in 2011 and coming years, brimming with historical importance but also delivering thoroughly enjoyable listening experiences, each programmed to stand as a captivating doorway into Cash’s popular legacy as effectively as any greatest hits compilation.
Johnny Cash Bootleg, Vol. 1: Personal File (2 CD set)
Label: Sony Legacy 783015 Release Date: 2/22/2011UPC: 886978301529
Deep within the House of Cash, Johnny Cash’s recording studio, office suite, and museum in Hendersonville, Tennessee, behind the studio s control room, was a small vault-like space in which many of his most prized possessions were stored. A collection of rare firearms dating back to the 18th Century, some personal effects of Jimmie Rodgers, artwork and letters from fans all over the world and much more was carefully arranged and locked away for safekeeping. Then there were the tapes. Hundreds of them. Demos from songwriters, album masters, multi-tracks of the ABC television series, and some boxes marked simply “Personal File”. These are Johnny’s most intimate sessions, recorded mostly in 1973 and then subsequently at his leisure. Just a lone voice and an acoustic guitar, singing songs and telling stories about them. A concept that has since come to be thought of as revelatory but, as is evident in this stunning new set, is something Johnny Cash had been doing all along if only for his personal file. This 2-CD collection features 49 previously unreleased recordings.
Use this link for complete track listing: http://www.amazon.com/Bootleg-1-Personal-Johnny-Cash/dp/tracks/B004I1WIZM/ref=dp_tracks_all_2#disc_2
Bootleg, Vol. 2: From Memphis to Hollywood Johnny Cash (2 CD set)
Label: Sony Legacy 760051 Release Date: 2/22/2011 UPC: 886976005122
Featuring previously unreleased and incredibly hard-to-find singles, demos and other rarities recorded from 1955 through the late 60s, Bootleg, Volume 2: From Memphis To Hollywood chronicles his exciting rise from local sensation to an artist of national importance, his songs reaching millions through best-selling albums and hit movies. The 57-track collection is a boon for collectors with 16 never issued recordings, plus 11 singles and 11 outtakes released digitally for the first time in the U.S. But BOOTLEG II also resonates with mainstream appeal, telling a captivating story that captures pivotal moments in Cash s far-ranging career, while reflecting the trends and transitions of those years.
Use this link for complete track listing: http://www.amazon.com/Bootleg-Memphis-Hollywood-Johnny-Cash/dp/B004GHBQOM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297704783&sr=1-1