Hmm, tricky one, depends, what pre-rubin it is that you don't like ? His Sun Era recordings ? His greatest hits on Columbia ? His fabulous Christmas records ? The gospel albums he did for Mom ? If it doesn't float your boat, I don't see why you have to apologise Personally, I think he did alot of schlock with Rubin too and Cash V is a dog.

I would never dismiss someone's taste,(except maybe for Wastelife and their ilk). I like both pre and post Rubin,liked the pre Rubin first. However Johnny's quality filter wasn't always working so well in the pre Rubin days and I think the sound and song quality was definately improved in the Rubin era. However as you already like these songs, I would recommend the live prison albums, 100% great songs, great energy. Then if you don't like them, then your choice is valid.

Cluas in someone speaks out against Johnny Cash horror....read all about it. Since he died I am well and truly sick of the Johnny Cash overload, Johnny Cash is cool, buying a Johnny Cash album makes you cool, every dog on the street has them and the best ofs. Someone is making a lot of money out of it all. Of course Johnny Cash had a big following before all this and I know he has some great songs and interpretations of songs but in this climate I find it hard to listen to any of them. When the crap dies maybe i'll go back and take a more unbiased listen.

I agree about the Johnny Cash overload at the moment. If you go upstairs in Tower he nearly has a whole section to himself. However, while aware of his outlaw image before the Rubin stuff and being familiar with the hit singles it was with the release of American III that i really developed a liking for the man and his music. I was less impressed with the subsequent Rubin produced releases but there were always at least 3 or 4 gems in there. The only pre-Rubin albums i have are the Live at San Quentin and Live at Folsom. I think they are classics for a myriad of reasons not least the energy and context of the performances and musicianship of Cash and his band. Artist overload is a terrible thing primarily because it tries to capitalise on the masses penchant for something newly mainstream. It starts off with features in popular magazines and eventually winds up on ads for any old s**t. It destroys songs and artist integrity somewhat, in my opinion. On that note i have to say that i admire Gnarls Barkley for deleting their "Crazy" hit-single. I wish more performers would do something in that vein. Oh... and foreverchanges, you're no sinner as you have confessed your sins and the slate is wiped clean. Better to be honest about your tastes and buck the trend. That's what makes for great pub conversation!

I'm glad to hear that I'm not a sinner anymore. In reply to Miwadai's suggestion to get the prison albums, I got them as a present a while ago and I do enjoy them, but I found that I seem to enjoy them more for the event rather than music themsleves, that said he does give a very powerful performace on both of them, which can never be taken away. I suppose my grevience was with the ammount of comercilasiation and the fact that so many people are trying to shove his music down my throat that its grating my brain. The cash in's that has gone on after his death, with so many greatest hits offering's popping up everywhere from petrol station shops to music stores is worrying aswell. I was chating to my father about this topic last night and he's been playing Johnny Cash round the house since I'm old enough to rememebr, and we had a great conversation for about an hour on the way Cash's music is being whored out to the world at the minute and the possbaility of it ruining the man's legacy. (P.S Rev Jules, I like your track on the auld myspace page)