Out of print in the U.S.! Johnny Cash had already recorded some of the most important Country albums in the history of the genre, yet, although he was still making quality music throughout the '80s, record sales and label ... more »support were the lowest he'd ever experienced in his entire career. By the early '90s, he was without a label for the first time in four decades. Longtime fan, label owner and producer Rick Rubin stepped in, asked Johnny to return to his roots and together, they re-created the legend of the Man In Black. Features Cash performing his own compositions as well as songs from Loudon Wainwright, Leonard Cohen, Nick Lowe, Tom Waits and Glenn Danzig. American Recordings earned Johnny a 1995 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. A stunning return to form. Warner.« less
Out of print in the U.S.! Johnny Cash had already recorded some of the most important Country albums in the history of the genre, yet, although he was still making quality music throughout the '80s, record sales and label support were the lowest he'd ever experienced in his entire career. By the early '90s, he was without a label for the first time in four decades. Longtime fan, label owner and producer Rick Rubin stepped in, asked Johnny to return to his roots and together, they re-created the legend of the Man In Black. Features Cash performing his own compositions as well as songs from Loudon Wainwright, Leonard Cohen, Nick Lowe, Tom Waits and Glenn Danzig. American Recordings earned Johnny a 1995 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. A stunning return to form. Warner.
"just dim the lights open a bottle of wine sit back and just listen, let the music take you over. this album is simply one of his best every track is great with 'the beast in me' being my personal favourite. fantastic value for money. i recommend the american recordings to all johnny cash fans and as an introduction to newcomers just to show you how good the man in black was."
A Great Series of Recordings
JD | Rochester, NY USA | 08/28/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After hearing so many people gush about the Johnny Cash /Rick Rubin American series for several years, I finally got around to giving them a listen. I started with the first one "American Recordings". The first listen was a wow moment. A few weeks later I bought the next three "Unchained", "American III: Solitary Man" and American IV: The Man Comes Around". I had a long day of data entry to do so I ended up listening to these three CDs in one sitting on head phones. Amazingly I did not get bored with them and the time just flew by.
They did everything right on this series, from song selection to what seamed like the unerring production on every track. Be it Johnny with one guitar or a full band it seamed like no mistakes were made. Cash's voice was starting fade a bit on American IV but I found it to be an apt conclusion to his story in music. All four CDs are worth having and I will get American V some time soon.
This is a very fitting swansong for Cash.
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Tbone | Mililani, HI | 09/13/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There's not much else that needs to be said about this album. You have one of the great voices in American music, 13 good to excellent tracks, and all of this for just $7.98! This isn't really country music, so don't let Mr. Cash's association with country turn you off from this. This is great music. Get it."
Quintessential Cash
Arizona Catlover | Arizona | 04/08/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I attended my first ever Johnny Cash concert around 1970...I wasn't even (at that time) a "real" fan of this genre of music. That concert sold me, at least on Cash. I was struck then by the genuiness of his voice, the words he sang (most of which he'd written), and his apparent approachableness even from that distance on the stage. In this album, the age and wear of years definitely is heard....adding only to the pleasure of this album. A must for Cash fans, I'm glad to have it in my collection. It's pure Americana and much more than simply a "country-western" album."