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In 2005, Rosanne Cash worked through the loss of her mother Vivian Liberto, father Johnny Cash and stepmother June Carter Cash with the album Black Cadillac. Her latest collection also has a personal story.
Rosanne Cash's new album, The List, features her interpretations of 12 classic songs composed by such legendary songwriters as Harlan Howard, Merle Haggard, Bob Dylan and others. Among the tracks is her version of "Long Black Veil," which was a Top 10 hit for Lefty Frizzell in 1959, and covered by Rosanne's father, Johnny Cash, in 1965.
Rosanne was riding on Johnny's tour bus in 1973, when he discovered that his 18-year-old daughter was unfamiliar with the many songs that shaped Country music. Johnny wrote down his list of "100 Essential Country Songs" and told her she should learn them all. Included was everything from old Appalachian folk ballads, Country gospel and Southern blues songs to rockabilly and modern Country tunes.
"I looked to that list as a standard of excellence, and to remind myself of the tradition from which I come," Rosanne says.
The oldest song on The List is "Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow," which was recorded by The Carter Family in 1927.
Recording "Bury Me Under The Weeping Willow" rekindled Rosanne's memories of her late step-aunt, Helen Carter, who taught her how to play the guitar.
Rosanne says one of the rewards of recording The List is being able to pass the songs and their cultural heritage on to her own five children.
Although she won't divulge the remaining songs on her late father's list, Rosanne is already thinking about recording a second volume.
Guests on The List include Elvis Costello, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, Rufus Wainwright and Bruce Springsteen, who joins Rosanne on "Sea of Heartbreak."
