The third album in the American Recordings series by Johnny Cash (and his 85th overall album).
American 3 featured fewer Johnny Cash originals this time, but contemporary covers of tracks by Nick Cave, U2, and Tom Petty. Cash in spite of the tremor in his voice makes the songs sound old. A sober, honest, defiant album, it brought him his third Grammy award in a row.
Between Unchained (1996) and Solitary Man (2000), Cash's health declined due to various ailments, and he was even hospitalized with pneumonia. The illness forced Cash to curtail his touring. The album American III: Solitary Man contained Cash's response to his illness, typified by a version of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down", as well as a version of U2's "One".
I don’t fear death, Cash said. I live with all kinds of aches and pains. It’s how you stand up to them that counts, and he was still standing.
June sang with Johnny, also making guest appearances are John Carter’s wife Laura, Will Oldman, Sheryl Crow, Randy Scruggs, and Merle Haggard.
Rosanne Cash: “He’s a noble sufferer. It’s a matter of honor, almost, for him to suffer and not complain. There’s a lot of pride in my father.”
The album is an unflinching confrontation with his own mortality, the nearly inconceivable notion of leaving behind all the joys and sorrows that constitute a life. Like so many of the titanic heroes of rock & roll, Cash is a mess of contradictions. The drugs and the church.
Rick Rubin: "Lyrically this album is intense, but musically it’s relaxed”
Cash invests the songs with biblical gravity, particularly Nick Cave’s death row chiller “The Mercy Seat”.
The album was notable for being Cash's highest charting (#11 Country) solo studio LP since his 1976 One Piece at a Time.
Stand-out tracks:
Solitary Man - Johnny Cash (Neil Diamond cover)
One - Johnny Cash (U2 cover)
The Mercy Seat - Johnny Cash (Nick Cave cover)
I See A Darkness - Johnny Cash
I Won't Back Down - Johnny Cash (Tom Petty cover)
What did you guys think of the music? Share your views in the comments below
Sources:
Cash - by Rolling Stone Magazine (2004) (biography)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
Unearthed boxset booklet
Album sleeves
Johnny Cash: The Last Great American (2004) (documentary)
This is a good album, but I prefer American Recordings. I haven't heard any of the American Recordings albums past this one though, so I really need to catch up. Great post, Chris.
ReplyDelete@Josh: American 3 is probably not the strongest of the American albums, still a few tracks to enjoy.
DeleteThe plan is to look at American 4(my favorite) and American 5, and then conclude the marathon with two posts of Johnny Cash rarities