THE MAN CALLED CASH

Johnny Cash's storytelling songs, revealing a mix of faith and worldly temptations, have a power that has spanned generations, influencing both rock and country musicians. Rex Linn does a good job reading this often-compelling biography, but the author's reliance on quotes from celebrities is a drawback here, since there's little attempt by Linn to capture the voices or personalities of those famous people. Even if listeners can't quite hear the voices of Cash and the people in his life, the accounts of his military days, his early careers, and his battles with drug use help draw an interesting portrait of the man behind the music. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]