Five stars may be excessive if you judge this CD alongside the greatest classics, but when compared to similar CDs within the singer-songwriter folk-rock genre, this beautifully simple and powerful collection really shines. I find myself coming back to this CD more often than to many better-known classics because it has a freshness and originality that sustain interest. The writing, while occasionally a bit awkward, is consistently interesting, honest and moving. The themes of introspection, nostalgia, regret, and defiance are presented in a searingly personal manner. The song "If I Were a Man" is a rich celeration of the wonders women bring to relationships and the world; "Child of Steel" plucks the heartstrings with an achingly wistful delicacy; and "Take my Body" is a strong lament about the objectification of women. I especially love the pared-down guitar arrangements; the simplicity really works with Ms. Cash's strong vocals and makes me wish some of my other favorite vocalists would occasionally just get back to basic guitar accompaniments. I've seen Ms. Cash perform live and, while she has other hits that may be more popular, this collection reveals her unique brilliance.

It's bare, emotional, raw, and acoustic. Rosanne's voice has never sounded better. The producer of the demos doesn't overproduce her, which is great. The songs are the focus and each of them is a masterpiece. I've told friends that this is the country version of Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes CD: Every song is a rollercoaster of self-discovery. Be sure to pick up the companion book, Bodies of Water by Rosanne. She proves she's as good a writer as a singer. One of my favorite books. And this is one of my favorite CDs. If the brilliant Wrecking Ball is Emmylou Harris' signature CD, then this is Rosanne's.

IF YOU ARE A COLLECTOR AND WANT A REAL COPY OF THIS CD, THIS IS NOT IT.

This is a cheaply reproduced "home like" recording of this product and

is not 'manufactured' by the RECORD LABEL.

IF YOU SEE: "CD-R Note: This product is manufactured on demand when

ordered from Amazon.com. [Learn more] You'll know that this is a CD-R

Recording of the Album made by Amazon.com and they expect you to pay

a hefty price for it. So, LOOK CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY ANY CD OFF OF

AMAZON.COM OR ANY OTHER ONLINE DEALER. They do have to put somekind

of notice like the one above or something to that effect to sell them

legally and if they play okay..you cannot return them after you find

out you've been ripped off and you get no booklet, or anything else

and it comes in a clear single CD cover you can buy 50 of for a few

bucks at WalMart with a jet paper printed slip in the front with

the LP cover on one side and a list of the songs on the other and that

is about it!

**My Rating Of This Product Only Represents Amazon.com's production of

the product and in NO WAY represents my opinion of the artists efforts.**

This Item is OVERPRICED and is little more than Amazon.com making you

a copy like your friends used to do for a lot less. How an artist can

agree to this 'treatment' of their creative property is beyond me.

I'm sick of downloads and I'm sick of being ripped off. I don't want

either, I want the 'real thing' or I'll take ALL my business elsewhere!

SHAME ON YOU AMAZON FOR TRYING TO RIP US OFF EVEN MORE! If you don't

have the real deal, take the product off the market!!!! THESE ARE NOT

GOOD PRODUCTS....DO NOT BUY THEM!!!

I do, however, really ENJOY this CD but, then I have the real deal and

it is worth 5 stars. I hope you find YOUR real copy so you can enjoy it

as well.

The reason that I purchased this is that I played the last 1 I had so much that it practically wore out.. I love her so much... I love the history of this album. it was meant only to be a demo, but then they decided to go ahead and release it just how it was.

Where this album works -- and that means on most of its songs -- it combines emotional directness and melodic concentration in a way that takes it beyond even the best of Cash's recent work. From the simple but hypnotic open chords of "If I were a Man" to the warm, dark intensity of "The Western Wall," this one echoes long.