Johnny Cash: Bootleg Vol. IV - The Soul Of Truth

Johnny Cash
Bootleg Vol. IV: The Soul Of Truth
Columbia/Legacy Recordings [2012]
(2CD Set)







  
Fire Note Says: The spiritual side of Cash!

Album Review:
"I'll put everything on Jesus Christ and I'm going to go for broke" is a line out of "You'll Get Yours And I'll Get Mine" from the fourth installment of the excellent Johnny Cash Bootleg series from Columbia/Legacy Recordings. It is a highlighted verse because I feel that it is the perfect descriptor of this new 2 CD set, The Soul Of Truth, from Cash that focuses on his passion for songs of spirit and Gospel offerings.

I think many of us forget about this side of Cash and this collection respectfully pulls more classic material together for another interesting look into what drove the man in black. The 51 tracks here include three rare albums that are seeing some of their first appearances on CD while 15 tracks were previously unreleased. The Soul Of Truth may not be a record that you will come back to all the time but it is an essential listen for anyone that is a true Cash fan. It is amazing how Johnny Cash could take any song and inject his large swagger into it for stellar results. It really didn't even matter what the subject was about which includes all of his songs about faith. This material may not be for everyone but you never get the sense that Cash was pushing an agenda because these songs just represented a side of his personality. It is also important to remember that these tracks were are part of what made Cash such an icon.

Bootleg Vol. IV: The Soul Of Truth is a must if you have been collecting this series and has some great tracks that also features a stellar supporting cast of collaboraters in June Carter Cash, Helen Carter, Rodney Crowell, Anita Carter, Rosanne Cash, Marshall Grant, Cindy Cash, Jan Howard, Jack Routh and Jessi Colter. The set is over 2 hours of music so you can't go into it casually but I guarantee that this edition is just as worthy of a listen as the previous three!

Key Tracks: "You'll Get Yours And I'll Get Mine w/ Rodney Crowell", "Far Banks Of Jordan w/ June Carter Cash", "Didn't It Rain"

Johnny Cash: Bootleg Vol. III: Live Around The World [Fire Note Review 11/23/11]
Johnny Cash: Bootleg Vol. II - From Memphis To Hollywood [Fire Note Review 2/21/11]
Johnny Cash: American VI - Ain't No Grave [Fire Note Review 2/24/10]
Johnny Cash: American V - A Hundred Highways [Fire Note Review 7/4/06]

Johnny Cash Website
Johnny Cash Facebook
Columbia/Legacy Recordings

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony