An interesting music project is due in 2009:  The legendary Sun Records masters of Johnny Cash remixed by  top producers with a goal to maintain the integrity of the original recordings but present them in new contexts including hip-hop and dance music, if you can imagine it.  The album, which includes a performance from Snoop Dogg, will be released by Compadre Records/Music World Music in stores and online on January 27th, while a vinyl deluxe edition will be available on September 23rd in select independent record stores.

Johnny Cash Remixed is fully approved by the Cash family and estate,   with John Carter Cash (son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash) serving as one of the executive producers along with Snoop and Matthew Knowles. “He would have loved this remix record,”  he says.” While it stays true to the original recordings, this CD touches on undiscovered ground.  This is what my father was about – staying true to tradition while creating groundbreaking new music.”

The original tracks, recorded with Cash’s first band, The Tennessee Two, from 1956-1959, were licensed by Sun Records for the special project. The remixed tracks (and remixers) include “I Walk The Line,” featuring Snoop Dogg (QDT, the new production team led by Snoop Dogg — featuring Snoop, Teddy Riley, and DJ Quik), “Country Boy” (Sonny J, whose album was released in August on Astralwerks US), “Get Rhythm” (Philip Steir, the only remixer allowed to work with the Reprise Records Frank Sinatra collection), “Leave that Junk Alone” (Alabama 3, creators of The Sopranos theme song), “Folsom Prison Blues” (the legendary Pete Rock), “Hey Porter” (Mocean Worker, whose remix of Elvis Presley’s “Burnin’ Love” was used as a soundtrack to Honda’s Superbowl TV commercial), “Sugartime” (Kennedy, cornerstone of the new UK Dirty Pop movement), “Trail To Mexico” (indie favorite Mexican Institute of Sound/MIS), “Doin’ My Time” (The Heavy, critically-acclaimed UK-based band) ,and “Wide Open Road” (Count de Money), among others.

A documentary on the making of the album will be featured on a DVD and was produced by Phear Creative in New York City.  This short film features interviews with some of the remixers filmed in their home studios, including Snoop Dogg at the Cash Recording Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

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