As great as Columbia's Essential Johnny Cash box is, their decision to exclude this album's best songs prove that Cash's catalog needs more than three discs' worth of attention.
The title track, "Who's Gene Autry?," and the humorous "After Taxes" are typical Cash classics, while the heartbreaking "Abner Brown" easily ranks among his best narrative ballads.
Elsewhere the record's feel-good bounce and outlaw licks (provided by a pair of duets with Waylon Jennings) make it a fun listen, with Cash generally turning in better covers than originals.