American III: Solitary Man was released by American Recordings on October 17, 2000. It is the third of Johnny Cash’s American albums with producer Rick Rubin, with John Carter Cash as associate producer. It was recorded at the Cash Cabin Studio in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and at the Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research in Los Angeles. Between the second and third albums Cash’s health had declined; he was hospitalized with pneumonia and had to curtail his touring.
Three of the fourteen songs had been recorded by Cash before: “Field of Diamonds,” “Country Trash” and “I’m Leavin’ Now.” The covers include Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” which Petty wrote with Jeff Lynne and sings with Cash while playing organ; Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man,” with Petty singing; Nick Cave and Mick Harvey’s “The Mercy Seat”; U2’s “One”; and Will Oldham’s “I See a Darkness,” with Oldham singing. June Carter Cash and Sheryl Crow sing on “Field of Diamonds,” and Merle Haggard sings and plays guitar on “I’m Leavin’ Now.” The closing track, “Wayfaring Stranger,” is credited to Cash and John Carter Cash as arrangers, with Crow on accordion.
The musicians include Benmont Tench on piano and organ, Mike Campbell, Marty Stuart, Randy Scruggs, Norman Blake and Larry Perkins on guitar, and Laura Cash on fiddle. Cash’s recording of “Solitary Man” won the Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001. The album reached number eleven on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and number 88 on the Billboard 200.
Tracklist
- 1 I Won't Back Down 2:08
- 2 Solitary Man 2:24
- 3 That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) 2:34
- 4 One 3:52
- 5 Nobody 3:13
- 6 I See A Darkness 3:42
- 7 The Mercy Seat 4:34
- 8 Would You Lay With Me (In A Field Of Stone) 2:40
- 9 Field Of Diamonds 3:15
- 10 Before My Time 2:54
- 11 Country Trash 1:47
- 12 Mary Of The Wild Moor 2:31
- 13 I'm Leavin' Now 3:06
- 14 Wayfaring Stranger alt version 3:19
