The more i learn about our Man
the more i LOVE HIM!

http://www.sacurrent.com/music/review.asp?rid=14035

Spooky! SpookEEEEEEEEEE!

I was just checking out that review online before checking my email account and finding your link to it, Marion.

I WANT THAT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



In the review, Enrique Lopetegui notes: "In 1964 (a year after scoring a huge hit with “Ring of Fire,” ... Johnny Cash recorded Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian, a haunting, stunning collection of songs mostly written in collaboration with Peter La Farge.

"The album was ignored by the industry, which didn’t understand why a superstar like Cash would ignore the momentum of “Ring of Fire” and take a musical detour in defense of Native Americans ..."

That, my friends, is because the industry did not understand who Johnny Cash was and what motivated him.

The commercial thing for John to do would have been to release a mass of material (a la "The Matador") in an attempt to cash in (pardon the pun) on the success of "Ring Of Fire". John was motivated by much more than commercial success. He was not a commodity. He was an artist. His art was a response to life and the human condition. In my humble opinion, I suspect that John probably viewed his commercial successes as capital that could be drawn down on to do the important stuff such as "Bitter Tears", songs about social justice and protest and his beloved gospel work. Put capital in the bank with material like "Ring Of Fire" and "A Boy Named Sue" and then spend the popular capital by exposing his public to "Bitter Tears", "All God's Children Ain't Free", "Singin' In Vietnam Talkin' Blues", "What Is Truth", "San Quentin", "Gospel Road" and all his many gospel works.

I'm not saying that "Ring Of Fire" or "A Boy Named Sue" were merely means to an end. I am merely pointing out the obvious depths in this man and his awesome work!

I am deeply unpopular here in my defence of Australian Aborigines and my attempts to raise public awareness of the injustice at their dispossession over the past 221 years. John and Jesus taught me about the importance of refusing to stay silent in the face of injustice and they have informed me, by their lives, about how to speak out. I believe "Bitter Tears: Ballads Of The American Indian" to be one of the crowns in John's career; the Annapurna or even K-2 of the Himilaya-like mountain range that is Cash's legacy.

Just one bloke's opinion ...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Grahame Edwards,

Wow. I was just looking at this book on Amazon.com a few days ago and added it to my wish list.

Nancy

Me too ....I love that cd, and so agree with what Grahame said ...Johnny had so many facets, loved all kinds of music, and because of his love for all kinds of music, he passes that love along to his fans.

Grahame, you SURE have a way with words.. I don't know but about seven but you can take yours and make pure joy...

Thanks for the information on this book. It is so good to see that young authors still find inspiration in and from Johnny Cash. One more prove that he was so much more than "just a singer of songs". That's why we love him.
Cheers,
Belinda.

I purchased this book over the weekend. It was interesting, if dry in a few places. I found myself skimming some parts that dealt with the folk scene - it has been covered in other books. All in all, I would recommend the book. It is not as good as the majority of the books I have read about JC, but you will find one or two new tidbits!

Here's the thread about the book about which you were asking StrictlyCash.

Thanks Grahame, I was wondering what others perceived from the account of the flag raising on Iwo Jima. I had never heard this before, but according to the book, there were two flags, the original, and it's replacement, the first having been taken as a souvenir.

www.strictlycash.net

there were definitely two flag raisings, but for very specific reasons ...and the second photo that became famous was not "staged" and the whole story behind the scenario and the men involved in this event is so well told in the book "Flag of our Fathers" written by one of the flagraisers sons. I can't wait to read this "Bitter Tears" book and highly recommend Flag of our Fathers.

I too want to read this book! I keep getting reviews of it through my "Johnny Cash Google" emails each day - I know it will be an interesting read!