Unchained (Johnny Cash album)

Unchained, also known as American II: Unchained is the second album in Johnny Cash's American Recordings series (and his 82nd overall). It was released on November 5, 1996, by American Recordings. Like all of Cash's albums for American Recordings, Unchained was produced by Rick Rubin. The album received a Grammy for Best Country Album and Cash was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for his version of "Rusty Cage."

Unchained
Studio album by Johnny Cash
Released	November 5, 1996
Recorded	1995–1996
Studio	Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research (Hollywood) Sound City (Van Nuys, California) Ocean Way (Hollywood, California) NRG (Hollywood, California) Cowboy Arms (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre	Country rock[1]
Length	41:11
Label	American
Producer	Rick Rubin
Johnny Cash chronology
The Road Goes on Forever (1995) Unchained (1996) VH1 Storytellers: Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson (1998)
American series chronology
American Recordings (1994) Unchained (1996) American III: Solitary Man (2000)
Singles from Unchained
"Rusty Cage" Released: October 22, 1996

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	link
Robert Christgau	link

Background

While Cash's first album produced by Rubin featured only his voice and guitar, on Unchained Cash is backed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. There are guest appearances by country music veteran Marty Stuart (additional guitar on more than half the songs); Flea (bassist from Red Hot Chili Peppers), on "Spiritual"; and by Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood, both of Fleetwood Mac, on "Sea of Heartbreak".^[2]

Unchained focuses on cover song written by other perfomers. In addition to three of Cash's own compositions, Unchained contained songs by Jude Johnstone ("Unchained"), Tom Petty ("Southern Accents"), Spain ("Spiritual"), Soundgarden ("Rusty Cage"), and Beck ("Rowboat"). The album also included a cover of the classic 1962 Hank Snow song, "I've Been Everywhere", written by Geoff Mack. From 2003 to 2009, Cash's version of "I’ve Been Everywhere" from this album Unchained has been used in several Choice Hotels commercials and has been the theme for these commercials. It was also used in a USPS commercial from 2021 to 2022. Cash's version of "I’ve Been Everywhere" has also been used as a soundtrack in Season 2 of the animated series The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy. According to biographer Robert Hilburn, Cash also recorded a cover version of Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" during the recording sessions for Unchained, but it was not released.^[3]

For Unchained Cash recorded new versions of two songs he'd recorded decades earlier. "Country Boy" was featured on his 1957 debut album Johnny Cash with His Hot and Blue Guitar!. He recorded "Mean Eyed Cat" the 1960 album Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams.

The album was recorded over a six-month period with engineer Sylvia Massy at Sound City Studios.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Rowboat" (Beck cover)	Beck	3:44
2.	"Sea of Heartbreak" (Don Gibson cover)	Paul Hampton, Hal David	2:42
3.	"Rusty Cage" (Soundgarden cover)	Chris Cornell	2:49
4.	"The One Rose (That's Left in My Heart)" (Jimmie Rodgers cover)	Del Lyon, Lani McIntire	2:26
5.	"Country Boy"	Johnny Cash	2:31
6.	"Memories Are Made of This" (Dean Martin cover)	Richard Dehr, Terry Gilkyson, Frank Miller	2:19
7.	"Spiritual" (Spain cover)	Josh Haden	5:06
8.	"The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea" (The Carter Sisters cover)	Maybelle Carter, Anita Carter, Helen Carter, June Carter Cash	2:32
9.	"Southern Accents" (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers cover)	Tom Petty	4:41
10.	"Mean Eyed Cat"	Cash	2:33
11.	"Meet Me in Heaven"	Cash	3:21
12.	"I Never Picked Cotton" (Roy Clark cover)	Bobby George, Charles Williams	2:39
13.	"Unchained" (Jude Johnstone cover)	Jude Johnstone	2:51
14.	"I've Been Everywhere" (Lucky Starr cover)	Geoff Mack	3:16

Personnel

Adapted from the album liner notes.

• Johnny Cash – vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
• Tom Petty – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, Chamberlin
• Mike Campbell – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, mandolin, Dobro
• Benmont Tench – piano, Hammond organ, Vox Continental organ, harmonium, Chamberlin
• Rick DePiro – piano, organ (8, 13)
• Howie Epstein – acoustic guitar, bass
• Steve Ferrone – drums and percussion (1–6, 10, 12, 14)
• Curt Bisquera – drums and percussion (7–8)
• Marty Stuart – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass (1, 4–5, 10–14)
• Flea – bass (7)
• Lindsey Buckingham – acoustic guitar (2)
• Mick Fleetwood – percussion (2)
• Juliet Prater – percussion (3)

Production and technical staff

• Rick Rubin – producer
• David R. Ferguson – engineer
• Sylvia Massy – engineer, mixing
• John Ewing Jr., Greg Fidelman, Eddie Miller, Michael Stock – assistant engineers
• Gene Grimaldi, Eddy Schreyer – mastering (Oasis Mastering)
• Martyn Atkins – art direction, photography
• Christine Cano – art direction, design, photography, inlay photography
• Andy Earl – photography

Charts

Album Chart	Peak position
US Billboard 200[4]	170
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)[5]	26
UK Country Albums (OCC)[6]	4
Scottish Albums (OCC)[7]	96
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[8]	23
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[9]	20
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10]	96

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States	—	221,000[11]

References

1. Perry, Megan (2010). How to Be a Record Producer in the Digital Era. Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed. ISBN 9780307875259. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
2. Thomson, G. (2011). The Resurrection of Johnny Cash: Hurt, Redemption, and American Recordings. Jawbone Press, pp.195-198.
3. Robert Hilburn, Johnny Cash: A Life. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2013, p.564
4. "Johnny Cash Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
5. "Johnny Cash Chart History (Top Country Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
6. "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
7. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
8. "Swedishcharts.com – Johnny Cash – Unchained". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
9. "Norwegiancharts.com – Johnny Cash – Unchained". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
10. "Offiziellecharts.de – Johnny Cash – Unchained" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
11. "8ask". Billboard. 19 February 2003. Retrieved 2 April 2018.

External links

• Luma Electronic's Johnny Cash discography listing