Johnny Cash had a deep, rich, husky singing voice that was the cornerstone of his appeal. The Man in Black was an original, through and through. His sincerity and integrity were always on full display. Songs such as "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom Prison Blues" became timeless classics because of the striking way Cash performed them. He was sublimely relatable, an everyman who morphed into a major country music superstar. There are other singers who do sound something like Cash. We take a look at three of the front-runners to see how they stack up against the one, the only Johnny Cash.
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'Lay, Lady, Lay' by Bob Dylan
Before you scoff, think about it a minute. Put your skepticism away. Per American Songwriter, "Not only does this song sound tremendously influenced by Bob Dylan's love of Cash, but the first time he played the song was in Cash's house, surrounded by other country stars like Kris Kristofferson and Joni Mitchell." Dylan is a true Cash aficionado. So it's not a shock that this song is a bit reminiscent of him. Its languorous pacing and Dylan's phrasing echo Cash in the most respectful and deferential manner.
'Why Me' by Kris Kristofferson
This song really hit the jackpot for Kris Kristofferson, who wrote it and put it on his album, Jesus Was a Capricorn. It was recorded in 1972 and released the following year. Kristofferson was a red hot commodity in the early 1970s and the song just added to his luster. It topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. Many other leading artists recorded it such as Elvis Presley, Tanya Tucker, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and George Jones. The plaintive earnestness in Kristofferson's voice and the subject of the song definitely qualify as similar to Cash.
'Are The Good Times Really Over (I Wish a Buck Was Still Silver)' by Merle Haggard
This ode to beloved, bygone times from Haggard's album Big City is very much in the spirit of Johnny Cash. The numerous cultural signposts in the song, like Elvis, Vietnam, and Richard Nixon, ground the tune in an era characterized by upheaval, widespread dissent, and social chaos. The narrator's yearning for the good old days is nearly palpable. That feeling never goes out of style.
