American V: A Hundred Highways Explained

American V: A Hundred Highways
Type:	studio
Artist:	Johnny Cash
Cover:	JohnnyCash-AmericanV.jpg
Recorded:	May–August 2003
Studio:	Cash Cabin Studio (Hendersonville, Tennessee) Akadamie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research (Los Angeles, California) Sound City (Van Nuys)
Length:	42:45
Label:	American
Producer:	Rick Rubin
Prev Title:	Personal File
Prev Year:	2006
Next Title:	The Legend of Johnny Cash Vol. II
Next Year:	2006

American V: A Hundred Highways is a posthumously released studio album by Johnny Cash. It was released on July 4, 2006, by American Recordings. As the title implies, it is the fifth entry in Cash's American series. Like its predecessors, the album is produced by Rick Rubin. It was Cash's first No. 1 album in 37 years.^[1] It was certified Gold on August 18, 2006, by the RIAA.

Background

As with the other albums in the American series, the album includes covers and originals. The originals on this album are "I Came to Believe" and "Like the 309", the latter of which was the last song Cash wrote before his death in 2003.^[2] Recorded on August 21, 2003, "Like the 309" was the next-to-last song Cash ever recorded; the last being "Engine One-Forty-Three" which was produced by John Carter Cash and released on the 2004 compilation album .^[3] The album takes its name from a lyric on the track "Love's Been Good to Me" by Rod McKuen.

Previous recordings

Three songs on the album are updated versions of songs previously recorded by Cash.

• "Help Me" was previously recorded by Cash for his 1973 album "The Gospel Road".
• "I Came to Believe" was previously recorded by Cash in the 1980s during the recording sessions that would ultimately result in the posthumous 2014 release Out Among the Stars.
• "I'm Free from the Chain Gang Now" was previously recorded by Cash for his 1962 album The Sound of Johnny Cash.

Chart performance

American V: A Hundred Highways peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 with 88,000 copies sold in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was Cash's first No. 1 album since 1969's Johnny Cash at San Quentin.

Personnel

Cash engineer David "Fergie" Ferguson (assisted by Jimmy Tittle) and Rubin oversaw the completion of the recordings. Other musicians on the album include keyboardist Benmont Tench and guitarists Mike Campbell, Smoky Hormel, Matt Sweeney and Jonny Polonsky.

• Johnny Cash – vocal, guitar
• Laura Cash – fiddle
• Dennis Crouch (bassist) – bass guitar
• Smokey Hormel – guitar
• Pat McLaughlin – guitar
• Larry Perkins – guitar
• Jonny Polonsky – guitar
• Randy Scruggs – guitar
• Marty Stuart – guitar
• Matt Sweeney – guitar
• Benmont Tench – organ, piano, harpsichord
• Pete Wade – guitar
• Mac Wiseman – guitar
• David Campbell - string arrangements

Production and technical staff

• Martyn Atkins – photography
• Christine Cano – art direction, design
• John Carter Cash – executive producer
• Lindsay Chase – production coordination
• Greg Fidelman – mixing
• Paul Figueroa – mixing assistant
• Dan Leffler – mixing assistant
• Vlado Meller – mastering
• Rick Rubin – producer, liner notes
• Mark Santangelo – mastering assistant
• Jimmy Tittle – assistant engineer

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (2006)	Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[4]	86
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[5]	95
UK Albums (OCC)^[6]	192
US Billboard 200^[7]	182
US Top Country Albums (Billboard)^[8]	35

External links

• "American V: A Hundred Highways" Review on "Cool Album of the Day"
• USATODAY.com - Johnny Cash's final work yields 2 more albums
• E! Online News - Johnny Cash's Last "American" Song
• THE POP LIFE; Johnny Cash's Legacy Of Emotions, on CD's. New York Times (reprinted on JohnnyCashMusic.com). November 27, 2003.
• Cash Earns First No. 1 Album Since 1969. Billboard July 12, 2006.
• Luma Electronic's Johnny Cash discography listing

Notes and References

1. Thomson, G. (2011). The Resurrection of Johnny Cash: Hurt, Redemption, and American Recording Jawbone Press, p. 233.
2. Web site: Gilbert. Cruz. Entertainment Weekly. June 27, 2006. EW review: Johnny Cash's brilliant finale. CNN.
3. Book: Hilburn, Robert. Johnny Cash: The Life. Little, Brown & Co.. New York City. 2013. 624. 978-0316194747.
4. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. November 20, 2020.
5. Web site: Årslista Album – År 2006. Sverigetopplistan. sv. November 20, 2020.
6. Web site: 2006 UK Albums Chart. ChartsPlus. November 16, 2021.
7. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006. Billboard. November 20, 2020.
8. Top Country Albums – Year-End 2006. Billboard. November 20, 2020.