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The first ever definitive best of Johnny Cash, covering his whole career over five decades. From modest country beginnings in the mid-’50s to his death in 2003, the Man In Black became a legend. One of those rare artists that transcended his chosen musical genre to be an icon for generations of musicians. This album collects tracks from his early Sun Records days through to his defining era at Columbia Records to his last recordings, the famed and critically acclaimed American Recordings. The packaging features comprehensive sleeve notes and biography from US music writer Rich Kienzle and exclusive photographs from throughout Cash’s career. Review The eagerly anticipated Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherpoon, needed a soundtrack. So someone had the unenviable task of condensing a five decade recording career into one teeny tiny album. But the twenty-one tracks here paint a good picture of an artist who started his musical career rubbing shoulders with Elvis at Sun Studios, went rebel rousing in top security prisons, stood tall with his fellow Outlaws, and bowed out shortly after recording the deeply poignant “Hurt” on the American Recordings albums. Long-time fans won’t need this compilation; others will have 2002’s excellent two-disc set Man In Black. But for those new to the man who defined American music with such humour, beauty and pain, this is a fine place to start. –Sue Keogh This link will take you off Amazon in a new window