Track Listing

1. Delia's Gone
2. Let The Train Blow The Whistle
3. Beast In Me
4. Drive On
5. Why Me Lord
6. Thirteen
7. Oh Bury Me Not
8. Bird On A Wire
9. Tennessee Stud
10. Down There By The Train
11. Redemption
12. Like A Soldier
13. Man Who Couldn't Cry

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1368 in Music
• Released on: 2006-02-13
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
In 1994 Cash stunned the music world with this commanding collection of 13 solo acoustic performances that roll from gospel to cowboy to sarcastic folk. Minimalism had long been Cash's meal ticket, but this time around, producer Rick Rubin stripped it all away, recording the bulk of the record in Cash's cabin or his own living room (two cuts were captured live at the Viper Room in front of an emphatic audience). Cash offers five typically direct and vivid originals, but he also seizes control of songs by Kris Kristofferson, Nick Lowe, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Loudon Wainwright. 40 years after "Hey Porter", Cash delivers a pure, naked, and incredibly moving record that, dare we say, rivals the impact of his greatest achievements. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Perfection
This is the first of the so-called American recordings, and arguably the best. The songs have been carefully selected by Cash, and I believe there is certainly something here for everyone. If you love music you will soon fall in love with this album. Most artists today don't have one percent of the emotional intensity that Cash had. I highly recommend this album without reservation.

American Recordings - A series of 5 albums, 5 stars each.
Johnny Cash is one of those artists that almost everybody has heard of, but is all too often filed under the "past sell by date" category that long-lived musicians often fall into. I myself once believed that; but following the Man in Black's departure from this world I was amazed to see the incredible respect that this aged hero was commanding from beyond the grave. The release of "Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire" greatest hits albums were my first insights into what has now turned out to be a lifetime of epic proportions.

Whilst listening to said album, I came across songs that I knew already, and at first was shocked to think that JC had written one of U2's biggest hits and even a 9 inch nails song. On further investigation, I discovered the truth, which led me to the "American Recordings" series.

These albums are, quite frankly, some of the greatest, most honest and heart rending collections of music that have ever been compiled. The first album is as stripped down as music can get, meaning you really listen to the words of the song and get completely immersed in the imagery and stories being described. JC's voice is so distinctive and inescapable you will almost feel guilty if you ever have to stop the album midway, like cutting off a grandfather in the midst of a war story. No one else seems to convey the amount of pain, longing and pity that he does, and you often become so immersed in a song you feel like he's right next to you in the room.

And the pace doesn't slow down at any point in the series. JC has an incredible talent of immersing himself into every song he performs, like a great actor giving the performance of his life. The only difference is that you know Johnny is singing from experience rather than putting on a show, and is making this music from the bottom of his soul for our enjoyment, not to fill his pockets. Even songs like "Danny boy" and "bridge over troubled water" are imbued with that indescribable Cash-ness, to the point that you forget that they're not even his songs. Combine that with the religious aspects that give many of his songs a prayer like quality, and you'd have to have a heart of stone to not be moved at some point during listening.

Each album is another step in a journey, and is impossible to fault, therefore represent some of the only examples were 5 stars are completely justified. If you buy them one at a time you'll be desperate for the next by the time you've listened through the previous, and it keeps on going even when you reach the end of the series when that terrible, hollow feeling creeps into your stomach. It's only then that you realise the world has been deprived of one of the most unique, emotive, distinctive and talented artists to have ever lived.

The Man in Black, A Solitary Man, A whirlwind in a thorn tree, whatever you want to call him one thing is for sure; Johnny Cash will live on in the hearts and minds of countless people for many, many years to come.

An honest record...
The stripped down style of this record showed how much of that J.R was still left in his soul. An honest and deep voice accompanied by an acoustic guitar that makes you think in those lonesome times of your life... a record to think, enjoy, laugh and be lonely.
A kind of truth that can only be heard from Johnny's voice ... Just listen...