I guess if you're going to keep releasing albums after you've passed away from this world, it makes enough sense to make at least one of them a gospel collection. The Man in Black is back once again with a collection of gospel songs that's part Elvis-in-Vegas, part Carter Family, and a whole lot of Johnny Cash.
Saved by the Savior
I do hate to talk down about Johnny Cash, but a couple of the songs on here ("Amazing Grace") bring to mind less of Cash and more of Elvis, white liesure suit and all, standing on a stage in Vegas, trying to do gospel. Luckily, those moments are few and far between on this record, and Johnny shows himself enough to make the album worth a listen even if gospel music isn't your thing.
These are old school saved-by-the-savior types of hymns, the kind of music that helped divert Johnny Cash from a self-destructive lifestyle to being as clean as he could be. In the background, Cash is joined for most of the songs by his wife and sidekick June Carter, et al.
Highlights
This is the first time in a while that I've been able to say that not every song on this Johnny Cash record is fantastic. There are shining moments—"Daddy Sang Bass," "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," "There'll Be Peace in the Valley (For Me)"—and then there are songs that aren't so shining. The good thing about it is that, with 24 tracks on the CD, there's at least enough here to entertain and enjoy for over an hour.
Cash opens up with a moment of devotion, a shortened sermon of sorts, entitled "Here Was a Man," which sums up the fact that this is not an album collecting and paying tribute to spiritual music. This is an album intended for worship. If that's what you're looking for, chances are this is a goldmine. If you're just looking to enjoy another Johnny Cash record, Ultimate Gospel is hit or miss.
