Johnny Cash - The Baron
#279
By Edward DeSantis
June 1 1981
Johnny Cash
The Baron
Genre: Johnny Cash
Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5
Edward’s Rating: 3.75 of 5
Highlights:
The Blues Keep Gettin’ Bluer
Hey, Hey Train
Fresh off becoming the Country Music Hall of Fame's youngest living inductee at age 48 in 1980 and before he teamed up with Waylon, Willie and Kris in the Highwaymen in 1985 Johnny Cash released The Baron. A classic set of stories from the Man in Black. He’s staying in his lane as a righteous preacher and raconteur. He’s not here to push any boundaries or make any statements a la Folsom Prison but each song is well produced and recorded. As a fan of his work it’s no surprise some of the songs contain a “trick ending”. “The Baron” being a prime example (I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s somewhat predictable).
“Hey, Hey Train” keeps up the tradition of Johnny’s to make the click clack of the train tracks push a song forward, delightfully relentlessly. I’m a big fan of such rhythmic ploys especially when done so well. “Thanks to You” is a beautiful song full of shimmery pedal steel and a country choir that lifts his voice above the altar in the steeple in my mind. Few artists can wrangle those elements as masterfully as Johnny can. “The Blues Keep Gettin’ Bluer” is a near perfect example of Johnny letting his voice get in your chest and rattle around, the ‘80s style effects on the guitar are the only taint on the otherwise classic Johnny track. Closing out the album is “The Greatest Love Affair” a slow, lullaby, love letter to America herself. Delivering the introduction spoken word style the choir returns to swell the track to an exalted peak with strings and a final “I love you America, I love you”.
The Baron keeps Johnny in the studio to help him remain in the Country Music press but his fans will have to wait a few years for him to remind them he’s a pioneer and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
https://open.spotify.com/album/76d5Nl4fSrFcnuGNpA1kbc?si=4HnjDTQFSLu1EVWRBesI6Q
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