TNS Literary Week- Rolling Stone's CASH

October was filled with great book introductions of some of the best country has to offer and we're celebrating all those introductions with a That Nashville Sound Literary Week feature. This is the fourth installment of that feature.

Released just yesterday in paperback, Rolling Stone's all encompassing book simply titled CASH is as beautiful as it is informative. The late legendary Cash is celebrated in one of the best of Rolling Stone magazine's series of special tribute books about popular musicians. And as in the series' other titles, the featured artist is treated to an oversize, lavishly illustrated (150 photos) and lovingly written collection of new and old essays. Cash's long career gives this volume more depth than usual, since the writing ranges from Ralph J. Gleason's 1969 column on "Johnny Cash at San Quentin" to a thoughtful and revealing new interview with Rick Rubin, the rap/metal producer behind Cash's mostly acoustic albums in the 1990s.

The collection is book-ended by its two best pieces: a wonderful overview of Cash's life by Mikal Gilmore and a fantastic critical discography by rock critic Greg Kot. The photographs—which cover everything from his birth in 1932 to his death in 2003—allow for a greater portrait of Cash, including those from his farm youth in Arkansas and candid shots from his turbulent 1960s career. It helps that Jim Marshall, the equally legendary photographer whose work is generously featured, captured Cash in serene and volatile moments, providing a well-rounded look into the emotional complexity of the self-styled "Man in Black." Indeed, Kot's discography and the photographs alone make this volume essential for a true understanding of Cash's impact on popular music.