Jason Michael Carroll Leaves Record Label; Dove Awards Nominees Announced; Johnny Bush Celebrates 75 Years

I think that American culture has become so obsessed with youth, that we (as a people) are uncomfortable dealing with aging and dying. To me, the fact that Johnny Cash knew he was probably dying and wanted to spend his remaining time recording, adds a special poignancy to these last recordings. I find myself finding more depth and being moved by that weak yet still undeniable Johnny Cash voice singing about death then I do from teenager singing about puppy love.

I find myself finding more depth and being moved by that weak yet still undeniable Johnny Cash voice singing about death then I do from teenager singing about puppy love.

Are those the only two choices you see available?

Good thing about the interview is that it clarifies for those who might need it the fact that the American Recordings series is built more around Rubin’s notion of Cash than around Cash himself.

I have no problems allowing that the context of certain albums enhance the overall expereince for me, especially if there is a profound historical context surrounding the work, as is the case here.

I hear all the time that some country acts are “manufactured talents” and really just the product of “record label execs.”

I just read a reuters article saying of the American Recordings series albums “The albums also depicted Cash in a Gothic, dark fashion, perhaps most notably with his grim remake of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” and the accompanying Grammy-winning video. Cash’s friends said this was not a true representation of his fun personality.

Rubin pleads guilty as charged, saying he wanted to perpetuate Cash’s image as the stern “Man in Black” who saves mankind, rather than as the goofball behind “A Boy Named Sue” and “Everybody Loves a Nut.”

“I really thought of him more as a mythological figure than as the flesh-and-blood funny guy,” Rubin said.

– In light of that I wonder if people will criticize Cash’s last works as being manufactured works, possibly relying more on image and marketing than on actual singing ability, or on Cash’s true personality. Or will Cash escape that criticism.

Simon Cowell wants to find someone like Taylor Swift this season of American Idol. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a204167/cowell-would-love-to-find-next-swift.html

Troy: Uh-oh. Poor guy has a whole stable full of creative girls who can sing. He’s kinda screwed on that one.

Happy 75th to the “Country Caruso” Johnny Bush.

I saw Johnny about three years ago and he still sang better than about 75% of the male voices you hear on the radio today. During his prime years (1968-1974) before he was stricken with Spastic Dysphonia he was really something as his recordings on Stop and RCA can readily demonstrate

Ain’t that just like Arista to dump an artist who’s not racking up the hits.

Ditto to Kelly.

In light of that I wonder if people will criticize Cash’s last works as being manufactured works, possibly relying more on image and marketing than on actual singing ability, or on Cash’s true personality. Or will Cash escape that criticism.

I don’t think so. The key here is that image they wanted to present was:
a) Not really manufactured, just concentrating on a particular element of Cash’s artistic personality rather than giving a more balanced overview.
b) The marketing and the music are perfectly aligned. A decision was made to present Cash in a particular way, and the song choice and production choices were in line with this. It’s no more ‘manufactured’ than, say, Reba’s Duets album. A decision was made for McIntire to record a series of duets and the album was marketed as being a duets album. The decision here was made for Cash to record a series of songs that put the spotlight on the gravity and import of his vocals, and the marketing was in line with that.
I don’t think anyone’s been sold a bridge here.

I am looking forward to The Courtyard Hounds cd, but I have a cd collection that contains not only Sheryl, Sarah and Alanis, but more minor Lilith artists like Billie Myers, Paula Cole and Beth Hart ( the best woman making rock in the 1990′s), so it seems as though it will fall directly into my wheelhouse.

Music Lover,

So you “can’t stand mean people” yet you tell us to “get a life?”

As far as Taylor goes, if she’s in a business that requires singing, she better know how to sing. But she doesn’t. Fraud.

Wouldn’t he need a record deal for that? One he no longer has?

Wouldn’t he need a record deal for that? One he no longer has?

Wow.

What if you don’t talk bad about them?

I love the JMC song Livin’ Our love Song! I wish I could live a love song with HIM!

Uh, trust me, he doesn’t look nothing like a witch! He is super hoooooooooooooooooooooot!