62-year-old Johnny Cash's 81st album was released on 26 April 1994.
After seeing Cash perform in 1992, producer Rick Rubin approached him about making a record together. Cash was skeptical, but agreed after Rubin promised him he could do whatever he wanted.
Cash and Rubin decided on a spare production, with only Cash and his guitar, recorded in Cash's cabin in Tennessee or Rubin's home studio in LA. Selecting an eclectic mix of songs, ranging from Cash's own repertoire (he had recorded "Delia's Gone" and "Oh, Bury Me Not" in the early 1960s) to new songs written specifically for him ("Thirteen" by Glenn Danzig and "Down There by the Train" by Tom Waits), American Recordings re-introduced Cash to old fans, and introduced him to an entirely new generation.
The album received almost universal acclaim and received a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. It has been named as one of the best albums of all time (Rolling Stone) and would lead to 5 more American Recording releases.