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   "The Legend of Johnny Cash" does more than just compile the hits of one of the greatest musicians of all time. It tells the story of a man whose life was filled with pain, heartbreak and addiction.

   The career-spanning album contains all the classics that made Cash famous like "A Boy Named Sue" and "Ring of Fire," plus the songs that highlight the singer’s final years like his cover of Nine Inch Nails’ "Hurt" and an early version of "When the Man Comes Around."

   The only negative thing that can be said about this album is that most die-hard Cash fans already have many, if not all, of these songs in their music library. However, for those cutting their teeth on Cash, this is definitely the album to purchase. It's the definitive Cash album.

   Every song goes a little further in explaining the man behind the music. Even though he didn't write many of the ballads, they, nevertheless, contain something in them that is uniquely Johnny Cash. The album spans half a decade and can be seen as more of a historical document, than a "best of" compilation. 

   People from all walks of life revered Cash. By the time of his death, he was as well received by Generation X as he was by cowboys and farmers. The Legend of Johnny Cash features work with U2 and the aforementioned Nine Inch Nails cover. "Going to Jackson," his famous duet with his late wife June Carter Cash, is also a collected for fans of Cash's older work. About the only thing missing from this album is the "Ballad of Ira Hayes." 

   When Johnny Cash died, he didn't leave the world of music with a void that will never be filled. He left the world with a lasting memory and legacy. "The Legend of Johnny Cash" is a fitting tribute to that memory.

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Photo courtesy of Warnuel Hargraves

J.R. Cash?  - Johnny Cash, pictured to the left of "1950," went by J.R. while attending Dyess High School, located in Cash's childhood hometown. Dyess, Ark., boasts a population of 500.