Various: Dressed In Black

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * )

From Hank Williams III's adenoidal yodel, skiffle-to-rock treatment of Wreck of the Old 97 to Chris Knight's Flesh and Blood, this is a remarkably consistent tribute album — maybe because the Man in Black who inspired it is such a seminal figure in music with an extensive catalogue of great songs to explore.

And because there was a guiding hand over each artist, that of Chuck Mead who plays on all the tracks, and produced the project. A man with a vision, obviously, and a cast of guests paying tribute to Johnny Cash which includes Rodney Crowell, Rev Horton Heat, Rosie Flores, Billy Burnette, Dale Watson and the brilliantly named Earl Poole Ball, the pianist in Cash's travelling band. Plenty of nail-hard, twanging country guitars, passionate singing (Robbie Fulks on Cry Cry Cry, Raul Malos' aching 50s schlock-pop version of I Guess Things Happen That Way) and only a couple of acts who play a too-straight bat to the material (Mead is an offender on There You Go).

While many might have forgotten just why it is Johnny still wears black, this reminds us of his great songs. That's more than enough: the fact it stands on its own as a rockin' country compilation album is an added bonus.

Label: Dualtone/Elite