American IV: The Man Comes Around is the 87th studio album by American music artist Johnny Cash. Released in 2002, it is the fourth in Cash's "American" series of albums. The majority of songs are covers which Cash performs in his own sparse style, with help from producer Rick Rubin. For instance, for the song "Personal Jesus", Rubin asked then-Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante to re-work an acoustic version of Martin Gore's song, which featured a simple acoustic riff that stripped down the song to a blues style. He receives backing vocal assistance from various artists, including Fiona Apple, Nick Cave, and Don Henley. American IV was the final album Johnny Cash released during his lifetime; though the Unearthed box set was compiled prior to his death (with Cash choosing the tracks – including an early version of "The Man Comes Around" – and writing liner notes), it was not released until two months after he died. It was also his first non-compilation album to go gold (selling over 500,000 copies) in thirty years. Additionally, the album won "Album of the Year" award at the 2003 CMA Awards. It was certified Gold on March 24, 2003 and Platinum on November 21, 2003 by the R.I.A.A.
The video for "Hurt", a song written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and originally released in 1994, was nominated in seven categories at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards and won the award for Best Cinematography. In February 2003, mere days before his 71st birthday, Cash won another Grammy Award for Best Country Male Vocal Performance for "Give My Love To Rose," a song Cash had originally recorded in the late 1950s. The music video for "Hurt" also won a Grammy for Best Short Form Video at the 2004 Awards.
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor admitted that he was initially "flattered" but worried that "the idea of Cash covering 'Hurt' sounded a bit gimmicky," but when he heard the song and saw the video for the first time, Reznor said he was deeply moved and found Cash's cover beautiful and meaningful, going as far as to say "that song isn't mine anymore."
The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Various editions of the album were released. Some include an extra interview disc or a DVD of the video for "Hurt". The original vinyl pressing of the album featured a slightly different track list with two bonus tracks, Big Iron and Wichita Lineman, which were later re-released on the box set Unearthed.
Notes
Track 1: Originally recorded by Glen Campbell for Wichita Lineman (1968)
Track 2: Originally recorded by Marty Robbins for Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs (1959)
Notes
Track 2: Originally recorded by Nine Inch Nails for The Downward Spiral (1994)
Track 3: Originally recorded by Cash for Sun, appears on Sings Hank Williams (1960), also appears on At Folsom Prison (1968)
Track 4: Originally recorded by Simon and Garfunkel for Bridge over Troubled Water (1970)
Track 5: Originally recorded by Sting for Mercury Falling (1996)
Track 6: Was a number one hit for Roberta Flack (1972)
Track 7: Originally recorded by Depeche Mode for Violator (1990)
Track 8: Originally recorded by The Beatles for Rubber Soul (1965)
Track 9: Originally recorded by Cash for Sings the Ballads of the True West (1965)
Track 10: First published in 1910, previously recorded by Cash for Orange Blossom Special (1965)
Track 11: Originally recorded by The Eagles for Desperado (1973)
Track 12: Originally recorded by Hank Williams; previously recorded by Cash for Now, There Was a Song! (1960)
Track 13: Originally recorded by Cash for A Thing Called Love (1972)
Track 14: Previously recorded by Cash for Sings the Ballads of the True West (1965)
Track 15: Most famously a hit for Vera Lynn (1939)
Johnny Cash – vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar, arranger, adaptation
Don Henley – drums, keyboards, vocals
Fiona Apple – vocals
Nick Cave – vocals (12)
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
Jack Clement – Dobro
Joey Waronker – drums
David R. Ferguson – Ukulele (9), engineer, mixing
Laura Cash – fiddle, production assistant
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 (7,13)
Rick Rubin – producer
John Carter Cash – producer, engineer
Thom Russo, Andrew Scheps, Chuck Turner – engineers
Vladimir Meller – mastering
Christine Cano – art direction, design
Martyn Atkins – photography
Lindsay Chase – production coordination
Dwight Hume, Jimmy Tittle – production assistants
"The Man Comes Around" was used during the opening sequence of the 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead, as well as the closing scenes of Generation Kill. It was used in the soundtrack to the "Elephant's Memory" episode of Criminal Minds. It was used in the final episode of the first season of The Sarah Connor Chronicles. "The Man Comes Around" is used in the closing credits of the 2003 film The Hunted, as well in a scene in the 2008 film My Best Friend's Girl. It was also used in the end credits of the film Insomnia with Al Pacino and Robin Williams. The song can also be heard during series 4, episode 1 of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, as well as in the opening sequence of the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "Better Off Dead" (season 10, episode 10). It is heard in a scene of the film Killing Them Softly directed by Andrew Dominik and starring Brad Pitt. It is also heard in the opening of the trailer for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
"Hurt" was used in the tribute video to late professional wrestler Eddie Guerrero who died from heart failure in late 2005. It was also used in the same Criminal Minds episode as "The Man Comes Around". The song was also featured in a documentary on Amy Winehouse. "Hurt" was also featured in the closing credits of the eighth episode of Smallville`s third season. It was also featured in the end credits of the 2011 action film Colombiana. Alongside this, it played during the intro of the Person of Interest episode "The Devil's Share." "Hurt" was also used in the teaser trailer for the 2017 movie "Logan" starring Hugh Jackman.
"I Hung My Head" was played during the montage of the end of the season 6 premiere of FX's The Shield and during a scene in the television movie The Trial of Tony Blair. It was also used at the start of the 2011 film The Green Hornet.
"In My Life" was played during a promotional commercial for Kennedys’ Family Movies airing on The Learning Channel on January 30, 2011.
"Personal Jesus" was played during Boston Public during episode twelve of season three when Scott Guber walks in on a student poker game.
