Men in Black II opens in theaters this summer, but the yearlong celebration of Johnny Cash's seventieth birthday continues to remind everyone of the original MIB. Dressed in Black, the second of a pair of Cash tributes put together this year, will be released on September 10th. The album features a cross-section of fringe country figures that accentuate Cash's rockabilly and classic country sounds.
A dozen of the album's eighteen tracks are covers of original Cash compositions, while the other six are a collection of tracks that he once covered and made his own, including "Wreck of the Old 97" (recorded by Hank Williams III with legendary Cash drummer W.S. Holland on drums), "Jackson" (by Mandy Barnett and BR5-49's Chuck Mead) and "Pack Up Your Sorrows" (by Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis).
From the country side, Robbie Fulks offers up a take on one of Cash's earliest songs, "Cry, Cry, Cry," and Texas honky-tonker Dale Watson tackles "I Walk the Line." The rockabilly side is represented by the Rev. Horton Heat (who place their psychobilly stamp on "Get Rhythm"), Los Straightjackets' Eddie Angel ("Straight A's in Love") and Rosie Flores ("Big River").
Dressed in Black was co-produced by Mead and former Cash bassist Dave Roe, both of whom play guitar and bass, respectively, on every track.
In addition to Dressed in Black, Nashville musician and former Cash son-in-law Marty Stuart has been at work on his own tribute, which features only original Cash songs covered by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow and others. The album is also due this summer.
Track listing for Dressed in Black:
"Wreck of the Old 97," Hank Williams III
"Cry, Cry, Cry," Robbie Fulks
"Ballad of a Teenage Queen," Rodney Crowell
"I Guess Things Happen That Way," Raul Malo
"There You Go," Chuck Mead of BR5-49
"Get Rhythm," Rev. Horton Heat
"Pack Up Your Sorrows," Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis
"Ring of Fire," Billy Burnette
"Luther Played the Boogie," Redd Volkaert
"Big River," Rosie Flores
"Folsom Prison Blues," James Intveld
"I Still Miss Someone," Earl Poole Ball
"I'm Gonna Sit on the Porch and Pick on My Old Guitar," Damon Bramblett
"I Walk the Line," Dale Watson
"Train of Love," Kenny Vaughan
"Straight A's in Love," Eddie Angel
"Jackson," Mandy Barnett and Chuck Mead
"Flesh and Blood," Chris Knight
ANDREW DANSBY
(June 17, 2002)