Johnny Cash

From page 70 of Classic Rock Magazine December 2000



Cover of December 2000 issue.
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'American III: Solitary Man' (American Recordings/Columbia CD 5009862) *****

Love. Death. Murder. Johnny revisits his old territories and, whether it's with a new song, more traditional fare, or indeed, a cover, the Man In Black still mines fresh ore from what appear inexhaustible seams. To hear Cash sing a 112 song isn't so surprising, but what constantly surprises is how Cash can take such a familiar song like 'One' and make it inimitably his own.

As with 'Unchained' and 'American Recordings', Cash is again paired with producer Rick Rubin and, style-wise, the album is an amalgam of their previous collaborations. Not as raw as 'American Recordings', 'Solitary Man' is never the less mainly an acoustic album, with the voice so high in the mix you can hear every lick of the lips. Tom Petty adds understated vocals to a suitably grumpy 'I Won't Back Down' and Sheryl Crow is a minor revelation with harmonies on 'Field Of Diamonds' and accordion on `Wayfarin' Stranger'. The latter's sentiment won't leave a dry eye in the house; but fear not, the righteous fire still burns, notably on a dark, dark version of 'The Mercy Seat: Andy Robson

Helloween
Voodoo Hill






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