American III: Solitary Man

UK only 180 gram vinyl pressing. For younger generations of musicians, having their song cut by Johnny Cash must be a little like scaling the Washington Monument. On his third album for producer Rick Rubin's American label, Cash makes Tom Petty's 'I Won't Back Down sound like a companion classic to 'I Walk the Line'. He transforms U2's 'One' into a sturdy testament of plainspoken faith, while he plumbs the netherworld of Nick Cave's 'The Mercy Seat' and Will Oldham's 'I See a Darkness'. Amid more familiar fare (including Neil Diamond's title track), the album's sing-along standout is the deadpan, down-and-out, talking blues of 'Nobody'. Cash's recent originals have the age-old purity of Appalachian music, while the traditional closing of 'Wayfaring Stranger' offers bittersweet benediction. Merle Haggard, Sheryl Crow, and June Carter Cash provide vocal cameos. Rhino UK. 2006.