Johnny Cash Music:

		List Price: $13.98		Label: Varese Sarabande Salesrank: 39000 Released: April 8, 2003
		Our Price: $8.99
		Used Price: $6.99
		Media: Audio CD

Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous Track Listing:
1. Ballad of a Teenage Queen
2. There You Go
3. I Walk the Line
4. Don't Make Me Go
5. Guess Things Happen That Way
6. Train of Love
7. Ways of a Woman in Love
8. Next in Line
9. You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven
10. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)
11. Home of the Blues
12. Big River
13. Don't Make Me Go [Originally Unissued Alternate Take][*]
14. Ways of a Woman in Love [Originally Unissued Alternate Take][*]
15. Ballad of a Teenage Queen [Originally Unissued Undubbed Master][*]
16. Guess Things Happen That Way [Originally Unissued Undubbed Master][*]

Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous Reviews:
A Great Compilation of Dylan's Best
2007-07-22 - The DVD arrived earlier than promised, along with other parts of the order. It is just as advertised, and the music is of course known.

+1/2 -- Album full of essential Cash hit singles
2003-05-23 - Cash's third Sun album is wall-to-wall classic early Cash, and wall-to-wall hit singles. Eleven of the original twelve tracks (everything except for a cover of Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love With You)" hit the top-10 of the county charts (with four #1s!), and five crossed over to the pop charts (with three top-20s!). Included among the track list are several icons of the Cash's catalog, such as "I Walk the Line" and "Big River."

The original twelve tracks have been anthologized in numerous other places (e.g., Varese's fine 2-CD "The Complete Original Singles" includes all but the non-single track), but never have they been reissued on CD in this original album form. At the time of issue, this 1959 album was really a compilation of successful Cash Sun singles of '56, '57 and '58. And though the single was king at the time, many listeners first brought these recordings home in this long-playing form. Those remembering their album purchase will enjoy revisiting the song sequence, as will those who've only heard these songs on Cash compilations.

Varese's CD reissue augments the original dozen tracks with four bonuses, including three alternate takes and the undubbed master of "Ballad of a Teenage Queen." The latter is fascinating in its presentation of Cash and the Tennessee Two, stripped of Jack Clement's bombastic (and, to be fair, hit-single making) production. Though the single's bouncier rhythm line and backing choir (especially Cyd Mostreller's falsetto) were memorable hooks, the folk-like simplicity of the basic track focusses stirringly on Cash's baritone. Alternate takes of "The Ways of a Woman in Love" and "Guess That Things Happen That Way" are similarly revealed from Clement's overdubbed hit singles.

Though the original dozen tracks appear on several other collections, hearing them in album sequence, especially with the four bonus tracks, makes this a worthwhile spin for Cash collectors and neophytes alike.

4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings.