Notes on Johnny Cash's American Recordings.

These notes follow the categories suggested on the website "Writing About Music."

Sensuous Plane

Cash's voice–deep, rich, full of character, full of emotion, not always musically sound.

The man in black:  the dark songs, the dark cover, the faded colors of the CD case, the intensity of the gaze.

Minimal instrumentation: foregrounding voice, foregrounding simplicity, acoustic guitar in country tradition

Some spoken word, some live songs, wide mix.

Expressive plane (could include lyrical plane)

Dark, slow songs = misery, heartache in "Delia's Gone," "The Beast in Me,"

"Redemption":  faster, up-tempo

"Tennessee Stud":  funny, up-beat, celebration of horse (but also sexuality)

Musical plane

Melody and tempo of "Delia's Gone" upbeat and in contrast to lyrics.

Extremely slow tempo of "The Beast in Me." 

Wide range of approaches typical of "popular" music; variety sought, maybe required.