Pitchfork

Our last report on Johnny Cash's posthumous goings-on took the opportunity presented by Johnny Cash Remixed to illuminate the similarities between country music and rap. It turns out the comparison was more apt than we could have imagined. Judging from the Cash output planned for this month alone, the Man in Black rivals Tupac in sheer quantity of releases from beyond the grave.

But first things first: Compadre and Music World have moved the release date of Johnny Cash Remixed from October 14 to January 27, 2009.

For the more immediately forthcoming releases, let's take things chronologically by release date.

First up, we have The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1978, The Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1979, and a box set called The Johnny Cash Christmas Specials 1976-1979, all of which Shout! Factory released this week on DVD. The 1976 and 1977 Christmas specials came out separately last year, and the two new individual year releases contain performances by Cash and his family (including June Carter Cash), Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Steve Martin, and Andy Kaufman.

Then, on October 14, Columbia/Legacy will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Cash's classic live album At Folsom Prison with a deluxe reissue called At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition. The package features two CDs, each containing one of two sets that Cash performed on January 13, 1968 at California's Folsom Prison. At Folsom Prison: Legacy Edition contains a total of over 30 previously unreleased tracks also includes a DVD with a documentary called Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, featuring exclusive Folsom Prison footage and interviews with Merle Haggard, Rosanne Cash, Marty Stuart, and former inmates who were at the show.

Next, we have All Aboard: A Tribute to Johnny Cash, a compilation of Cash covers by punk bands that Anchorless Records will release on October 21. All Aboard features contributions from the Dresden Dolls (ft. the Hold Steady's Franz Nicolay), Chuck Ragan (Hot Water Music), the Bouncing Souls, MxPx, Russ Rankin (ex-Good Riddance), the Loved Ones, the Gaslight Anthem, and Ben Nichols (Lucero). All profits from the comp will go to the Syrentha Savio Endowment, a non-profit that helps underprivileged women with breast cancer by providing them with the financial assistance necessary for treatment.

And finally (finally!), on October 28, Legacy will release a documentary called Johnny Cash's America on DVD with an accompanying CD of Cash tunes, including the previously unreleased "I Am the Nation", which is available for stream below. Through interviews with Cash, Bob Dylan, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle, Vince Gill, Sheryl Crow, Ozzy Osbourne, Snoop Dogg, Tim Robbins, and Al Gore, Johnny Cash's America examines Cash's social and political contributions to American society. The DVD also includes plenty of rare footage, such as Cash and Dylan's outtakes from Nashville Skyline and other sessions. Furthermore, folks who get the Bio channel can tune in October 23 at 9 p.m. Eastern/10 p.m. Pacific to catch America before it hits DVD the next week.

Meanwhile, we're pretty sure Cash is touring heaven this fall, but those venues have not yet been announced.