Music Review

Personal File (2006)

Johnny Cash

Reviewed by Chris Willman | May 22, 2006

Chris Willman

Chris Willman is a senior music writer for Entertainment Weekly

Comments
Add your comment

EW's GRADE

A-

Details Release Date: May 23, 2006; Lead Performance: Johnny Cash; Genres: Country/Bluegrass, Folk

Image credit: Johnny Cash: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage.com

Johnny-come-latelies may think of Cash as shaky-voiced, because of Joaquin Phoenix's raspy impression or his own final releases. But even die-hard fans may be startled to hear Cash's effortlessly deep, full-bodied baritone in Personal File, newly uncovered, secret sessions from 1973 to '82, wherein he appears to have invented the solo-acoustic American Recordings ethos two decades early. Were these 49 traditionals, spirituals, and spirited originals meant for an LP? Or was he just scratching an itch? Either way, what a profoundly personalized posthumous gift.

Originally posted May 19, 2006 Published in issue #878 May 26, 2006 Order article reprints

Comments
Add your comment

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.