Editorial Review:

Album Description:
Not just your average box set of re-packaged music, 'Unearthed' is a 5 CD box containing 79 tracks from the American Recordings era. 'Unearthed' contains 4 entire discs of never-before-heard recordings. 'Unearthed' also contains 'My Mothers Hymn Book' a complete never released solo acoustic spiritual album. Deluxe packaging includes 104 page hard cover book, never before seen photo's and Johnny's personal comments, thoughts and memories about every song on the box. Lost Highway. 2003.

Amazon.com:
Over the course of five mesmerizing CDs, Unearthed shows us just how Johnny Cash's now-legendary handful of recordings for American Records came to be. Four discs feature previously unreleased tracks from the famed Rick Rubin-produced sessions. Through their inconsistencies and quirks (and, more often than not, brilliance), they shed light on how Cash's final records were shaped, edited, and produced. Here we get some creative pairings: Fiona Apple providing guest vocals on Cat Stevens' 'Father & Son,' and the late Joe Strummer duetting with Cash on Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song.' Neither are the definitive statements that some of Cash's covers from this period are (his glorious takes on Nick Lowe and Danzig, to name just two), but they're still very much worth hearing. Most riveting are the numerous traditional numbers, the songs that were clearly closest to the Man in Black's heart. 'Banks of the Ohio,' Billy Joe Shaver's 'Old Chunk of Coal,' Stephen Foster's 'Hard Times,' and the entire disc of previously unreleased gospel tunes are powerful statements, tunes where you feel privileged to hear Cash--despite declining health and failing voice--sing one more time, the way he wanted. The last disc of this monumental set is a 'best-of' compilation of tracks that did make it on the American individual discs, a reminder of just how groundbreaking these sessions were. Perhaps the biggest highlight in this awe-inspiring set is its vast liner notes, a loving collection of essays and recollections that highlight the history and stories behind this eclectic array of songs. --Jason Verlinde









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Disc 1:

1. Long Black Veil
2. Flesh & Blood
3. Just The Other Side
4. If I Give My Soul
5. Understand Your Man
6. Banks Of The Ohio
7. Two Timing Woman
8. The Caretaker (fka Who's Gonna Cry)
9. Chunk Of Coal
10. I'm Going To Memphis
11. Breaking Bread
12. Waiting For A Train
13. Casey
14. No Earthly Good
15. The Fourth Man In The Fire
16. Dark As A Dungeon
17. Book Review
18. Down There By The Train

Disc 2:

1. Pochohantas
2. I'm A Drifter (Version 1, Heartbreaker version)
3. Trouble In Mind
4. Down The Line
5. I'm Movin' On
6. As Long As
7. Heart Of Gold
8. The Running Kind (with Tom Petty)
9. Everybody's trying To Be My Baby (with Carl Perkins)
10. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man (with Carl Perkins)
11. T Is For Texas
12. Devil's Right Hand
13. I'm A Drifter (Version 2 Flea version)
14. Like A Soldier with Willie Nelson
15. Drive On (Alt Lyrics)
16. Bird On A Wire (Live with orchestra)

Disc 3:

1. Singer Of Songs
2. The L & N Don't Stop Here Anymore
3. Redemption Song (with Joe Strummer)
4. Father & Son (with Fiona Apple)
5. Chattanooga Sugarbabe
6. He Stopped Loving Her Today
7. Hard Times
8. Wichita Lineman
9. Cindy (with Nick Cave)
10. Big Iron
11. Salty Dog
12. Gentle On My Mind
13. You Are My Sunshine
14. You'll Never Walk Alone
15. The Man Comes Around (Alt take)

Disc 4:

1. Never Grow Old
2. I Shall Not Be Moved
3. I Am A Pilgrim
4. Doo Lord
5. When The Roll
6. If We Never Meet Again This Side Of Heaven
7. I'll Fly Away
8. Where The Soul Of Man Never Dies
9. Let The Lower Lights Be Burning
10. When He Reached Down
11. In The Sweet Bye And Bye
12. I'm Bound For The Promised Land
13. In The Garden
14. Softly & Tenderly
15. Just As I Am

Disc 5:

1. Delia's Gone
2. Bird On A Wire
3. Thirteen
4. Rowboat
5. The One Rose
6. Rusty Cage
7. Southern Accents
8. Mercy Seat
9. Solitary Man
10. Wayfaring Stranger
11. One
12. Hung My Head
13. The Man Comes Around
14. We'll Meet Again
15. Hurt

Rating: - * A fitting epitaph to a great man ... This is a moving and wonderful collection of songs, the last work of such a fine talent. I've played this umpteen times and it's worth every penny. Sensational recordings, and if you liked the American sessions with Rick Rubin, you'll love this. Fantastic. Worth buying just to hear "The L&M Don't Stop Here Anymore." Rating: - * THE MOST INCREDIBLE BOX-SET I HAVE EVER BOUGHT! ... One thing you need to do is buy this box-set and the next thing you need to do is listen to it and be absolutely astound with the lyrics and just how great this collection this is. You will NOT be disappointed. I guarantee it! Rating: - * a must for johnny cash fans. ... i personally believe that you should have everything that johnny cash recorded with rick rubin. together they made stunning americana music that is a pinnacle of the genre. this box set is very, very wonderful. i would suggest that you first get the 5 individual volumes of mr cash's "american recordings," then pick this up as icing on the cake. the only reason that i don't think this to be quite 5 star worthy is that disc 4 is an all gospel set titled "my mother's hymn book," which, while still a very good listen, is not quite up to par with the other cash/rubin work. also, disc 5 is simply a collection of tracks from the previous american recordings releases and is completely pointless here, as all true cash fans will already have these. anyway, the voice of mr cash is an amazing instrument to hear, truly spine-tingling on many of the songs collected here, and i highly, highly recommend that you pick this massive gathering of performances up. Rating: - * great purchase ... I received the boxed CD set quickly and in great condition. I'm very satisfied with this purchase. Rating: - * More than a boxed set ... Several other reviewers went into great detail on each CD in this set, and I see no need to duplicate their comments, so I'll keep it as brief as possible. I assume, if you're reading these reviews, you're familiar with Cash's albums on the American label and are interested in hearing more. If that's the case, definitely buy this set - it is very much worth the money. Other than the final "best of American" CD (which seems pointless, as others have mentioned), every CD in this set is simply outstanding. This is not a box set of rejects and b-sides, but a collection of songs that could have been award-winners on their own. It really is hard to believe some of these songs didn't make the cut when they put the original American albums together. It's even hard to recognize some of the covers, because they all sound like Cash originals. His passion, distinctiveness, and talent are evident on just about every song. Beyond the beauty of Cash as an artist, these discs stand out because of the incredible sound. They are very clean, clear, and pure-sounding. For any fan of Cash - long time listener or newcomer - this is a set well worth the price. It contains a little bit of something reminiscent of every stage of his career. Simply great.