It should come as no surprise that the Man in Black kept a few things private, but, as fans will soon find out, Johnny Cash was hiding more material than most pop groups create in a lifetime.
In a room behind his recording studio, Cash kept hundreds of tapes, including a set called “Personal File,” which will be released as a double-disc, 49-track set on May 23.
Personal File consists of solo recordings made mostly in the 1970s, and it features Cash performing songs best described as “late-19th century parlour ballads to mid-20th century country hits… songs inspired by recent events and experiences… songs of faith and inspiration,” producer Greg Geller told Billboard.com.
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Cash’s thoughts serve as introductions on a portion of the album. Among the tracks that feature his conversational ramblings are “My Mother Was a Lady,” “The Way Worn Traveler,” and “What Is Man.”
Just before Personal File is released, according to Billboard, Columbia/Sony Wonder/Legacy will release a reissue of The Johnny Cash Children’s Album on May 9. This album will feature new liner notes from Cash’s son, John Carter Cash, and four tracks that were not included on the original release.
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