Composed

A Memoir

By: Rosanne Cash

Narrated by: Rosanne Cash

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

A candid and moving memoir from the critically acclaimed singer and songwriter.

For 30 years as a musician, Rosanne Cash has enjoyed both critical and commercial success, releasing a series of albums that are as notable for their lyrical intelligence as for their musical excellence. Now, in her memoir, Cash writes compellingly about her upbringing in Southern California as the child of country legend Johnny Cash, and of her relationship with her mother and her famous stepmother, June Carter Cash.

In her account of her development as an artist, she shares memories of a hilarious stint as a 20-year-old working for Columbia Records in London; recording her own first album on a German label; working her way to success; her marriage to Rodney Crowell, a union that made them Nashville's premier couple; her relationship with the country music establishment; and taking a new direction in her music and leaving Nashville to move to New York. She also discusses motherhood; dealing with the deaths of her parents, in part through music; the process of songwriting; and the fulfillment she has found with her current husband and musical collaborator, John Leventhal.

Cash has written an unconventional and compelling memoir that, in the tradition of M. F. K. Fisher's The Gastronomical Me and Frank Conroy's Stop-Time, is a series of linked pieces that combine to form a luminous and brilliant whole.

©2010 Rosanne Cash (P)2010 Penguin

Critic reviews

"This work is a rare treat, as Cash, firstborn to country music legend Johnny Cash, is not only a hereditary celebrity musician, having made scores of albums and #1 singles, but a terrific writer in her own right. Indeed, her memoir is an intensely reflective, carefully hewn chronicle of her coming-into-her-own as a writer." ( Publishers Weekly)

An Essential Part of Any Country Music Library

Johnny Cash was once asked what the best book for understanding the Country Music Industry was, and he suggested that this honor belonged to Tom T. Hall's "The Storyteller's Nashville" and it's tales of drunken poets, outlaws, and knife-fighters may certainly have presented an accurate image of the industry in the 60s and 70s. However, I believe this book may be the best for understanding the modern Country Music world as it describes how Nashville's Country has devolved into meaningless songs about trucks, flags, and girls while the true spirit of the genre has left Nashville to become Americana and Folk music in other parts of the world. In any case, it is a fantastically well written and intimate look at the life and career of Rosanne Cash.

Fans of Johnny Cash will not be disappointed as she spends the majority of the book discussing her and her father's relationship and the many ways he has influenced her. However, fans looking for stories about her collaborations and friendships with Bruce Springsteen, Stephen King, and others will certainly leave wanting more; and I- for one- really hope she does deliver a follow-up (something she hints at in this book).

She does an amazing job reading her book. 10/10 highly recommend.

🔆loved it!!!

i fell in love w/ rosanne’s voice and songwriting talents when i heard her seven year ache. this book is really interesting. i was so happy that she narrated it. i highly recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed her music :)

Wonderful Book. Great Audiobook experience too.

Eloquent reading by the artist herself. True to a statement made in the book, “Time is not a river, but a landscape. It is the eye of the beholder that is moving.” She moves through the past and present non linearly to tell her story with the poetic acumen of a true American songwriter. Hearing her tell the story in her voice breathes another layer of life into the well written prose. More to come.

Love her!

She’s real. She’s just a girl, in a world that sees her differently. I can’t imagine such personal questions and comments she fielded.

What a surprise

I identified and i am so glad she did this. It is very well done. This was inspired and done because of love. I know it was not easy and perhaps relived again. Rosanne is very special and because I am a year younger we share many views. I will keep and eye on her .

Listened in One Sitting

Just spent these last many hours listening to Rosanne’s story nonstop. She’s about as real, as human, and humane as they come.

Creating her own legacy

Rosanne Cash is, of course, the daughter of country music legend Johnny Cash. The great thing about this memoir is she never shies awat from that. She's extraordinarily candid about her conflicted feelings, about her worry she would be perceived as exploiting him. But she also is willing to share some tender moments and memories of her father and admit when it was beneficial for her to be who she is (how he bankrolled her spending a few months in England; how he helped her secure her first American record deal). Her telling of her story is not entirely chronological as much as it explores certain themes, but she doesn't jump around so much that you get lost. Her telling of her recording process is just technical enough without losing the casual reader/listener. She freely admits which songs and records of hers she doesn't like to listen to. Her retelling of the eulogies for her parents is very emotional, and make the book worth a listen/read by themselves.

Better Late Than Never!

I started reading this a few days before seeing Rosanne Cash in concert in MN in July of 2019. The concert was terrific, as was this book in telling her story in an honest, insightful and poetic manner. She narrated as well and did a lovely job. Fascinating story of the songwriter, woman, singer, activist etc. Including a lovely view of her relationship with her infamous father.

Lots of Music Business Insider Stuff

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The book is an enjoyable listen, but some of the parts that go into great detail about actual record production bogged down for me. It should be noted, though, that others may find these the most fascinating parts. I preferred the parts that discussed the relationships with people, both famous and not, and many of these anecdotes were delightful.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Composed?

Rosanne Cash has llived her life among

What does Rosanne Cash bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

The author is an intelligent, witty woman. She's also an excellent reader of her own writing. She struck the right balance in her reading, not overdramatic, not monotonous. I really felt that nobody else could have brought just the right level of emotion to her story.