JOHNNY CASH - AMERICAN IV: THE MAN COMES AROUND

Limited vinyl LP pressing of this 2002 album from the Country legend. The 87th album of Johnny Cash’s long career, the last released during his lifetime, and his first gold album in 30 years, American IV: The Man Comes Around is most renowned for his rendition of Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt.”

The inherent power of the record, which in spots feels excruciatingly sad—the melancholy organ and voice-only reading of “Danny Boy,” for instance—conveys the sense Cash, a man who lived it all, is now settling his accounts and preparing for his eternal rest. They are literally the sound of a preeminent artist winding down, coming to terms with his impending mortality. As a result, they are raw, incredibly personal works of art.

The majority of songs are covers which Cash performs in his own spare style, with help from producer Rick Rubin. Return guests such as Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench. Don Henley, Fiona Apple, and Nick Cave all sing duets with Cash while Billy Preston (keyboards) and Cash’s old producer, Jack Clement (dobro), add their instrumental talents. To the present day, Cash's studio albums for the AMERICAN series have continued to sell extremely well.