Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways (Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook) [Paperback] Review

"American V: A Hundred Highways" has become one of my favorite Cash albums, and so I was very glad to see that Hal-Leonard came out with a corresponding songbook.As an intermediate pianist, I found most songs simple enough to play through with minimal practice.

"On the Evening Train," "Love's Been Good to Me," "Rose of My Heart," and "I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now" have the most piano-friendly arrangements.These four were some of the easiest to learn, but they are not oversimplified.

"Help Me" is one of those songs that I wish were transcribed as accompaniment, without the melody incorporated throughout the treble clef.With use of the chord guides, though, I got around that.

I thought for sure "God's Gonna Cut You Down" without the foot-stomping and handclapping would sound weak on the piano.I'm glad to say I was wrong.Without the percussion and electric guitar, the tone is actually darker.

Cash's songwriting tends to be very simple (which is part of his charm) and "Like the 309" is no exception.It is still a lot of fun to play, though, and there is plenty of room to add your own touches.

The reason for my 4-out-of-5 rating is the same as why I would give the album 4 out of 5: "I Came to Believe" and "Four Strong Winds," which in my opinion are weak songs in comparison to the rest.That being said, though, most Cash fans and fans of classic folk/country music will appreciate the music here.

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Product Description:
This powerful, posthumous release is the coda in the acclaimed American series featuring the legendary Johnny Cash produced by Rick Rubin. Its 12 sadly beautiful tracks include two Cash originals - "Like the 309," the last song he ever wrote, and "I Came to Believe," plus covers such as: Four Strong Winds * God's Gonna Cut You Down * I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now * If You Could Read My Mind * Love's Been Good to Me * and more.

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