Johnny Cash - A Thing Called Love (1972)

"A Thing Called Love" is the 38th overal album by country singer Johnny Cash, released on Columbia Records in 1972.

Having released two incredible live albums from prisons in the late 60s, hosted his own network tv show for three seasons, won every award known to mankind up to that point, Cash was still touring and making great records. "A Thing Called Love," was released during this time. Nearly every song is a stand out in its' own way. Three singles were pulled from it. "Kate" and the title cut both going top three, and "Papa was a Good Man" finishing in the teens. Other great songs include Cash's wedding present to June Carter, "I Promise You," and the eerie sounding great song "Melva's Wine." Larry Butler produced this album, and occasionally will over do the bass, such is the case on Melva's Wine but overall this is a fine example of Johnny Cash seventies music.

The album also never seems to come together.  The approach to many of the songs is disjointed, with guitar parts draped with vocal choruses and strings that just don't quite fit.  Cash also struggles to find a good vocal cadence for many of the songs.  Cash himself has claimed some of this work around this time was marginal because his focus was instead on his movie and album project The Gospel Road.  In the end this one is not bad, and marginally more interesting than Any Old Wind That Blows, but otherwise it is one of Cash's lesser albums of the early 1970s.

Tracklist

01.  "Kate"  (Marty Robbins)  - 2:22

02.  "Melva's Wine"  (Vincent Matthews)  - 2:55

03.  "A Thing Called Love"  (Jerry Reed Hubbard)  - 2:36

04.  "I Promise You"  (Cash)  - 2:58

05.  "Papa Was a Good Man"  (Hal Bynum) - 2:38

06.  "Tear Stained Letter"  (Cash)  - 2:45

07.  "Mississippi Sand"  (June Carter Cash)  - 3:08

08.  "Daddy"  (Don Reid, Harold Reid)  - 2:54

09.  "Arkansas Lovin' Man"  (Red Lane)  - 2:51

10.  "The Miracle Man"  (Cash, Larry Lee)  - 3:30

Personnel

Johnny Cash – Vocals, Guitar

The Evangel Temple Choir – Background Vocals

The Carter Family – Background vocals

Marshall Grant – bass

W.S. Holland- drums

Bob Wootton - guitar

Carl Perkins - guitar

Ray Edenton - guitar

Jerry Reed – guitar

Tommy Allsup – acoustic guitar

Charlie McCoy – harmonica

Bill Pursell – piano

Larry Butler – piano

Notes
Released:  April 1972

Genre:  Country

Length:  28:37

Label:  Columbia

Producer:  Larry Butler