Driving my 14-year-old to school today, out of some 8,000 songs on my iPod, he wanted to listen to a Johnny Cash set. I know some of this interest comes from last year's movie, "Walk the Line" but he liked the Man-in-Black even before.
My son's Cash playlist puts his cover version of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" as his all-time favorite Cash song. He also likes "Folsom Prison Blues", "Walk the Line", "Ring of Fire" and especially Cash's cover of Neil Diamond's "Solitary Man."
I have to admit that I like Johnny, too, or I wouldn't have so many of his songs on that iPod.
My son wondered how many times that Joaquin Phoenix had to listen to Johnny's versions of the songs he recorded for the film bio. Probably thousands we agreed. We also agreed that if you have to go for thousands, Cash is a good choice. Maybe not quite up there with the Beatles, but close.
