Search - Johnny Cash :: Silver

The 25th Anniversary Album

Ivar Horte | Denmark | 11/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Silver was certainly not among the most well-known Johnny Cash album before Sony Music included it in their 2002 reissue series commemorating his 70th Birthday. Perhaps an odd choice for a reissue, considering the albums that remain unreleased an any modern format. Still, Silver is a good album, and one that might have received a little more attention had it been released on its own, instead of as part of a "series". The album was originally released in 1979 for Cash's 25th (silver) anniversary as a recording artist. Hence the title.



The album has been remastered, and the sound quality is excellent. Of the songs included is one of Cash's more famous songs, '(Ghost) Riders In The Sky' (written by Stan Jones), which would became a regular on Cash's live shows and has been included on numerous compilation albums. Also 'Bull Rider' (written by Rodney Crowell) was a regular at Cash's concerts in 1980 and '81. Cash's own 'Lonesome to the Bone' was given one more chance here - earlier recordings of the song appeared on 'Ragged Old Flag' in 1974 and 'John R Cash' in 1975. A studio version of 'Cocaine Blues' from the classic Folsom Prison concert was recorded for Silver (this version, however, feels rather subdued compared to the live version). Of the remaining songs 'Muddy Waters', 'I'm Gonna Sit on My Porch and Pick on My Old Guitar' stand out, but in general the track list is very solid, making Silver an overall high point among Cash's albums of the late 70's and early 80's. Yet, this one is should probably not be the first choice for new Cash fans.



Two outtakes from the album sessions have been included here, but sadly Sony Music didn't add the remaining outtake, 'Jim, I Wore a Tie Today', which would have fit in nicely on the CD."