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OK, bring it: Cash v. Haggard

Picking one of several threads from my last handful of posts, whose output is more essential -- more worth absorbing, listening to, and giving shelf space to -- the assembled works of Johnny Cash, or those of Merle Haggard?

I have limited personal experience with both artists.

I spent the best part of a day in a studio in Seattle watching Johnny Cash record "Time of the Preacher," and interviewed him very briefly for Rolling Stone. The next day I drove to Portland to see Mark Lanegan open for Cash (and, I think, to deliver a show of Coop's art to a gallery down there) during what I believe to have been the next-to-the-last date he did on tour. And I followed him onstage at the first Americana Music Association awards, an unnerving thing which nobody thought to prepare me for, though I was that year president of the bloody association. A rough joke, I suppose.

Haggard I interviewed on the phone for a Time Out New York article, and then again because during the writing of that piece Johnny Cash passed on, and I was obliged to do the distasteful job of asking for Haggard's thoughts on the subject. I used some of the unused portions to augment Andy McLennon's interview, and then stepped in and co-wrote Andy's piece for ND when he had trouble making his ideas fall onto the page. I saw Haggard once, at the Ryman, just after he'd signed to Anti- when no Nashville label would have him. I'd expected a brilliant show, a rebellious middle finger full of life, but he just ran through the numbers as if he were in Branson.

That said, there is a Charles Peterson photo of Cash from that day in the studio glaring at me over the monitor to this computer, and it has been in that same place in every home I've had since I acquired the print.

I think of Cash as a very complicated kind of holy man, in part because of what I saw that day in the studio, how he handled the chords of his fame. I would note, too, that it is essential to my way of thinking that one listen to and grapple with the implications of Personal Files, a two-disc posthumous release of home studio guitar and vocal workouts begun in 1973, before deciding about the vitality of his 1970s (and even 1980s) releases. And I renew my plea for SOMEONE to find the "Chicken In Black" video he turned into CBS when he wanted finally out of his deal in the 1980s. Maybe it's hyperbole from his second autobiography, and maybe not. But we all have our whales to chase, eh?

Now...Cash became a pop star, and Haggard never did. One of the crossroads "Okie From Muskogee" represents. (On the other hand, Cash sang about prison, and Haggard did time, so...) Haggard's oeuvre has not benefited from the bump Cash's catalog received in the American Recordings era. Which is to say I don't have as much of it. Plus, Haggard recorded for a bunch of labels, while Cash spent most of his career with one. It's hard for me to tell from Allmusic's discography, which seems incomplete but I haven't time nor patience to double-check, but it appears both men cut roughly the same number of albums (which is to say, not even half as many as Willie has).

Which isn't really getting to the point. Let me toss out a hypothesis, then: Haggard's albums are worth keeping -- as are Charlie Rich's albums -- simply because there's always at least one song worth discovering that wouldn't be anthologized. But Cash can be summarized in a well-chosen two- or three-disc compilation with no dimunition of his gifts, nor of his importance. Just as Hank Williams could be summarized in the old Original Singles box set leaning against the cabinet to my left, and the only reason to keep the rest of the stuff is because I have it. (And because the singles set doesn't have Luke the Drifter, best I recall.) (Although, again, Hank's career is rather abridged.)

Not, of course, that I'm getting shed of the Cash collection. Just trying to throw some fresh meat into the fray. Now to go change the litterbox and take out the garbage before it's too late.

Tags: alden, johnnycash, merlehaggard

Comment by Adam Sheets on December 30, 2009 at 6:55am: I'll repost my response from the other thread and elaborate a little:

"Cash vs. Haggard...that's a hell of a debate. While Haggard may be more consistent, Cash at his best cannot be equaled by anybody. As for how much Cash you need, well that's up to you. Personally, I can't see myself getting rid of any of it. With that said, the endless historic concept albums may be of interest only to mega fans like me (although Bitter Tears is certainly essential) and you really don't need any of his work from about 1976-1994, except Johnny 99, and The Highwaymen. "

I would also add that, although very difficult to choose, Cash was also the better songwriter of the two and certainly a better interpretive singer. Haggard should certainly be better respected by mainstream audiences, though (a feature story on Haggard was featured in Rolling Stone this year).

And as far as "Okie from Muskogee" and "The Fightin' Side of Me" goes, they were wonderful songs that I admittedly am in disagreement with. Cash's "Man in Black" and "What is Truth" totally chews them up and spits them out (but again that may just be my politics talking.)

As I said, though, Cash could not be matched at his peak but if you really want to know what is essential, go for these:
The Complete Sun Recordings
The Fabulous Johnny Cash
Bitter Tears
Orange Blossom Special
At Folsom Prison
At San Quentin
Man in Black (as far as I know, still not available on CD)
Highwayman
American Recordings
Unchained
American III
American IV
Unearthed
American V
Personal File
and a good hits collection.

With that said, I'm holding onto all of it (even Ragged Old Flag) and the same goes for my Hag collection.

Comment by The Muckrakes on December 30, 2009 at 8:02am: To us, it'd be borderline blasphemy on trying to pick one over the other, so we're just gonna stay over here in the corner and whittle away at a few new tunes that we're working on and whistle ever so gently.

Good mind-thinkin' thread though...whistle--whistle--whistle--whistle--

Comment by Will James on December 30, 2009 at 8:08am: With all due respect, this question should not be asked. That being said, because I can't keep my mouth shut, on recordings (and in great part thanks to Rick Ruben), it's Cash.

Comment by Grant Alden on December 30, 2009 at 8:23am: I would have said Ruben's work was the least important of Cash's career. But that's just me.

Comment by tiffany on December 30, 2009 at 8:47am: I was told that when Willie was asked whether he wanted Hillary or Obama to win the Democratic nomination, his response was, "I want them all to win." I'm going to go with that...

Comment by Kim Ruehl on December 30, 2009 at 8:47am: Here you go, Grant:

Comment by Jon Itkin on December 30, 2009 at 8:50am: An impossible question for me to answer. But I'd put it this way. Go to Hag to listen to the purest musical expression of mid-20th century country. Go to Cash for the purest cultural expression. Merle and has band could play whatever they wanted. Cash had to be himself -he didn't have the chops to do anything else, so he carved out a stronger, more literary identity.

In short: for music choose Haggard, for character choose Cash.

Comment by Chris Weaver on December 30, 2009 at 8:50am: while i would never want to be put in the unfortunate position of having to choose between those two - i would say this - haggard belongs on the mt. rushmore of country music - cash belongs on mt. rushmore.

Comment by TwangNation.com on December 30, 2009 at 9:55am: Cash once said to Hag "You're the man people think I am." I like that.

If this was a Townes vs Dylan debate I'd bite but I got no dog in this hunt, they're both great and different enough. Oh and the Stones definitely the Stones.

Comment by willycoolahan on December 30, 2009 at 11:08am: Who do you like better, your mom or dad? It's just not a fair question.

I like what Jon Itkin said.