Johnny J.R. Cash was born 90 years ago, on 26 February 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas.
An eternal legend who mesmerized several generations and a gigantic cast of old and young musicians. The man in black made almost as many albums – 89 – as his age today.
The monumental voice and songwriter passed away in September 2003, aged 71, in Nashville, Tennessee U.S.
Artist: The late great JOHNNY CASH
February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003
Artwork: Cover of his album AMERICAN II: UNCHAINED released
on 5 November 1996, today 25 years ago. The second part of his
American Recordings series, produced by Rick Rubin.
ALANIS MORISSETTE topped the UK Albums Chart with
her third album Jagged Pill (sold worldwide more than
33 million copies) this day in 1996 – 25 years ago…
The late great JOHNNY CASH (26 February 1932 – 12 September 2003)
recorded between 1994 and 2002 five albums with famous producer Rick Rubin. The LPs were released each as part of his American Series
project.
The final one American V: A Hundred Highways came out posthumously
15 years ago – July 2006 – almost 3 years after he passed away. It topped
the US Albums Chart. Cash’s first number one in 37 years.
Pitchfork wrote: “Johnny Cash’s final album attempts to balance man and myth,
with songs that allude to his grief, his deep faith, and his impending death.”
It’s a really special record, mostly ballads/hymns/reveries/reflections (old and
new). His near-broken voice is so gripping and so emotive. It makes you wonder
what went on in his head. He already was sick during the recordings and he knew
that his journey on earth would soon come to an end.
He’s one of the few artists that bring tears to my eyes.
May his soul rest in peace.
The magnificent SHARON VAN ETTEN shared her affecting cover of HURT, the gripping ballad by industrial rockers NINE INCH NAILS from their 1994 album The Downward Spiral.
Van Etten covered the song for a special reason: “I recently spoke with Sounds Of Saving and performed a cover of “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails. Sounds Of Saving is an organization aiming to reduce our country’s suicide rate, an effort I care deeply about.”
Here’s her short interview with Sounds Of Savingand her magical performance of Hurt…
As much as I love Sharon‘s rendition, my ears, my heart, and soul still prefer the version by the late great Johnny Cash. Nine Inch Nail’s maestro Trent Reznor said he cried when he heard Cash’s most touching exploit…
The late great JOHNNY CASH scored his first chart hit in the US on 26 November 1958, 61 years ago today with country song ‘Cry Cry Cry’ recorded and released by Sun Studio.
Today 50 years ago, on 4 June 1969, the late fabulous JOHNNY CASH, one of the most intriguing and first-class singer-songwriters/wordsmiths of all time released his notorious prison album ‘AT SAN QUENTIN‘. A longplayer recorded live at San Quentin State Prison on 24th February of that same year. The prison was located north of San Francisco in the unincorporated town of San Quentin in Marin County, California.
It was his 31st overall album. It went triple platinum in the US over the years. He played and recorded in 3 other prisons afterward. The iconic photo on the front sleeve is by Jim Marshall. The most famous and masterly track (actually written by humorist and poet Shel Silverstein) on the album is without a shadow of a doubt ‘A BOY NAMED SUE‘. That very live version became his greatest hit single ever. Here’s that marvelous story of a boy…
