Even more stunning than ever comprehensively

Who has seen many albums by Johnny Cash, this collection does not need more. But for anyone else who might listen to Johnny Cash, but have hardly albums by him and have not yet renounced the CD format, there is little way past this box with 63 (sixty-three) CDs, one of which, according to box all the 35 previously had not yet been released in the US on CD. As the quota for Germany looks, I do not know much better it is unlikely to be. Also hereby the first 19 albums appear (in the US for the first time) in mono on CD.

The box is not perfect, but terrific - and it must be due to the price-performance ratio are easily sufficient for 5 star.

THE BOX AND CDS

Whoever flips open the lid of this 22 cm wide phonograms treasure, is likely to be positively surprised that the discs are kept high appealing: the smooth, relatively thick Pappsteckhüllen are mini-replica of the original albums, five of them in accordance with gate folds to unfold, the "Silver" in shiny silver, and even the backs of the shrunken disk jackets can be - with a magnifying glass - read. There should eigentich give nothing to complain about, but the cardboard sleeves are a bit lax stuck if they cope with the constant removal of CDs, I doubt - but who does that? The removal of each record is not perfect, but is, because you can draw between the airy enough plugged CDs with your fingers.
Tip: The double-CDs can be easily removed from the gatefold covers, if you thereby pushes the envelope slightly up and down! The backs of the cases are labeled by the way nice clear a roving glance into the open box is sufficient to find the album you want.

THE BOOKLET

In addition to CDs put a 200-page booklet in English with a 25-page introduction of the Country experts Rich Kienzle (December 2011?) As well as recording and title information for each album contained. The information may not be quite as detailed as collectors might want to, but much better than nothing, especially nowadays details are easy to find, for example, on the English language Wikipedia pages on the Internet: next to the album cover are recording time of each album, composer, at Singles whose appearance and chart position listed. The booklet is rounded off with additional photos, and partly by internal linings of the original LPs. Desirable would have been certainly also again offer all the contents and texts also the albums backs and any inner linings in the booklet. Unfortunately, this is not the case, which is quite a small flaw.

Here Just a random herausgepicktes example of the markings in the booklet:

Johnny Cash På Österåker
Disc 35
Originally Released as CBS 65308 1973
Personnel: Johnny Cash, Bob Wootton, Marshall Grant, WS "Fluke" Holland, with Carl Perkins - electric guitar / Larry Butler - piano
Produced by Larry Butler and Charlie Bragg
Recorded October 3, 1972 Österåker Prison, Sweden
01 Orleans Parish Prison (D. Feller) Released as Columbia single # 45997 Peak chart position: # 52 Country
02 Jacob Green (JR Cash) Released as B-side of Columbia single # 45997
Me And Bobby McGee 03 (K. Kristofferson - F. Foster)
04 The Prisoners Song (G. Massey)
05 The Invertebraes (poem) (JR Cash - CA Johnson - DG Dillingham)
06 Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine (G. Autry - J. Long)
07 City Jail (JR Cash)
08 Life Of A Prisoner (JL Wilkerson)
09 Looking Back In Anger (G. Sherley - H. Sanders)
10 Nobody Cared (JC Cash)
11 Help Me Make It Through The Night (K. Kristofferson)
12 I Saw A Man (A. Smith)

THE EXTENT OF THE CONTENT

59 original albums on 60 CDs
and the new compilation "Singles, Plus" on 2 CDs with 56 music titles
and one by Johnny Cash debut at Sun Records (Verwechslunsggefahr) titled new compilation "Johnny Cash With His Hot and Blue Guitar" with 28 titles from 1954 to 1958.

In this box you will find, according to Box entries all the original albums by Johnny Cash on Columbia Records. (Apart from the somewhat arcane album "The Lure of the Grand Canyon" of 1961, in which Johnny Cash only speech is extra).

A superb collection of 59 well partly groundbreaking and legendary albums, including acclaimed collaborations and rare live albums and three Christmas albums.
Just great.

But these are not all albums by Johnny Cash. Warning :) Even those who are not thoroughly studied the matter, may, of course guessed before buying that some of Johnny Cash's albums are missing in this box because the box is not without reason, "The Complete Columbia Album Collection" is. Accordingly, there are missing all albums for other labels, particularly the early work of 1957-1962 published seven albums for Sun Records (though not forgetting the 28 tracks strong accompanying new compilation CD) and the legendary late work, published 1994-2010 albums for American Recordings. Depending on the type of counting is still missing one or two dozen other albums for other labels, you would count Greatest HITS / best-of releases, you would quickly even on Zig missing plates. Even from Columbia for over 25 Johnny Cash compilations have been published, all missing here! However, this shall also not so commonly as original albums, which is understandable, at least for previously published material. Who needs 25 times "Ring of Fire" in a collection? ;-) All these missing disks are therefore indeed regrettable from collectors view of course - do the quality of the box but honestly not detract from, but just complete this.

One more note: The original albums are included here with the tracklisting of their first publication. Any bonus tracks from Re-Issues missing throughout. Sure, there would still have been tons of space on the CD. Conserves resources this box is not. I find but nice enough to want to push exceptional both eyes. (Next time, then again good environmentally conscious buy mp3s.)

To the sound

I have heard so far only some of the CDs this box and can detect only improvements when compared to the previously known me Single-CDs, the sound seems more dynamic, much clearer, more detail to me. However, I can see the box No information on whether and what shots would have been when explicitly remixed. I would be happy about what other listeners.
A side note: Johnny Cash first 19 albums and Sun Compilation come along in the original mono sound.

- SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOUND -

Once there was an indication of poor sound in the comments, I've now even heard some pieces in a direct comparison with previous CD releases and can soothe any, at least according to this sample: the poor quality is just a rumor.

Run Softly, Blue River (from "The Fabulous" compared with the CD of 2002): In a direct comparison with the stereo version, this version still has an amazing depth, height very stressed. The non-multichannel separate background vocals are very forward and is here on an equal footing with Johnny Cash's voice.

Supper Time (from "Songs Of Our Soil" in comparison with the CD 2002): This mono mix has in my opinion a bit more reverb than the stereo version and actually noticeably less spatial effect, but quite clearly!

Loading Coal, Slowrider, Old Doc Brown (of "Ride This Train" as compared to the CD of 2002): The versions sound quality the same for me. When "Slow Rider" me this mono version like better than the stereo version, because only "Gesteppe" can be heard there on a channel. In both versions noise is heard that sound Plattenknistern.

Custer (from "Bitter Tears" in comparison with the CD of 2002): The Mono version works more compact, but is high on a level with the stereo version ... favorite taste.

Jackson (from "Carryin 'On With" compared with the CD of 2002): Again, the mono version favorite looks much more compact than in stereo, again a matter of taste.

- ANNEX -

As long as Amazon does not list the albums contained, here's a quick overview of the albums included:

The Fabulous Johnny Cash (MONO)
Hymns by Johnny Cash (MONO)
Songs of Our Soil (MONO)
Now, There Was a Song! (MONO)
Ride This Train (MONO)
Hymns from the Heart (MONO)
The Sound of Johnny Cash (MONO)
Blood, Sweat and Tears (MONO)
Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash (MONO)
The Christmas Spirit (MONO)
Keep on the Sunny Side - The Carter Family with special guest Johnny Cash (MONO)
I Walk the Line (MONO)
Bitter tears (MONO)
Orange Blossom Special (MONO)
Sings the Ballads of the True West (MONO)
Everybody Loves a Nut (MONO)
Happiness Is You (MONO)
Carryin 'On with Johnny Cash and June Carter (MONO)
From Sea to Shining Sea (MONO)
Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison
The Holy Land
Johnny Cash at San Quentin
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash
The Johnny Cash Show
I Walk the Line (Original Soundtrack)
Little Fauss and Big Halsy (Original Soundtrack)
Man in Black
A Thing Called Love
America - A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song
The Johnny Cash Family Christmas
Any Old Wind That Blows
The Gospel Road (2 CDs)
Johnny Cash and His Woman
På Österåker
Ragged Old Flag
Junkie and the Juice Head Minus Me
The Johnny Cash Children's Album
Sings Precious Memories
John R. Cash
Look at Them Beans
Strawberry Cake
One Piece at a Time
The Last Gunfighter Ballad
The Rambler
I Would Like to See You Again
Gone Girl
Silver
Rockabilly Blues
Classic Christmas
The Baron
The Survivors Live - Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins
The Adventures of Johnny Cash
Johnny 99
Koncert V Praze (In Prague Live)
Rainbow
Highwayman - Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson
Heroes - Johnny Cash & Waylon Jennings
Highwayman 2 - Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson
At Madison Square Garden
Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar
Singles, plus (2 CDs)