American IV: The Man Comes Around - 2016 European American Recordings label 15-track 2LP Reissue

On first thought, the idea of the Man in Black recording such covers as "Bridge over Troubled Water", "Danny Boy" and "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" might seem odd, even for an artist who's been able to put his personal stamp on just about everything. But The Man Comes Around, which also draws on Cash's original songs as well as those by Nine Inch Nails ("Hurt"), Sting ("I Hung My Head") and Depeche Mode ("Personal Jesus"), may be one of the most autobiographical albums of the 70-year-old singer-songwriter's career. Nearly every tune seems chosen to afford the ailing giant of popular music a chance to reflect on his life, and look ahead to what's around the corner. From the opening track--Cash's own "The Man Comes Around", filled with frightening images of Armageddon--the album, produced by Rick Rubin, advances a quiet power and pathos, built around spare arrangements and unflinching honesty in performance and subject. In 15 songs, Cash moves through dark, haunted meditations on death and destruction, poignant farewells, testaments to everlasting love, and hopeful salutes to redemption. He sounds as if he means every word, his baritone-bass, frequently frayed and ravaged, taking on a weary beauty. By the time he gets to the Beatles' "In My Life", you'll very nearly cry. Go ahead. He sounds as if he's about to, too. --Alanna Nash


Tracklisting:

Side 1:
1 The Man Comes Around (4:26)
2 Hurt (3:38)
3 Give My Love To Rose (3:28)
4 Bridge Over Troubled Water (3:55)

Side 2:
1 I Hung My Head (3:53)
2 First Time I Ever Saw Your Face (3:52)
3 Personal Jesus (3:20)
4 In My Life (2:57)

Side 3:
1 Sam Hall (2:40)
2 Danny Boy (3:19)
3 Desperado (3:13)
4 I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (3:03)
5 Streets Of Laredo (3:33)

Side 4:
1 Wichita Lineman (3:01)
2 Big Iron (3:53)
3 Tear Stained Letter (3:41)
4 We'll Meet Again (2:58)

Credits:
Johnny Cash - vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, arranger, adaptation

Mike Campbell, John Frusciante, Randy Scruggs - acoustic guitar, guitar
Thom Bresh, Jeff Hanna, Kerry Marx, Marty Stuart - acoustic guitar
Smokey Hormel - acoustic guitar, slide guitar, guitar

Terry Harrington - clarinet
Benmont Tench - organ, piano, harmonium, keyboards, Mellotron, vibraphone, pipe organ, Wurlitzer
Roger Manning - piano, Tack piano, Harmonium, Mellotron, Chamberlin, orchestra bells
Billy Preston - piano, keyboards
Jack Clement - Dobro
Joey Waronker - drums
Don Henley - drums, keyboards, vocals
Fiona Apple, Nick Cave - vocals
David R. Ferguson - Ukulele, engineer, mixing
Laura Cash - fiddle, production assistant

Technical credits:
Rick Rubin - producer
John Carter Cash - producer, engineer
Thom Russo, Andrew Scheps, Chuck Turner - engineers
David R. Ferguson - engineer, mixing

Vladimir Meller - mastering (Original)

Artwork:
Christine Cano - art direction, design
Martyn Atkins - photography

Additional Credits:

Lindsay Chase - production coordination

Dwight Hume, Jimmy Tittle, Laura Cash - production assistants