It’s possible that my first memory was listening to some song from this album in my my parents’ living room in 1967, the year the album came out. It’s possible: I think it was either that or Expo 67. Either way: my favourite memories of 1967 involved this record. Country music. Rock and roll. Johnny Cash. June Carter.
I know that, when asked to teach a song to my fellow students in kindergarten, I chose “Ring of Fire.” I guess this is what I’ve always looked to rock and roll to teach me about love (dark and ominous sounding, and somehow transformative). It also taught me that the best rock and roll is sung with a really deep voice, and ideally with a strong female partner and a mariachi band. It’s rare that I get all those things in a song but when I do, I’m reminded of “Ring of Fire”. (Scott Walker’s “Seventh Seal” has no June Carter equivalent, but his voice is deep, and there’s mariachi accompaniment).
The superb version of “It Ain’t Me Babe”, my other favourite cut from the record was 3 years old, also uses a mariachi arrangement.
For the longest time this greatest hits record, along with the other Johnny Cash album that my parent owned, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, were my two favourites. There weren’t too many others to chose from, mind you: maybe two dozen LPs at the most, and a handful of 45s. I could list them, but today I will just honour Johnny Cash.
There is a part of me that thinks that music should always sound like this, so I came into my musical life believing that his version of “It Ain’t Me Babe” was the only version: I took a long time to accept that that the Turtles version was equally good, and Dylan’s version is occasionally what I need.There are a few great Cash original on the record like “I Walk the Line” and “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town,” but the cover that became definitive like“Five Feet High and Rising”, “Orange Blossom Special” and “Jackson” are the majority of the record.
I like a lot of things that are very different from this record. And I go months without playing Johnny Cash. But, when I do, it’s always hugely joyful, and it sounds like DNA.
