American Recordings - Johnny Cash

Advantages: It's Johnny Cash Man
Disadvantages: None, It's Johnny Cash Man

...In 1994 Johnny Cash made a triumphant comeback and stuck two fingers firmly up at Nashville. His recording contract with Columbia had ended and the folks in Nashville thought that vaudeville acts like the loathsome Garth brooks and downright awful Billy Ray Cyrus were considered to be the future of country music. Johnny was considered a has-been. Thank the lord that he met up with Rick Rubin, who would go on to produce his last four albums. The partnership with Rubin and his label American recordings was two fingers firmly stuck up at Nashville, and had a significant effect on the future of country music. The idea Rick had was to record just Johnny and his guitar, with no session musicians. This is just what you get Johnny's soothing baritone, his guitar, and the songs. Absolutely beautiful music well done with no frills... Read review

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Advantages: He is Johnny Cash
Disadvantages: I am not Johnny Cash

...or something. (1) Ok this album released in 1996 was Johnny Cash’s first with American recordings and Rick Rubin at the helm producing it. For most of the album the backing band are Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, and this album sounds exactly like you would expect collaboration between Johnny Cash and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers to sound like (2). In an interview at the time Johnny Cash mentioned that Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers seem to have a unique musical language of their own, which he was impressed by, this is high praise indeed, I have never had Johnny Cash comment on my musical style or abilities boo hooo. However I am Glad That Johnny Cash never witnessed my version of A Boy Named Sue(3). The album comes with extensive sleeve notes written by the Man (4) himself in which he explains the songs selected for this project and he... Read review

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Advantages: Look it is JOHNNY CASH MAN
Disadvantages: none with John at all

...Solitary man was the third in the series of American recordings Johnny did with Rick Rubin at the helm producing and overseeing matters. This partnership produced 4 albums worth of material which were arguably the best in his career. The final album is almost un-listenable not because of the quality of the material but because of the general subject matter, and that you can hear that Johnny knows that his end is coming. This album however is another matter altogether whilst a somber tone takes over most of the album it is more of a celebration of his life rather than a album looking towards life's final journey. The musicians collaborating on the album is awesome with members of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers , Sheryl Crow, the legend that is Merle Haggard, and his wife June Carter Cash all contributing to proceedings. Like all albums... Read review

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