James Stewart

Bear Family Records just released the Johnny Cash box set that I worked on recently. It’s a 3CD box set that includes ALL of the Out-Takes and alternate versions of Cash from the Sun Record Company vault. I can say that with authority, because I personally took out each tape and threaded them onto the tape machine. Transfers were made at 88.2Khz through Apogee converters for all you audio nerds out there.

This is, without a doubt, the best Johnny Cash alt-takes collection ever assembled. It’s literally like you’re a fly on the wall inside the Memphis Recording Service. You can hear Sam Phillips come into the room and give them pointers on how to approach the songs.

Bear Family Records is proud to present the most eagerly awaited entry in its series of Studio ‘Outtakes’ releases that includes the Everly Brothers and Janis Martin. The CD-set provides an unprecedented collection of every known alternative take recorded by Johnny Cash at Sun Records, including previously unissued alternative takes. This set offers the dedicated Johnny Cash fan and collector an opportunity to hear subtle differences between takes as each song developed in the studio. Material is presented in chronological order for easy reference and comparison with master recordings and focuses on the first four years (1955-1958) of Johnny Cash’s career, widely acknowledged as his peak period of youthful creativity. The package includes a lavishly illustrated booklet containing rare and previously unpublished photos of his fishing trip with Johnny Horton, as well as original session notes.