Johnny Cash quite arguably had the greatest revival in the history of country music. At the time, it seemed like Johnny Cash's career was over. He didn't have a top 10 country album since 1976 and his 80's catalog was insufferable with the notorious "Chicken In Black" which was released in 1984. To rub salt in the wound, in 1986 Columbia records which had been his home since 1960, dropped him in 1986. His current record company Mercury records was not much better and ignored his creative ideas. Then in February of 1993, an encounter changed his life. Cash was performing to a few hundred patrons at an outmoded club in Southern California. Word of mouth spread throughout the club and Cash was asked if he wanted to meet Rick Rubin. He was unaware of Rubin but he agreed to meet with him anyways. By 1993, Rick Rubin was a force to be reckoned with in the music business and produced a variety of genre-defining albums including Red Hot Chili Pepper's Blood, Sugar, Sex Magik, and the 80's hard rocking Electric by The Cult. The meeting backstage only lasted for 15 minutes, but at that moment Rick Rubin knew they had something special. The following year, American Recordings was released to critical acclaim and was lauded by critics. In 1996, the man in black was back with American II: Unchained. This release, to me, is the best out of the series of recordings. When Cash released At Folsom Prison in 1968, he was able to cross genre boundaries and appeal to both country purists and rock n roll. In 1996, he was able to do it again. What makes this album pleasing to the ears is not only the production value but also the backing band Cash rounded up. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are his backing band. Tom Petty had great respect for Cash and he and his fellow Heartbreakers bring their A-game musically. What's more, you have country guitar legend Marty Stuart, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and even Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham all lending their musical talents. The man in black was never afraid to change lanes and was not afraid to cover songs from multiple genres. On Unchained, he covers the 1962 Hank Snow classic "Ive Been Everywhere" a stellar cover of Beck's 'Rowboat" and the best cover on the album; an outlaw country-infused take on Soundgarden's "Rusty Cage". Cash's own "Meet Me In Heaven" is an emotional tribute to his brother Jack Cash. In 1944, his brother Jack was severely injured in a work accident while trying to scrape up extra money to help his family. It was a harrowing event that stuck with John for the rest of his life. Greater detail can be explained in the stellar biography Johnny Cash: The Life by Robert Hilburn.
I laud this American Recording record as my favorite because of Cash's way of approaching the album. Though he did contribute some original material, this album shows his true love for music and makes the covers his own. What's more, is that I respect Cash's state of mind. At this point in his career, he had nothing to prove because of the legacy he had already planted within the history of country music. And hey, he was back to what he loved doing most and that was making music. Rick Rubin's crystal production and the star-studded backup musicians are the perfect elements to round out this essential masterpiece and this record proves that Cash could and still can appeal to both country and rock fans alike.
