Sunday Down South / ...Sing Hank Williams

by Johnny Cash

Description by OLDIES.com:

Two of the music world's greatest legends and most individual talents join forces on these two albums. Both Cash and Lewis began their careers at Sun Records, where they originally laid down these tracks. Every track is a highlight. Standouts include Cash's renditions of "Goodnight Irene" and Hank Williams' "Hey Good Looking"; Lewis shines on "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" and on Williams' "Your Cheating Heart."

Product Description:

2 LPs on 1 CD: SUNDAY DOWN SOUTH (1972)/SING HANK WILLIAMS (1971).

SUNDAY DOWN SOUTH originally released on Sun (119). SING HANK WILLIAMS originally released on Sun (125). Includes liner notes by Mark Marymont.

In conjunction with reissue specialist Collectables, Sun Records reissued a pair of original Sun packages on a single CD. On both albums, space is shared by Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis. Backed by his famed Tennessee Two, Cash made history on Sun in the '50s. With his lean, angular sound and hearty baritone voice full of passion and commitment, he forged one of the most unique styles in all of country music. Lewis's Sun recordings pioneered the rock & roll sound of the '50s. His frenzied piano style, equal parts barrelhouse and Little Richard, merged blues, country, and an unidentified third party to create a wholly unique and original style that we've come to know as rock & roll.

This is not an album of duets, but of solo tracks gathered together. SUNDAY DOWN SOUTH finds Cash and Lewis tackling five tunes each, mostly of a spiritual bent. Lewis sticks mostly to traditional tunes like "Old Time Religion," while Cash throws in the self-penned "Belshazzar" (misspelled as "Belshazah" here) and Leadbelly's "Goodnight Irene." SING HANK WILLIAMS features the pair separately tackling Hank's esteemed catalog. Both men combine a healthy respect for Williams' legacy with a fresh-sounding dose of their own individual style.