Great Singers Book

The title of this book doesn't really convey its contents or approach. It's ostensibly about "The List" album, based on a list of 100 songs Johnny Cash gave his daughter in 1973. Except that Rosanne can't find the list, so she has to rely on imperfect memory for the 12 tracks she chooses. There's a blow-by-blow chronicle of recording the album, except without any of the guest artists (Springsteen, Elvis Costello, etc.) who evidently added their contributions later. And there's a detailed account of a brief European tour, which really adds nothing to the topics mentioned in the title.

However, it's still interesting for the interviews with Ms. Cash. She's always seemed a thoughtful and self-aware person, and it really comes through here as she analyzes her father's influence, their relationship and her own considerable body of work. I'd recommend the book mainly for those parts.