Johnny Cash

Released 20 years after Johnny Cash's 1987 Austin City Limits performance, this unblemished recording kicks off with what was arguably his best hit, "Ring Of Fire" (Mariachi horns and all), followed by his trademark introduction, "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash." The cover of John Prine's "Sam Stone" is intense (even if he did censor the "Jesus died for nothing" line). Hearing the late June Carter accompany her man on "Where Did We Go Right" is truly heartwarming. Nothing against Joaquin Phoenix, but maybe it's time to put down your Walk the Line soundtrack and get with the real deal.