Eileen and I went to see the movie Walk the Line yesterday afternoon. Wow, it’s a great story and the acting is good but the most impressive part was the singing. Both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon did their own vocals and it really added something special to the show. Highly recommended if you are looking for a well-made movie.

Johnny Cash’s life story is pretty sad, overall, but I guess that is the perfect backdrop for a successful country singer. I didn’t know about the death of his older brother but it must have been a powerful influence on his life. It was really great to imagine all those great artists (Johnny, June, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.) all traveling together on the road. Those shows must have been really excellent to see performed live. I can only imagine what sort of hell they raised along the way. :^)

I immediately went home after the movie and purchased a Johnny Cash “best of” album from the iTunes Music Store. I’m listening to Folsom Prison Blues right now. The tempo of all his music runs along at the pace of a speeding locomotive but his vocals are steady, level, even sedate. His music is very distinctive and a welcome change from some of the miserable noise produced by the music industry these days.

I definitely will be listening to a lot more of this music over the Christmas holiday. It mixes well with the Black Eyed Peas and the Caesers.